Patent US5426137A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5426137A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for continuously mixing fluids
Assignee: Halliburton Co
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Filing: 1994-05-12
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Granted: 1995-06-20
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Expires: 2014-05-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method of hydrating a particulated polymer and producing a well treatment gel includes a mixer for spraying the polymer with water at a substantially constant water velocity and at a substantially constant water spray pattern at all flow rates of the water. A centrifugal diffuser is connected to the mixer for receiving the mixture, centrifugally diffusing the motive energy of the mixture, and hydrating the mixture into a gel. A centrifugal separator and constant velocity jet pump may be connected between the mixer and the centrifugal diffuser. A dilution valve is connected to the discharge of the centrifugal diffuser for mixing water with the gel at a substantially constant mixing energy at all flow rates of the gel and producing a diluted gel. A viscometer may be connected to the discharge of the dilution valve for measuring the viscosity of the diluted gel and regulating the flow of gel from the centrifugal diffuser to the dilution valve in order to control the viscosity of the diluted gel.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:41
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B21/00; E21B21/06; E21B21/062; B; B01; B01F; B01F35/00; B01F35/20; B01F35/21; B01F35/213; B01F23/00; B01F23/50; B01F23/59; B01F25/00; B01F25/70; B01F25/72; B01F25/721; B01F33/00; B01F33/80; B01F33/84; B01F35/211; B01F35/2111; B01F35/2112; B01F35/2134; B01F35/22; B01F35/2201; B01F35/2209; B01F35/221; B01F35/2211; B01F2101/00; B01F2101/2805; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S422/00; Y10S422/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
Method of hydrating a particulated polymer and producing a gel, such as a well treatment gel, comprising: spraying the polymer with a directed water spray and forming a water-polymer mixture having a motive energy; passively directing the motive energy into circular motion, thereby centrifugally separating and discharging air from the mixture and centrifugally diffusing the motive energy of the mixture; and hydrating the mixture into a gel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
Method of hydrating a particulated polymer and producing a gel, such as a well treatment gel, comprising: spraying the polymer with a directed water spray and forming a water-polymer mixture having a motive energy; passively directing the motive energy into circular motion, thereby centrifugally separating and discharging air from the mixture and centrifugally diffusing the motive energy of the mixture; and hydrating the mixture into a gel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method of claim 1 in which the mixing step comprises: spraying the polymer with water at a substantially constant water velocity and with a substantially constant water spray pattern at all flow rates of the water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
Method of claim 2 in which the mixing step comprises: providing the polymer to a polymer inlet of a water spraying mixer and directing the polymer along a flow axis from the polymer inlet through a mixing chamber to an outlet of the mixer; surrounding the flow axis and mixing chamber with a water inlet having a plurality of water spraying orifices; and opening or closing all of the orifices simultaneously to regulate the flow rate and velocity of the water spray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Method of claim 3, comprising: directing the axes of the orifices and the water sprayed therefrom obliquely towards the outlet and the flow axis and tangentially to a radial arc about the flow axis in order to create a converging and crisscrossing water spray pattern having several focal points along the flow axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method of claim 4, comprising: directing the axes of the orifices toward the flow axis at various oblique angles and tangentially at various radial distances from the flow axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Method of claim 5, comprising: locating the orifices in opposed pairs on opposing sides of the mixing chamber and directing the axes of the orifices of each opposed pair at the same oblique angle toward the flow axis and along parallel tangents having the same radial distance from the flow axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
Method of claim 3, comprising: metering a preselected quantity of polymer to the polymer inlet of the mixer; and automatically regulating the size of the orifices to provide a flow rate of water in preselected proportion to the metered quantity of polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method of claim 1, comprising: separating air from the water-polymer mixture formed in the mixing step; and pumping the separated water-polymer mixture to impart motive energy to the mixture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Method of claim 8 in which the separating step comprises: passively directing the water-polymer mixture into circular motion and centrifugally separating air from the mixture while providing a substantially unrestricted flow path for the mixture and the air separated therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method of claim 1: wherein the centrifugally separating step is further defined as creating a suction which pulls the polymer into a polymer inlet to the water spray.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method of claim 10 comprising the steps of: locating a polymer supply at a lower elevation than the polymer inlet; and connecting a conduit between the polymer supply and the polymer inlet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method of claim 1 in which the pumping step comprises: injecting water into the mixture at a substantially constant velocity at all flow rates of the mixture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
Method of claim 1 in which the diffusing step comprises: directing the mixture into a circumferential flow path around an inside surface of an outside wall of an inner chamber beginning at an upper end of the inner chamber and discharging the mixture from a lower end of the chamber; and directing the discharge mixture into a lower end of an outer chamber so that the mixture flows upwardly from the lower end of the outer chamber to an upper end of the outer chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Method of claim 13, comprising: guiding the circumferentially flowing mixture out of the inner chamber so that the mixture flows circumferentially around the inside surface of an outside wall of the outer chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
Method of claim 13, comprising: discharging the mixture from the upper end of the outer chamber into a hydration tank in order to hydrate the diffused mixture into a gel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
Method of claim 15, comprising: discharging the mixture from a plurality of outlets at the lower end of the inner chamber so that the mixture flows centrifugally from the inner chamber, around the inside surface of the outer chamber's outside wall, and over the outer chamber's outside wall into the hydration tank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
Method of claim 16, comprising: supporting the inner and outer chambers above a floor of the hydration tank; and discharging the gel from the hydration tank through an outlet in the floor, the outlet being located below the inner and outer chambers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method of claim 1, comprising: mixing water with the hydrated gel to produce a diluted gel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
Method of claim 18, comprising: flowing the hydrated gel to a gel user; providing a water supply at a higher pressure than the flowing gel; and injecting the water into the flowing gel at a substantially constant differential pressure between the water and the gel in order to provide a substantially constant mixing energy at all flow rates of the gel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
Method of claim 19, comprising: injecting the water into the gel at an injection angle about perpendicular to the flow direction of the gel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
Method of claim 19, comprising: measuring the viscosity of the diluted gel and producing a viscosity signal; and adjusting the flow rate of the undiluted hydrated gel in response to the viscosity signal in order to adjust the viscosity of the diluted gel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
Method of claim 21, comprising: comparing the viscosity signal to a setpoint signal indicative of the desired viscosity of the diluted gel and generating a control signal indicative of the flow rate of the undiluted gel necessary to achieve the desired viscosity; and pumping a correlating flow rate of the undiluted hydrated gel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
Method of hydrating a particulated polymer and producing a gel, such as a well treatment gel, comprising: inducting and spraying the polymer with a water spray to form a water-polymer mixture; separating air from the water-polymer mixture; pumping the water-polymer mixture to impart motive energy to the mixture; and passively converting the motion of the mixture into circular motion and thereby centrifugally dissipating the motive energy of the mixture, centrifugally separating air from the mixture, and flowing the mixture in a first-fluid-in, first-fluid-out flow regime in order to hydrate the polymer into a gel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 words
Method of hydrating a particulated polymer and producing a gel, such as a well treatment gel, comprising: inducting and spraying the polymer with a water spray to form a water-polymer mixture; separating air from the water-polymer mixture; pumping the water-polymer mixture to impart motive energy to the mixture; and passively converting the motion of the mixture into circular motion and thereby centrifugally dissipating the motive energy of the mixture, centrifugally separating air from the mixture, and flowing the mixture in a first-fluid-in, first-fluid-out flow regime in order to hydrate the polymer into a gel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
Method for hydrating a particulated polymer and producing a gel, such as a well treatment gel, comprising: inducting and spraying the polymer with a directed water spray and thereby forming a water-polymer mixture having a motive energy; passively converting the motion of the mixture into a circular motion and thereby centrifugally separating air from the mixture and providing a flow path for the discharge of the mixture which does not significantly restrict air flow; and pumping the centrifugally separated mixture into a hydration tank.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
84 words
Method for hydrating a particulated polymer and producing a gel, such as a well treatment gel, comprising: inducting and spraying the polymer with a directed water spray and thereby forming a water-polymer mixture having a motive energy; passively converting the motion of the mixture into a circular motion and thereby centrifugally separating air from the mixture and providing a flow path for the discharge of the mixture which does not significantly restrict air flow; and pumping the centrifugally separated mixture into a hydration tank.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-06-19 | 1998-12-19 | 1999-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-19 | 2002-12-19 | 2003-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-19 | 2006-12-19 | 2007-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |