Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc.

Ohmstede Mechanical Services, Inc.

Steward & Stevenson Services, Inc.

Robert A Baten

Bruce A Vicknair

Greg L Cedillo

Michael P Dearing

Randall R Price

Frank C South, Jr

Thomas A Robertson

John Howard Craig

Thomas B Boisture

William L Anderson, Jr

James D Jeffrey

Gene P Livingston

Larry D McGrew

Clifford Stanley Montgomery

Milo A Persinger

Robert G Wetzel

Richard I Cushman

An automatic cementing system and method are disclosed for precisely controlling the density of a slurry during a continuously mixed cement application. The system includes an input water line and a dry cement hopper for supplying water and cement, respectively, to a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber includes two chambers, Chamber A and Chamber B, for thoroughly mixing the water and cement together to form a cement slurry. Chamber B includes a level sensor for measuring the change in slurry level. The input line includes a pump for supplying the water to the mixing chamber, and a flow meter for measuring the rate at which the water is supplied. Similarly, the hopper includes a slide-gate valve for regulating the rate at which the dry cement is supplied to the mixing chamber. A discharge line with a discharge pump and a discharge flow meter receives and discharges cement slurry. A recirculation line is included for density control during initialization. A system controller receives operational parameters from the operator, including desired slurry density, mix water density, and dry cement density. As the slurry discharge rate increases to the desired value, the mix water flow rate increases to maintain the calculated volume percentage of mix water in the discharge slurry constant. The tub level drops, causing the slide-gate valve to open and add cement, raising the tub level to the setpoint level and maintaining an accurate discharge slurry density.

Automatic cementing system with improved density control

An automatic cementing system and method are disclosed for precisely controlling the density of a slurry during a continuously mixed cement application. The system includes an input water line and a dry cement hopper for supplying water and dry cement, respectively, to a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber includes two chambers, Chamber A and Chamber B, for thoroughly mixing the water and cement together to form a cement slurry. Chamber B includes a level sensor for measuring the change in slurry level. The input line includes a pump for supplying the water to the mixing chamber, and a flow meter for measuring the rate at which the water is supplied. Similarly, the hopper includes a rotary valve for regulating the rate at which the dry cement is supplied to the mixing chamber and a speed sensor for measuring the speed of the rotary valve. A discharge line with a discharge pump and a discharge flow meter receives and discharges cement slurry. A recirculation line is included for density control during initialization. A system controller receives operational parameters from the operator, including desired slurry density, mix water density and dry cement density. Once the rate of the input pump is set, the controller monitors the output from the level sensor in Chamber B and adjusts the rotary valve until the level of slurry in Chamber B is constant. At that time, the amount of water leaving the system as slurry is calculated by the controller, and the controller then sets the rate of the input pump based upon this calculation.

An automatic cementing system and method are disclosed for precisely controlling the density of a slurry during a continuously mixed cement application. The system includes an input water line and a dry cement hopper for supplying water and dry cement, respectively, to a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber includes two chambers, Chamber A and Chamber B, for thoroughly mixing the water and cement together to form a cement slurry. Chamber B includes a level sensor for measuring the change in slurry level. The input line includes a pump for supplying the water to the mixing chamber, and a flow meter for measuring the rate at which the water is supplied. Similarly, the hopper includes a rotary valve for regulating the rate at which the dry cement is supplied to the mixing chamber and a speed sensor for measuring the speed of the rotary valve. A discharge line with a discharge pump and a discharge flow meter receives and discharges cement slurry. A recirculation line is included for density control during initialization. A system controller receives operational parameters from the operator, including desired slurry density, mix water density and dry cement density. Once the rate of the input pump is set, the controller monitors the output from the level sensor in Chamber B and adjusts the rotary valve until the level of slurry in Chamber B is constant. At that time,, the amount of water leaving the system as slurry is calculated by the controller, and the controller then sets the rate of the input pump based upon this calculation.

Automatic cementing system for precisely obtaining a desired cement

An automated density and chemical controller automatically controls the density and chemical proportions of a slurry that is injected into a well during a well fracturing operation. The automated density controller receives from the operator the parameters of the fracturing operation and automatically controls the addition of a proppant to water to produce a slurry with a desired density. The automated density controller measures the incoming flow of water into a blender tub and regulates the delivery of proppant in the blender tub to produce a slurry of the desired density. The performance characteristics of the mechanism used to deliver the proppant are programmed into the controller to enable the controller to regulate the quantity of proppant delivered by controlling the operational speed of the delivery mechanism. The automated chemical controller regulates the addition of chemicals based on the incoming flow rate. The automated density controller also measures the flow of the slurry discharged from the blender tub and, together with the incoming flow rate, calculates the actual density of the slurry. After comparing the actual density with the desired density, the automated density controller calculates a correction factor and recalibrates the performance characteristics of the proppant delivery mechanism. The automated density controller also includes a densiometer for measuring the actual density of the slurry. The density measured by the densiometer is compared with the density calculated by the flow meters to provide an indication of whether the controller is operating correctly.

Method for controlling the density of a well fracturing slurry

A heat exchanger tube bundle extractor having an improved sled and motive means operable to move the tube bundle into or out of its shell. A fixed screw shaft is provided on the chassis, and a rotatable drive nut on the sled. The drive nut is threadedly retained on the screw shaft. The drive nut is held against axial movement with respect to the sled by a gear box disposed on the sled. The gear box output includes a rotating shaft to which the drive nut is connected, which provides the drive nut with the appropriate speed and power to effectively pull the tube bundle from, or push it back into, the shell. A balance nut disposed on the opposite end of the drive shaft from the drive nut, and threadedly engaged with the screw shaft, reacts against side forces on the sled and screw shaft to assist in keeping the drive nut and screw shaft properly aligned. All of the power generation, conversion, and control equipment for operating the sled drive, a hydraulic breakout cylinder, and a hydraulic elevator is located on the sled itself in a compact and self-contained arrangement, and is movable along with the sled. This eliminates the piping, cabling, and related power equipment from the chassis. The present invention exhibits a low unit weight to pulling/pushing power ratio, and a low unit weight to load capacity ratio.

Tube bundle extractor

An automated density and chemical controller automatically controls the density and chemical proportions of a slurry that is injected into a well during a well fracturing operation to produce a slurry with a desired density. The automated controller automatically controls the addition of a proppant to water based on the parameters of the fracturing operation, the incoming flow of water into a blender tub, the incoming flow rate of chemicals, and the performance characteristics of the mechanism used to deliver the proppant. The automated density controller also measures the flow of the slurry discharged from the blender tub and calculates the actual density of the slurry. After comparing the calculated actual density with the desired density, the automated density controller calculates a correction factor and recalibrates the performance characteristics of the proppant delivery mechanism. The automated density controller also includes a densiometer for measuring the actual density of the slurry. The actual density measured by the densiometer is compared with the calculated actual density to provide an indication of whether the controller is operating correctly.

Method and apparatus for automatically controlling a well fracturing

A totalizer and rate meter is totally enclosed within a permanently sealed, fluid tight body formed of a low cost, transparent epoxy material. The meter can be programmed in the field by means of an optical transmitter communicating with an optical receiver enclosed within the transparent body of the meter.

Encapsulated meter with optical programmer

A mobile tube bundle cleaning apparatus comprised of a truck mounted fluid and hydraulic pressure sources including high pressure pumps and diesel engines. The apparatus further includes a trailer mounted tube bundle cleaning system including an articulable mobile crane, outriggers for stabilizing the trailer during cleaning operations and a system for supporting and rotating a tube bundle during cleaning operations. The apparatus further includes a remote control pedestal from which an operator may control the fluid pressurizing system, the crane and the operation of the tube bundle rotating system.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Robert A Baten