Container system for transporting and storing proppant

Abstract

A method is disclosed for storing and moving proppant. A supply of fracking proppant is provided at a remote location. A plurality of containers are provided to the desired location, each container having a top, a plurality of walls extending from the top and terminating at an outlet for discharge of proppant therefrom and a flow gate positioned adjacent the outlet to control flow of proppant from an interior volume of the container through the outlet. The plurality of containers are filled with fracking proppant at the remote location, then transported from the remote location to a well site location. The plurality of containers are staged at the well site location and the amount of proppant on hand at the well site location is tracked.

That claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of storing and moving proppant, the method comprising:
 providing a supply of fracking proppant at a remote location;   providing a plurality of containers to the desired location, each container having a top, a plurality of walls extending from the top and terminating at an outlet for discharge of proppant therefrom and a flow gate positioned adjacent the outlet to control flow of proppant from an interior volume of the container through the outlet;   filling the plurality of containers with fracking proppant at the remote location;   transporting the plurality of containers from the remote location to a well site location;   staging the plurality of container at the well site location; and   tracking the amount of proppant on hand at the well site location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising stacking the plurality of containers at the well site one top of one another so that a bottom of one of the plurality of containers overlies the top of another one of the plurality of containers to thereby define a stack to reduce the footprint of the plurality of containers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transporting includes positioning each of the plurality of containers when proppant is positioned therein adjacent a fracturing operation of a production field. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tracking the mesh size of the proppant in the containers at the well site location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning prongs of a forklift in one or more slots positioned adjacent the bottom of each of the plurality of containers in an open space region to thereby enhance lifting and positioning of the containers for stacking and moving the plurality of containers.