Halliburton Company

Thomas E Allen

Lewis R Norman

Leonard R Case

Larry Thomas Watters

Weldon M Harms

Mark A Clark

Kevin D Edgley

John M Richardson

Gary E Folmnsbee

Freddie L Sabins

James M Macadam

Syed Hamid

Gary D Arnold

Jerry L Gammill

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.

Method for continuously mixing fluids

Apparatus and method for continuously mixing fluids

A method of evaluating a slurry mixing and placing process, such as a cementing process, for an oil or gas well comprises identifying and measuring specific subprocesses and parameters thereof, statistically summarizing the parameters and creating a database thereof, and analyzing the statistically summarized parameters to identify or compare against process capabilities to reduce variation, thereby improving specific job performance and the overall process.

Method of evaluating oil or gas well fluid process

An apparatus and method for continuously mixing well treatment fluids, such as fracturing gels and the like. Dry polymer is fed into a metering feeder which accurately meters the rate of polymer fed into a water spraying mixer. A vent is provided so that air can enter with the polymer as necessary. Water, with or without a buffering compound therein, is flowed through a water inlet of the mixer. The water is jetted into a spiraling flow pattern through which the polymer falls and is substantially wetted. Auxiliary water inlets may be used to add additional water to the water-polymer slurry to increase mixing energy and increase the amount of slurry produced. The slurry is discharged into a mixing tank with an agitator and then into a holding tank. The slurry may also pass through a shear device to further increase the rate of viscosification of the slurry. In this way, the slurry may be continuously mixed on a real time basis while carrying out the well treatment operation, such as the fracturing of a formation.

Method and apparatus for continuously mixing well treatment fluids

An improved bulk cement metering apparatus includes a valve housing having a cylindrical inner housing bore. The housing has an inlet opening through a side wall thereof. A housing outlet is defined at an open lower end of the cylindrical valve housing. A cylindrical valve element is concentrically and rotatably received within the housing bore. The valve element is rotatable relative to the valve housing between a first fully closed position and a second fully open position. In the closed position the valve element completely blocks the inlet opening. In the open position the inlet opening is completely open. As the valve element rotates from its closed position to its open position a circumferentially extending cutout means thereof progressively uncovers an increasing upper portion of the inlet opening. This design results in decreased plugging of the metering device at low flow rates.

Bulk cement metering device

A mixing apparatus comprises two or more tubs in which mixtures can be mixed to obtain averaging of a particular property, such as density. Two recirculation lines are used. One recirculates between an initial mixing tub and a mixing inlet, and the other recirculates from the additional, secondary averaging tub(s) and the mixing inlet. Computer control responds to densities of fluids recirculated through both of the recirculation lines. In a preferred embodiment, the computer is also responsive to pressure of one of the inlet substances. In response to these measured inputs and other data entered through a data entry terminal, the computer generates control signals for controlling the inputs of both of two inlet substances. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus and a corresponding method utilize displacement tanks both as averaging tubs and as conventional displacement tanks.

Mixing apparatus and method

Method for cementing a well

A mixing apparatus includes a tub, an agitator disposed in the tub, a flow mixer which provides an initial mixture into the tub, and recirculating means for recirculating mixture from the tub through the flow mixer. In a particular embodiment, the flow mixer has a vertical sleeve through which a dry substance is received for mixing with a liquid input through an inlet manifold through which the sleeve extends. The flow mixer also includes a valve comprising an orifice plate, a valve plate and a body in which grooves are formed for forming jets of liquid to engage the dry substance in a downwardly spiraling circulation. Connected to the flow mixer below the valve are at least two recirculation inputs below which a diffuser is adjustably connected.

Mixing apparatus

A casing string is cemented in a borehole of a well. The cement is prepared by introducing water and dry cement material into a mixing vessel. The water and dry cement material are mixed in the mixing vessel to form a cement slurry. The mixing is accomplished by agitating the slurry to cause the slurry to circulate within the vessel, and while agitating the slurry, transmitting vibrational energy into the slurry and thereby aiding in the wetting of the dry cement material in the slurry. This also aids in removing entrained air from the slurry. The slurry is then pumped into an annulus between the casing string and the borehole.

Cement mixing with vibrator

A casing string is cemented in a borehole of a well. The cement is prepared by introducing water and dry cement material into a mixing vessel. The water and dry cement material are mixed in the mixing vessel to form a cement slurry. The mixing is accomplished by agitating the slurry to cause the slurry to circulate within the vessel, and while agitating the slurry, transmitting vibrational energy into the slurry and thereby aiding in the wetting of the dry cement material in the slurry. This also aids in removing entrained air from the slurry. The slurry is then pumped into an annulus between the casing string and the boreholes.

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Comanche, OK, United States of America

Thomas E Allen