On-the-Fly Acid Blender with Sampling Equipment

Abstract

Improved methods and systems of blending and analyzing well treatment fluids at a well site are disclosed. A first centrifugal pump pumps a first component of the well treatment fluid into a pipe and a first valve controls the flow of the first component into the pipe. A second centrifugal pump pumps a second component of the well treatment fluid into a pipe and a second valve controls the flow of the second component into the pipe. The pumps and the valves are then controlled in order to control the ratio of the first and second component of the well treatment fluid as they are delivered to the pipe and a sampling device is used to analyze the well treatment fluid.

1 . A method for blending a well treatment fluid at a well site, comprising:
 providing a first centrifugal pump for pumping a first component of the well treatment fluid into a pipe;   providing a first valve for controlling the flow of the first component of the well treatment fluid into the pipe;   providing a second centrifugal pump for pumping a second component of the well treatment fluid into the pipe;   providing a second valve for controlling the flow of the second component of the well treatment fluid into the pipe;   controlling the pumps and the valves so as to control the ratio of the first component of the well treatment fluid to the second component of the well treatment fluid being delivered to the pipe; and   providing a sampling device for analyzing the well treatment fluid.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling device comprises:
 a valve; and   a sampling container coupled to the valve.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 opening a valve in the sampling device to direct the well treatment fluid to a sampling container; and   closing the valve once a sample is collected in the sampling container.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein opening and closing the valve is carried out by a spring loaded lever. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sampling container is placed in a glove box. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing at least one liquid additive storage tank;   providing at least one liquid additive pump; and   providing at least one liquid additive valve for controlling the flow of liquid additive into the pipe;   wherein controlling the liquid additive pump and the liquid additive valve controls the ratio of the liquid additive to the other components of the well treatment fluid being delivered to the pipe.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: pumping the well treatment fluid from the pipe into the well. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the well treatment fluid is a fracturing fluid. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the well treatment fluid is a drilling mud. 
   
   
       10 . A system for blending a well treatment fluid at a well site, comprising:
 a first centrifugal pump for pumping a first component of the well treatment fluid into a pipe;   a first valve for controlling the flow of the first component of the well treatment fluid into the pipe;   a second centrifugal pump for pumping a second component of the well treatment fluid into the pipe;   a second valve for controlling the flow of the second component of the well treatment fluid into the pipe;   means for controlling the pumps and the valves so as to control the ratio of the first component of the well treatment fluid to the second component of the well treatment fluid being delivered to the pipe; and   a sampling device for monitoring the well treatment fluid.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sampling device comprises:
 a sampling container;   a valve for controlling a flow of the well treatment fluid from the pipe to the sampling container; and   a mechanism for opening and closing the valve.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanism for opening and closing the valve comprises a spring loaded lever. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sampling container comprises:
 an inlet for the flow of the well treatment fluid into the sampling container; and   an outlet for the flow of air from the sampling container.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the outlet is coupled to a scrubber system. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sampling container is enclosed. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a third centrifugal pump for pumping a third component of the well treatment fluid into the pipe; and   a third valve for controlling the flow of the third component of the well treatment fluid into the pipe;   wherein the means for controlling the pumps and the valves further controls the ratio of the third component of the well treatment fluid to the other components of the well treatment fluid being delivered to the pipe.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 at least one liquid additive storage tank;   at least one liquid additive pump; and   at least one liquid additive valve for controlling the flow of liquid additive into the pipe;   means for controlling the liquid additive pump and the liquid additive valve so as to control the ratio of the liquid additive to the other components of the well treatment fluid being delivered to the pipe.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising: means for pumping the well treatment fluid from the pipe into the well. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the well treatment fluid is an acidizing fluid; and   wherein the first component of the well treatment fluid is water.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second component of the well treatment fluid is a hazardous chemical. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the hazardous chemical is Ammonium Bi-Fluoride. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the third component of the well treatment fluid is hydrochloric acid. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sampling device is coupled to the pipe. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the sampling device is removable from the pipe. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the well treatment fluid is one of a fracturing fluid or a drilling mud.