Aggregate Delivery Unit

Abstract

A delivery unit for providing aggregate to a worksite, such as a wellsite location. The unit may include a mobile chassis for accommodating a plurality of modular containers which in turn house the aggregate. As such, a weight measurement device may be located between each container and the chassis so as to monitor aggregate levels within each container over time. The units may be particularly well suited for monitoring and controlling aggregate delivery during a fracturing operation at an oilfield. The modular containers may be of an interchangeable nature. Furthermore, a preferably wireless control device may be provided for monitoring and directing aggregate delivery from a relatively remote location.

1 . An aggregate delivery unit comprising:
 a modular container for housing aggregate;   a mobile chassis for accommodating said modular container; and   at least one weight measuring device disposed between said mobile chassis and said modular container.   
   
   
       2 . The aggregate delivery unit of  claim 1  further comprising a cradle having a frame to accommodate said modular container thereon and coupled to said at least one weight measurement device therebelow. 
   
   
       3 . The aggregate delivery unit of  claim 2  wherein said at least one weight measurement device is a plurality of load cells about the frame of said cradle, the plurality to provide weight measurement data for averaging. 
   
   
       4 . The aggregate delivery unit of  claim 2  wherein said cradle further comprises:
 a valve gate for controllably releasing aggregate within said modular container through an opening adjacent said valve gate; and   an arm coupled to said valve gate for directing the releasing.   
   
   
       5 . The aggregate delivery unit of  claim 4  further comprising a conveyor belt of said mobile chassis for receiving the aggregate from the releasing. 
   
   
       6 . The aggregate delivery unit of  claim 5  further comprising a discharge assembly of said mobile chassis, said discharge assembly comprising an extension belt originating adjacent said conveyor belt for receiving the aggregate therefrom. 
   
   
       7 . The aggregate delivery unit of  claim 6  wherein said discharge assembly comprises a pivot hinge to allow lateral pivotal angling relative to a main body of said mobile chassis. 
   
   
       8 . A method of controlling a wellbore operation at a well, the method comprising:
 advancing a conveyor toward the well;   directing aggregate to the conveyor through a valve gate coupled to a aggregate container thereabove; and   monitoring aggregate level in the container during said directing in substantially real-time.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said monitoring comprises acquiring weight measurement data from a weight measurement device coupled to said container. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the weight measurement device comprises a plurality of load cells and the weight measurement data is a plurality of weight measurement data, said monitoring further comprising averaging the plurality of the weight measurement data to reflect the aggregate level. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising adjusting a rate of said directing based on said monitoring. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising combining the aggregate with a liquid to form a treatment fluid and directing the treatment fluid into a wellbore to treat a subterranean formation. 
   
   
       13 . A method of controlling a well treatment operation at a wellsite location, the method comprising:
 positioning a mobile chassis at the wellsite location;   advancing a conveyor of the chassis below a aggregate container on the mobile chassis;   directing aggregate to the conveyor through a valve gate coupled to the aggregate container; and   monitoring aggregate level in the aggregate container during said directing in substantially real-time.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising filling the aggregate container with the aggregate at the oilfield after said positioning. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising delivering the aggregate container to the mobile chassis in a pre-filled state after said positioning. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the aggregate container is a first aggregate container, the method further comprising replacing the first aggregate container with a second aggregate container in a pre-filled state. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the aggregate container is a first aggregate container vertically stacked with a second aggregate container. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein monitoring comprises monitoring with a feedback control system, the feedback control system receiving control signals from at least the aggregate container and the conveyor. 
   
   
       19 . A modular aggregate delivery assembly for a fracturing operation at an oilfield, the assembly comprising:
 a mobile chassis; and   a plurality of interchangeable modular containers coupled to said mobile chassis for housing aggregate for the fracturing operation.   
   
   
       20 . The modular aggregate delivery assembly of  claim 19  wherein each of the interchangeable containers of said plurality is separated by a distance from an adjacent interchangeable modular container. 
   
   
       21 . The modular aggregate delivery assembly of  claim 19  further comprising a plurality of weight measurement devices coupled to said plurality of interchangeable modular containers to independently monitor aggregate levels therein in substantially real-time. 
   
   
       22 . The modular aggregate delivery assembly of  claim 19  wherein at least one of said plurality of interchangeable modular containers comprises a sealable hinged door on an upper portion thereof. 
   
   
       23 . A modular container for housing aggregate, the modular container comprising:
 a body having a lower portion for positioning on a mobile chassis and an upper portion; and   a fill port for filling the container with aggregate, said fill port coupled to said body through one of the upper portion and the lower portion.   
   
   
       24 . The modular container of  claim 23  wherein said body is a rotationally molded structure. 
   
   
       25 . The modular container of  claim 23  wherein the lower portion has an opening for communication with a valve gate of a cradle adjacent the container, the valve gate for controllably releasing aggregate from the container. 
   
   
       26 . The modular container of  claim 23  wherein the aggregate is one of proppant, cement, a plastic, fertilizer, feed, a liquid chemical, rock salt, benzoic acid, a fiber material, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       27 . The modular container of  claim 23  further comprising:
 a substantially inaccessible upper portion;   a wear plate coupled to said body at an interior of the upper portion; and   a lift pipe coupled to said fill port and having an exit adjacent said wear plate for directing the aggregate thereat during filling of the modular container with the aggregate.