Apparatus for transporting a quantity of lost circulation material and methods of making and using same

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for transporting quantities of lost circulation material. The system includes at least one pump, at least one intake assembly, at least one exhaust assembly, and can also include at least one intake member operably connected to the intake assembly, and at least one exhaust member operably connected to the exhaust assembly.

1 . A method for depositing a lost circulation material into a drilling fluid holding tank, comprising: 
 transporting a quantity of lost circulation material in bulk to a well drilling site;    storing the quantity of lost circulation material in a storage assembly in bulk at the well drilling site; and    transporting a selected quantity of the lost circulation material from the storage assembly into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of lost circulation material from the storage assembly further comprises drawing the lost circulation material directly from the storage assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of lost circulation material from the storage assembly further comprises: 
 providing a pump assembly having an intake hose and an exhaust hose;    positioning a distal end of the intake hose in proximity to the quantity of lost circulation material;    positioning a distal end of the exhaust hose in proximity to the drilling fluid holding tank; and    activating the pump assembly such that the lost circulation material is drawn into the intake hose and discharged from the exhaust hose into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising discharging a volume of aerosolized fluid near the distal end of the exhaust hose.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the quantity of lost circulation material is transported in bulk to the well drilling site in the storage assembly.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of lost circulation material from the storage assembly further comprises drawing the lost circulation material directly from the storage assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of lost circulation material from the storage assembly further comprises: 
 providing a pump assembly having an intake hose and an exhaust hose;    positioning a distal end of the intake hose in proximity to the quantity of lost circulation material;    positioning a distal end of the exhaust hose in proximity to the drilling fluid holding tank; and    activating the pump assembly such that the lost circulation material is drawn into the intake hose and discharged from the exhaust hose into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising discharging a volume of aerosolized fluid near the distal end of the exhaust hose.  
   
   
       9 . A method for depositing a lost circulation material into a drilling fluid holding tank, comprising: 
 storing a quantity of lost circulation material in bulk at a well drilling site in a storage assembly; and    transporting a selected quantity of the lost circulation material from the storage assembly into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of lost circulation material from the storage assembly further comprises drawing the lost circulation material directly from the storage assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of lost circulation material from the storage assembly further comprises: 
 providing a pump assembly having an intake hose and an exhaust hose;    positioning a distal end of the intake hose in proximity to the quantity of lost circulation material;    positioning a distal end of the exhaust hose in proximity to the drilling fluid holding tank; and    activating the pump assembly such that the lost circulation material is drawn into the intake hose and discharged from the exhaust hose into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising discharging a volume of aerosolized fluid near the distal end of the exhaust hose.  
   
   
       13 . A method for depositing cottonseed hulls into a drilling fluid holding tank, comprising: 
 transporting a quantity of cottonseed hulls in bulk to a well drilling site;    storing the quantity of cottonseed hulls in a storage assembly in bulk at the well drilling site; and    transporting a selected quantity of the cottonseed hulls from the storage assembly into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of cottonseed hulls from the storage assembly further comprises drawing the cottonseed hulls directly from the storage assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of cottonseed hulls from the storage assembly further comprises: 
 providing a pump assembly having an intake hose and an exhaust hose;    positioning a distal end of the intake hose in proximity to the quantity of cottonseed hulls;    positioning a distal end of the exhaust hose in proximity to the drilling fluid holding tank; and    activating the pump assembly such that the cottonseed hulls are drawn into the intake hose and discharged from the exhaust hose into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising discharging a volume of aerosolized fluid near the distal end of the exhaust hose.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the quantity of cottonseed hulls is transported in bulk to the well drilling site in the storage assembly.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of cottonseed hulls from the storage assembly further comprises drawing the cottonseed hulls directly from the storage assembly.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of cottonseed hulls from the storage assembly further comprises: 
 providing a pump assembly having an intake hose and an exhaust hose;    positioning a distal end of the intake hose in proximity to the quantity of cottonseed hulls;    positioning a distal end of the exhaust hose in proximity to the drilling fluid holding tank; and    activating the pump assembly such that the cottonseed hulls are drawn into the intake hose and discharged from the exhaust hose into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising discharging a volume of aerosolized fluid near the distal end of the exhaust hose.  
   
   
       21 . A method for depositing a cottonseed hulls into a drilling fluid holding tank, comprising: 
 storing a quantity of cottonseed hulls in bulk at a well drilling site in a storage assembly; and    transporting a selected quantity of the cottonseed hulls from the storage assembly into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of cottonseed hulls from the storage assembly further comprises drawing the cottonseed hulls directly from the storage assembly.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of transporting the selected quantity of cottonseed hulls from the storage assembly further comprises: 
 providing a pump assembly having an intake hose and an exhaust hose;    positioning a distal end of the intake hose in proximity to the quantity of cottonseed hulls;    positioning a distal end of the exhaust hose in proximity to the drilling fluid holding tank; and    activating the pump assembly such that the cottonseed hulls are drawn into the intake hose and discharged from the exhaust hose into the drilling fluid holding tank.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising discharging a volume of aerosolized fluid near the distal end of the exhaust hose.