Portable tank, and method of assembling a tank at a well site

Abstract

A portable tank is described herein. An assembled tank features an upper ring and a lower ring. The upper ring comprises a series of arcuate upper panels coupled together to form the upper ring. The lower ring comprises a series of arcuate lower panels coupled together to form the lower ring. The upper and lower panels are coupled together using T-shaped coupling configurations. Upper panels are secured to corresponding lower panels using jaw connectors.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for fabricating a water tank, comprising:
 removing a plurality of arcuate tank panels from the bed of a trailer, each panel having a length A−B according to the formula:
     A−B =( D ×π)/ n   1  
 
   wherein: D=Diameter of the tank    n 1 =number of panels; and    each panel has a first end and a second opposing end, with the first end of each panel configured to interlock with the second end of an adjoining panel; and    each panel further comprises a liner, the liner affixed along an inner surface of each arcuate tank panel and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each liner resides intermediate the first and second ends of an associated tank panel, and the second end extends beyond the second end of the associated tank panel;   interlocking adjoining tank panels to form a cylindrical container having an open top;   mechanically compressing the interlocked adjoining tank sections so that adjoining tank panels further form a fluidically-sealed container.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein A−B is at least 28 feet in length and at least 5 feet in height. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the water tank comprises a first level of arcuate tank panels, with each panel having a length A−B, and a second level of arcuate tank panels residing on the second level of arcuate tank panels. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each panel in the second level of tank panels also has a length A−B. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each panel in the second level of tank panels has a length C−D according to the formula:
     C−D= ( D ×π)/ n   2  
 
 wherein: D=Diameter of the tank 
  n 2 =number of panels in the second level. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each panel is fabricated from one or more of a metallic and polycarbonate material; and   each liner is fabricated from one or more of a metallic and polycarbonate material.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first end of each panel comprises a series of vertically disposed connectors; and   the second end of each panel comprises a series of vertically disposed connectors configured to mate with the connectors at the first end of an adjoining panel.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least some of the connectors at the first end of each panel and the mating connectors at the second end of each panel are (i) T-shaped, (ii) circular-shaped, or (iii) combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the second end of each panel comprises one or more guide plates extending transverse from an outer surface of the panel, each second end guide plate having a through-opening;   the first end of each panel comprises one or more tension plates extending transverse from an outer surface of the panel; and   the method further comprises:
 running a bolt through the through-opening; and 
   wherein the mechanically compressing adjoining tank sections comprises rotating the bolt.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 at least two of the connectors at the second end of each panel comprises a locking plate, each locking plate residing on an outer surface of an associated connector and providing a shoulder that contacts a mating connector on the first end of an adjoining panel.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the second end of each panel further comprises one or more locking wedge plates extending transverse from an outer surface of the panel and residing below the one or more tension plates at a first end of an interlocked panel; and   the method further comprising placing the one or more locking wedge plates in a dish residing beneath the one or more tension plates.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first end of each panel comprises a series of vertically disposed hooks; and   the second end of each panel comprises a series of vertically disposed pins configured to receive a corresponding hook at the first end of an adjoining panel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein mechanically compressing adjoining tank sections comprises gravitationally dropping the series of hooks onto the series of pins. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transporting the plurality of arcuate tank panels over the road to a wellsite.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 placing an aqueous fracturing fluid into the assembled cylindrical tank at the wellsite.   
     
     
         16 . A water tank, comprising:
 a plurality of arcuate tank panels, each panel having a length A−B according to the formula:
     A−B =( D ×π)/ n   1  
 
   wherein: D=Diameter of the tank    n 1 =number of panels; and    each panel has a first end and a second opposing end, with the first end of each panel configured to interlock with the second end of an adjoining panel; and    each panel further comprises a liner, the liner affixed along an inner surface of each arcuate tank panel and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each liner resides intermediate the first and second ends of an associated tank panel, and the second end extends beyond the second end of the associated tank panel; and    the first end and the second opposing end of each panel including tensioning components configured to mechanically compress the interlocked adjoining panels to form a fluidically sealed cylindrical container having an open top.   
     
     
         17 . The water tank of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first end of each panel comprises a series of vertically disposed connectors; and   the second end of each panel comprises a series of vertically disposed connectors configured to mate with the connectors at the first end of an adjoining panel, wherein at least some of the connectors at the first end of each panel and the mating connectors at the second end of each panel are (i) T-shaped, (ii) circular-shaped, or (iii) combinations thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The water tank of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the second end of each panel comprises one or more guide plates extending transverse from an outer surface of the panel, each second end guide plate having a through-opening;   the first end of each panel comprises one or more tension plates extending transverse from an outer surface of the panel, wherein the one or more guide plates are configured to receive a bolt through the through opening, wherein the one or more tension plates are configured to oppose the bolt, wherein the tensioning components are operable to mechanically compress adjoining tank sections by rotating the bolt, the tensioning components including the one or more guide plates and the one or more tension plates.   
     
     
         19 . The water tank of  claim 18 , wherein:
 at least two of the connectors at the second end of each panel comprises a locking plate, each locking plate residing on an outer surface of an associated connector and providing a shoulder that contacts a mating connector on the first end of an adjoining panel.   
     
     
         20 . The water tank of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the second end of each panel further comprises one or more locking wedge plates extending transverse from an outer surface of the panel and residing below the one or more tension plates at a first end of an interlocked panel, wherein the one or more locking wedge plates reside within a dish of the one or more guide plates, the one or more locking wedges including a portion that resides between the first end and the second end connectors to maintain the mechanically compressed configuration of the interlocking adjoining panels.