Frac-sand delivery system

Abstract

A frac-sand well site delivery system is a process and method of storing, measuring, metering and regulating the percent solids or PPA (pounds of proppant added) in a sand slurry form. The sand delivery system is a closed loop, on-site storage system that can receive and store frac-sand. The sand delivery system takes the sand directly from the wash plant or a storage site and transports it to a sand storage pit preferably via pipe but trucking can be used when slurry transfer may not be possible. From the sand storage pit, the sand is pumped directly to regulator for mixing into a sand slurry for subsequent delivery to the frac pumps. Optionally a regular frac blender can be used with the regulator and the storage system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A frac sand delivery system comprising:
 a pit for storing sand;   a sand slurry regulator comprising:
 a supply line for receiving sand from the pit, 
 a return line to return sand to the pit, 
 a flow meter, and 
 a density meter; and 
   a source pump which pumps sand from the pit to the sand slurry regulator through the supply line,   wherein the sand slurry regulator monitors at least one of the flow and density of the sand slurry and adjusts at least one of the flow and density to deliver slurry to a frac pump with a desired concentration of proppant added.   
     
     
         2 . The frac sand delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the source pump is a submersible pump situated below the water surface of the pit. 
     
     
         3 . The frac sand delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a water line for supplying water to the sand slurry regulator. 
     
     
         4 . The frac sand delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a water line for supplying water to the pit. 
     
     
         5 . The frac sand delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the pit is a lined earthen pit.