Slurry handling and vapor capture using mobile transport

Abstract

A mobile transport is used for slurry at a wellsite. An enclosure on the mobile transport has a chamber configured to hold the slurry, and a weighing assembly on the mobile transport is configured to weigh solid content of the slurry discharged from the wellsite to the chamber. One or more level sensors on the mobile transport are configured to measure a level of the slurry in the chamber, and one or more gas sensors on the mobile transport are configured to measure a property (e.g., content, proportion, etc.) of gas content in the chamber. A vapor recovery assembly on the mobile transport is in communication with the chamber. The vapor recovery assembly is configured to draw the gas content of the slurry from the chamber or capture any gas out and prevent it from emitting into the atmosphere. A control system is in operational communication with the weighing assembly, the one or more level sensors, the one or more gas sensors, and the vapor recovery assembly. The control system is configured to control the vapor recovery assembly at least in response to the measured property of the gas content in the chamber and can be configured or adjusted on demand remotely. The recovered gas can be fed into the sales pipeline for use at or beyond the facility.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile transport for handling slurry at a wellsite, the mobile transport comprising:
 an enclosure disposed on the mobile transport and having a chamber configured to hold the slurry;   a weighing assembly disposed on the mobile transport and being configured to weigh solid content of the slurry discharged from the wellsite to the chamber;   one or more liquid level sensors disposed on the mobile transport and being configured to measure a level of the slurry in the chamber;   one or more gas sensors disposed on the mobile transport and being configured to measure a property of gas content in the chamber;   a vapor recovery assembly disposed on the mobile transport and being in communication with the chamber, the vapor recovery assembly being configured to recover the gas content of the slurry from the chamber; and   a control system in operational communication with the weighing assembly, the one or more level sensors, the one or more gas sensors, and the vapor recovery assembly, the control system being configured to control the vapor recovery assembly at least in response to the measured property of the gas content in the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a weir plate disposed in the chamber and dividing the chamber into two sections. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile transport of  claim 2 , wherein the enclosure comprises outlets in separate communication with the two sections of the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , comprising a transfer pump disposed on the mobile transport and in communication with a drain in the chamber, the transfer pump being configured to pump liquid content of the slurry from the chamber to an outlet on the mobile transport. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile transport of  claim 4 , wherein the control system is configured to pump the liquid content from the chamber to the outlet at least in response to the measured level of the one or more level sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , wherein the weighing assembly comprises one or more weight modules removably mounted to the enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , wherein the weighing assembly comprises:
 a hopper configured to receive the slurry;   a gate disposed on the hopper and being configured to open and close communication of the hopper with the chamber;   an actuator associated with the gate and being configured to open and close the gate; and   a weight sensor associated with at least one of the hopper and the gate, the weight sensor being configured to measure a weight associated with the solid content of the slurry received in the hopper.   
     
     
         8 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to track the solid content of the slurry based at least on the measured weight. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more level sensors comprise a float sensor disposed in the chamber and in operational communication with the control system, the control system being configured to automatically turn off a portion of the mobile transport in response to the level measured by the float sensor reaching a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile transport of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more level sensors comprise a level sensor disposed in the chamber and in operational communication with the control system, the control system being configured to transmit data of the level measured by the level sensor to a network. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more gas sensors are configured to measure at least one of a constituent, a pressure, a volume, and a concentration as the property of the gas content in the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , wherein the vapor recovery assembly comprises:
 a suction pump in communication with the chamber of the enclosure and being configured to draw the gas content; and   a compression package in communication with the suction pump and being configured to recover gas from the gas content for a gas outlet of the mobile transport.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , comprising a hydraulic power unit disposed on the mobile transport and being configured to actuate the mobile transport. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a local control unit housed in a module disposed on the mobile transport between the enclosure and the vapor recovery assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile transport of  claim 14 , wherein the control system further comprises a centralized control unit in communication with the local control unit and being configured to coordinate operation of the local control unit with a flow management arrangement at the wellsite. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , comprising a visual indicator disposed on the mobile transport and being configured to visually display the measured level in the chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile transport of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile transport comprises a trailer, a vehicle, a truck, a platform, or a skid. 
     
     
         18 . A mobile transport for handling slurry, the mobile transport comprising:
 an enclosure disposed on the mobile transport and having a chamber configured to hold the slurry;   a weighing assembly disposed on the mobile transport and being configured to weigh solid content of the slurry discharged to the chamber;   one or more liquid level sensors disposed on the mobile transport and being configured to measure a level of the slurry in the chamber;   one or more gas sensors disposed on the mobile transport and being configured to measure a property of gas content in the chamber; and   a vapor recovery assembly disposed on the mobile transport and being in communication with the chamber, the vapor recovery assembly being configured to draw the gas content of the slurry from the chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The mobile transport of  claim 18 , comprising a control system in operational communication with the weighing assembly, the one or more liquid level sensors, the one or more gas sensors, and the vapor recovery assembly, the control system being configured to control the vapor recovery assembly at least in response to the measured property of the gas content in the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . A method for handling slurry, the method comprising:
 weighing, with a weighing assembly, solid content of the slurry discharged to an enclosed chamber;   measuring, with one or more liquid level sensors in the enclosed chamber, a level of the slurry in the enclosed chamber;   measuring, with one or more gas sensors in the enclosed chamber, a property of gas content in the enclosed chamber; and   recovering, with a vapor recovery assembly in communication with the enclosed chamber, the gas content of the slurry from the enclosed chamber by controlling the vapor recovery assembly at least in response to the measured property of the gas content in the enclosed chamber.   
     
     
         21 . A mobile transport for handling slurry at a wellsite, the mobile transport comprising:
 an enclosure disposed on the mobile transport and having a sealed chamber configured to hold the slurry; and   a weighing assembly disposed on the mobile transport and being configured to weigh solid content of the slurry discharged from the wellsite to the chamber,   wherein the weighing assembly comprises one or more weight modules removably mounted to and disposed in the enclosure.