Method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated silica sand, and apparatus therefor

Abstract

A method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated silica sand, and apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 - 110 . (canceled) 
     
     
         111 . A method of reducing silicosis and/or other disease in workers caused and/or exacerbated by inhalation of proppant dust using a proppant-handling arrangement during a hydraulic fracturing operation, said method comprising the steps of:
 connecting a conveyor belt vacuum arrangement to a powered vacuum source;   placing an inlet of said conveyor belt vacuum arrangement at or above or close to a point on a conveyor belt where proppant is dropped onto said conveyor belt;   dropping proppant onto said conveyor belt at said point and thereby disturbing said proppant and causing proppant dust to move into the air;   activating said vacuum source and creating a vacuum within said conveyor belt vacuum arrangement, and thereby sucking away proppant dust generated at said conveyor belt and minimizing movement of proppant dust away from said conveyor belt;   conducting, using vacuum suction, said proppant dust from said conveyor belt to a proppant-dust-collecting arrangement;   collecting said conducted proppant dust in said proppant-dust-collecting arrangement;   moving proppant to a mixer, and then mixing the proppant with proppant-conducting material to form a proppant mixture; and   conducting said proppant mixture into a wellbore during a hydraulic fracturing operation.   
     
     
         112 . The method according to  claim 111 , wherein said method further comprises:
 connecting a mixer vacuum arrangement to a powered vacuum source;   placing an inlet of said mixer vacuum arrangement at or adjacent said mixer to permit vacuum suction of airborne proppant dust;   upon moving proppant to said mixer, disturbing said proppant and causing proppant dust to move into the air;   activating said vacuum source and creating a vacuum within said mixer vacuum arrangement, and thereby sucking away proppant dust generated at said mixer and minimizing movement of proppant dust away from said mixer;   conducting, using vacuum suction, said proppant dust from said mixer to said proppant-dust-collecting arrangement; and   collecting said proppant dust in said proppant-dust-collecting arrangement.   
     
     
         113 . The method according to  claim 112 , wherein:
 connecting a proppant storage device vacuum arrangement to a powered vacuum source;   placing an inlet of said proppant storage device vacuum arrangement at or adjacent a proppant storage device to permit vacuum suction of airborne proppant dust;   moving proppant to, into, within, or out of said proppant storage device and thereby disturbing said proppant and causing proppant dust to move into the air;   activating said vacuum source and creating a vacuum within said proppant storage device vacuum arrangement, and thereby sucking away proppant dust generated at said proppant storage device and minimizing movement of proppant dust away from said proppant storage device;   conducting, using vacuum suction, said proppant dust from said proppant storage device to said proppant-dust-collecting arrangement; and   collecting said proppant dust in said proppant-dust-collecting arrangement.   
     
     
         114 . The method according to  claim 111 , wherein:
 connecting a proppant storage device vacuum arrangement to a powered vacuum source;   placing an inlet of said proppant storage device vacuum arrangement at or adjacent a proppant storage device to permit vacuum suction of airborne proppant dust;   moving proppant to, into, within, or out of said proppant storage device and thereby disturbing said proppant and causing proppant dust to move into the air;   activating said vacuum source and creating a vacuum within said proppant storage device vacuum arrangement, and thereby sucking away proppant dust generated at said proppant storage device and minimizing movement of proppant dust away from said proppant storage device;   conducting, using vacuum suction, said proppant dust from said proppant storage device to said proppant-dust-collecting arrangement; and   collecting said proppant dust in said proppant-dust-collecting arrangement.   
     
     
         115 . A proppant-handling arrangement for performing the method according to  claim 111  of reducing silicosis and/or other disease in workers caused and/or exacerbated by inhalation of proppant dust during a hydraulic fracturing operation, said proppant-handling arrangement comprising:
 a conveyor belt being configured to move proppant thereon; 
 a powered vacuum source; 
 a conveyor belt vacuum arrangement being connected to said powered vacuum source; 
 said conveyor belt vacuum arrangement comprising an inlet disposed at or above or close to a point on said conveyor belt where proppant is dropped onto said conveyor belt and proppant dust is moved into the air; 
 a proppant-dust-collecting arrangement being configured to collect proppant dust; 
 a mixer being configured to mix proppant with proppant-conducting material to form a proppant mixture to be conducted into a wellbore during a hydraulic fracturing operation; and 
 said powered vacuum source being configured to be activated to create a vacuum within said conveyor belt vacuum arrangement, to thereby suck away proppant dust generated at said conveyor belt and minimize movement of proppant dust away from said conveyor belt, and thereby conduct said proppant dust to said proppant-dust-collecting arrangement. 
 
     
     
         116 . The proppant-handling arrangement according to  claim 115 , wherein:
 said proppant-handling arrangement comprises a mixer vacuum arrangement connected to said powered vacuum source;   said mixer vacuum arrangement comprises an inlet disposed at or adjacent said mixer where proppant is moved into said mixer and proppant dust is moved into the air; and   said powered vacuum source is configured to be activated to create a vacuum within said mixer vacuum arrangement, to thereby suck away proppant dust generated at said mixer.   
     
     
         117 . The proppant-handling arrangement according to  claim 116 , wherein:
 said proppant-handling arrangement comprises a proppant storage device;   said proppant-handling arrangement comprises a proppant storage device vacuum arrangement connected to said powered vacuum source;   said proppant storage device vacuum arrangement comprises an inlet disposed at or adjacent said proppant storage device where proppant is moved to, into, within, or out of said mixer and proppant dust is moved into the air; and   said powered vacuum source is configured to be activated to create a vacuum within said proppant storage device vacuum arrangement, to thereby suck away proppant dust generated at said proppant storage device.   
     
     
         118 . The proppant-handling arrangement according to  claim 115 , wherein:
 said proppant-handling arrangement comprises a proppant storage device;   said proppant-handling arrangement comprises a proppant storage device vacuum arrangement connected to said powered vacuum source;   said proppant storage device vacuum arrangement comprises an inlet disposed at or adjacent said proppant storage device where proppant is moved to, into, within, or out of said mixer and proppant dust is moved into the air; and   said powered vacuum source is configured to be activated to create a vacuum within said proppant storage device vacuum arrangement, to thereby suck away proppant dust generated at said proppant storage device.