Methods and Apparatus for Transporting, Storing and Dispensing Oilfield Chemicals

Abstract

A method and system for chemical transportation, storage, and dispensation, which provides a base with ISO mounts for enabling a ISO tank, van container, screw conveyor, or the like to be carried thereon. The base accommodates either or both of “roll off” or “hooklift hoist” technologies to allow easy loading and unloading. A first end of the base is carried by one or more rollers, and the underside is structured to allow rolling of the base on the bed or rack of the transport vehicle. After unloading the base with its ISO cargo, the transport vehicle leaves the well site and is free to retrieve another ISO tank or container as appropriate, thereby lowering the tractor-trailer capital requirements to support fracturing operations. Weigh scales allow the weight of the ISO container to be determined to allow the operator to monitor the inventory of chemicals as they are used.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A chemical handling apparatus comprising:
 a generally planar base;   a roller rotatively coupled to a first end of said base;   at least one of the group consisting of a winching pad eye and a hooklift hoist attachment mounted to a second end of said base opposite said first end; and   a plurality of mounts coupled to said base and arranged to securely carry a shipping container atop said base.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said shipping container is an intermodal container that conforms to International Standards Organization specifications; and   said plurality of mounts is dimensioned to accept said shipping container.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connector carried atop each of said plurality of mounts for securing said shipping container to said base.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a twistlock connector carried atop each of said plurality of mounts and arranged to be received in a corner casting of said shipping container for securing said shipping container to said base.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a scale coupled to said base and arranged for measuring a weight of said shipping container when carried atop said base.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said scale includes at least one of the group consisting of a strain gauge and a load cell.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said shipping container connected to said mounts.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said shipping container is a 20 foot ISO tank container.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said shipping container is a 20 foot ISO van container.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bulk material conveying device connected to said mounts.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said bulk material conveying device is an auger assembly connected to said mounts.   
     
     
         12 . A method for handling chemicals, comprising:
 providing a shipping container;   holding a chemical within said shipping container;   providing a generally planar base, a roller rotatively coupled to a first end of said base, and at least one of the group consisting of a winching pad eye and a hooklift hoist attachment mounted to a second end of said base opposite said first end; and   mounting a said shipping container atop said base.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a transport vehicle having a tiltable bed and a winch;   tilting the bed of said transport vehicle;   coupling said winch to said winching pad eye; and   winching said base carrying said shipping container atop said bed.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a transport vehicle having a rack and a hooklift hoist arm;   coupling said hooklift hoist arm to said hooklift hoist attachment; and   hoisting said base carrying said shipping container atop said rack by said hooklift hoist arm.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a transport vehicle; and   lifting said base carrying said shipping container on to said vehicle, said roller carrying at least a part of the weight of said base and said shipping container while lifting.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transporting said base and said shipping container to a well site; and   placing said base on the ground at said well site.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 placing said base in proximity to a fracturing system at said well site;   removing a quantity of said chemical from said shipping container;   introducing said quantity of said chemical into the fracturing system; and   conducting fracturing operations.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a scale on said base; and   weighing said shipping container with said scale.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of said chemical dispensed from said shipping container using said scale.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of said chemical present within said shipping container using said scale.   
     
     
         21 . A well completion system comprising:
 a wellhead disposed atop a wellbore;   a fracturing system disposed in proximity to the wellhead and fluidly coupled to the wellbore via the wellhead; and   at least one chemical handling apparatus disposed in proximity to the fracturing system, each of said at least one chemical handling apparatus including a generally planar base, a roller rotatively coupled to a first end of said base, at least one of the group consisting of a winching pad eye and a hooklift hoist attachment mounted to a second end of said base opposite said first end, a plurality of mounts coupled to said base, and a shipping container carried atop said base and fixed to said base by said plurality of mounts.   
     
     
         22 . The well completion system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a first of said at least one chemical handling apparatus, wherein said first chemical handling apparatus is characterized by a 20 foot ISO van container; and   a second of said at least one chemical handling apparatus, wherein said first chemical handling apparatus is characterized by a 20 foot ISO tank container.   
     
     
         23 . The well completion system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a fracturing blender; and   a screw conveyer disposed in proximity to said fracturing blender so as to convey a quantity of a chemical into said fracturing blender, said screw conveyor being mounted atop a generally planar base, said base having a roller rotatively coupled to a first end of said base, at least one of the group consisting of a winching pad eye and a hooklift hoist attachment mounted to a second end of said base opposite said first end.