Fluid handling and containment system, apparatus and method

Abstract

A fluid containment system comprises a plurality of curved panels having a front face a rear face, a top end, a bottom end and two side ends, wherein the plurality of curved panels are positioned serially adjacent one another in a generally upright or vertical manner so as to comprise a generally circular arrangement, with each of the plurality of curved panels further comprising at least one fastening member on its front face and wherein the fastening member is suitable to generally abut to a similar fastening member of an adjacent curved panel. Once fastened, the plurality of curved panels may be lined with a liner and used for fluid storage. In another aspect a fluid handling and containment apparatus comprises a tank suitable to hold a volume of fluid, the tank having a main compartment with a plurality of outlets exiting from the main compartment.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is being claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A fluid containment system comprising:
 a plurality of curved panels having a front face a rear face, a top end, a bottom end and two side ends;   wherein said plurality of curved panels are positioned serially adjacent one another in a generally upright or vertical manner, on their bottom ends, so as to comprise a generally circular arrangement;   each of said plurality of curved panels further comprising at least one fastening member on its front face;   wherein said fastening member is suitable to generally abut to a similar fastening member of an adjacent curved panel;   wherein when said plurality of curved panels are fastened to each other, the system is suitable to be lined with a liner and used for fluid storage.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid containment system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of curved panel members comprises two fastening members, said fastening members positioned one at each of a curved panel's side ends. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid containment system of  claim 2 , wherein each fastening member is a fastening flange. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid containment system of  claim 2 , wherein each fastening member is a substantially square tubular member. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid containment system of  claim 3 , wherein the fastening flange has a longitudinal plane and said longitudinal plane is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the curved panel. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid containment system of  claim 1 , wherein each fastening member is provide with at least one fastener opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of a fastener therethrough; 
     
     
         7 . The fluid containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener openings are positioned within each fastening member so as to substantially align with a fastener opening of an adjacent fastening member, when adjacent curved panels are aligned into the generally circular arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of gussets to further secure the fastening members to the front face of their respective curved panel. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a carrying frame of suitable dimensions to house a plurality of curved panels in a generally upright and nested manner during transport of said curved panels. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid containment system of  claim 1 , dimensioned to hold at least 3000 m 3  of fluid. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid handling and containment apparatus comprising:
 a tank suitable to hold at least a 63 m 3  volume of fluid;   said tank having a main compartment; and   said main compartment having a plurality of outlets.   
     
     
         12 . A fluid handling and containment apparatus comprising:
 a tank suitable to hold at least a 200 m 3  volume of fluid;   said tank having a main compartment;   said main compartment having a plurality of outlets; and   a valve associated with each of said plurality of outlets;   wherein the plurality of outlets are of sufficient number and dimensions so that fluid can be withdrawn from the main compartment at a rate that is sufficient for hydraulic fracturing operations.   
     
     
         13 . The fluid handling and containment system of  claim 12 , wherein each of said valves is placed within the tank. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid handling and containment system of  claim 12 , wherein the tank is substantially dimensioned as having a 14 foot width, a 12 foot height and a 55 foot length; and wherein there are at least 12 outlets, said outlets positioned substantially in a row, substantially along the bottom of a side wall of the tank. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid handling and containment system of  claim 12 , wherein the tank further comprises an internal heating system. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid handling and containment system of  claim 12 , wherein the tank further comprises a plurality of compartments to allow separation of undesirables from the fluid, prior to the fluid's entry into the main compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid handling and containment system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of outlets are of sufficient number and dimensions so that fluid can be withdrawn from the main compartment at a rate of at least 3 m 3  per minute. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid handling and containment system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of outlets are of sufficient number and dimensions so that fluid can be withdrawn from the main compartment at a rate of at least 16 m 3  per minute. 
     
     
         19 . A fluid handling and containment system comprising:
 a fluid containment system according to  claim 1 ; and   a fluid handling and containment system according to  claim 11 ,   wherein fluid can flow between said fluid containment system according to  claim 11  and said fluid handling and containment system according to  claim 12 .