Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/155,533, titled "ROTARY DISC-TYPE FEEDER FOR HIGH PRESSURE PROPPANT INJECTION," filed May 1, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Background of the Disclosure

[0002] A variety of fluids are used in oil and gas operations. Fluids may be pumped into the subterranean formation through the use of one or more high-pressure pumps. Abrasive solid particles suspended or otherwise carried within the fluids pumped by the high-pressure pumps, can reduce functional life and increase maintenance of the high-pressure pumps and other downstream equipment.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0003] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify

indispensable features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0004] The present disclosure introduces an apparatus that includes a first end, a second end, and a rotor. A first port and a second port each extend through the first end. A third port and a fourth port each extend through the second end. The rotor is disposed between the first and second ends and includes a chamber extending through the rotor between the first and second ends. The rotor is operable to rotate with respect to the first and second ends to alternatingly align the chamber with the first and third ports, and to alternatingly align the chamber with the second and fourth ports.

[0005] The present disclosure also introduces a method that includes rotating a rotor with respect to first and second ends. A first port and a second port each extend through the first end, a third port and a fourth port each extend through the second end, and the rotor is rotatably disposed between the first and second ends and includes a chamber extending through the rotor between the first and second ends. The method also includes conducting solids to the first port such that the solids enter the chamber when the chamber rotates through alignment with the first port, and conducting a fluid to the second port such that the fluid enters the chamber when the chamber rotates through alignment with the second port, whereby the fluid in the chamber discharges the solids from the chamber when the chamber rotates through alignment with the third port.

[0006] The present disclosure also introduces an apparatus that includes a first end and a second end. A first port and a second port each extend through the first end, and a third port extends through the second end. The apparatus also includes a first conduit fluidly coupled between a solids source and the first port, a second conduit fluidly coupled between a fluid source and the second port, and a third conduit fluidly coupled between a wellbore and the third port. The apparatus also includes a rotor disposed between the first and second ends and including a chamber extending through the rotor between the first and second ends, such that rotation of the rotor with respect to the first and second ends causes solids received from the solids source via the first conduit to enter the chamber as the chamber rotates through alignment with the first port, causes fluid received from the fluid source via the second conduit to enter the chamber as the chamber rotates through alignment with the second port and pressurize the solids within the chamber, and causes the pressurized solids to be discharged into the third conduit as the chamber rotates through alignment with the third port.

[0007] These and additional aspects of the present disclosure are set forth in the description that follows, and/or may be learned by a person having ordinary skill in the art by reading the materials herein and/or practicing the principles described herein. At least some aspects of the present disclosure may be achieved via means recited in the attached claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] The present disclosure is understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. [0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 4 is another view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 in a different stage of operation.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another example implementation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 6 is another view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 in a different stage of operation.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another example implementation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a graph related to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 14 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 15 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 16 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 17 is a flow-chart diagram of at least a portion of an example implementation of a method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0026] It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments.

Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for simplicity and clarity, and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. It should also be understood that the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are arbitrarily assigned, are merely intended to differentiate between two or more parts, fluids, etc., and do not indicate a particular orientation or sequence.

[0027] As used herein, a "fluid" is a substance that can flow and conform to the outline of its container when the substance is tested at a temperature of 71 °F (22 °C) and a pressure of one atmosphere (atm) (0.1 megapascals (MPa)). A fluid may be liquid, gas, or both. A fluid may be water based or oil based. A fluid may have just one phase or more than one distinct phase. A fluid may be a heterogeneous fluid having more than one distinct phase. Example heterogeneous fluids within the scope of the present disclosure include a solids-laden fluid or slurry (such as may comprise a continuous liquid phase and undissolved solid particles as a dispersed phase), an emulsion (such as may comprise a continuous liquid phase and at least one dispersed phase of immiscible liquid droplets), a foam (such as may comprise a continuous liquid phase and a dispersed gas phase), and mist (such as may comprise a continuous gas phase and a dispersed liquid droplet phase), among other examples also within the scope of the present disclosure. A heterogeneous fluid may comprise more than one dispersed phase. Moreover, one or more of the phases of a heterogeneous fluid may be or comprise a mixture having multiple components, such as fluids containing dissolved materials and/or undissolved solid material. [0028] Plunger pumps may be employed in high-pressure oilfield pumping applications, such as for hydraulic fracturing applications. Plunger pumps are often referred to as positive displacement pumps, intermittent duty pumps, triplex pumps, quintuplex pumps, or frac pumps. Multiple plunger pumps may be employed simultaneously in large-scale operations where tens of thousands of gallons of fluid are pumped into a wellbore. These pumps are linked to each other with a manifold, which is plumbed to collect the output of the multiple pumps and direct it to the wellbore.

[0029] As described above, some fluids (e.g., fracturing fluid) may contain ingredients that are abrasive to the internal components of a pump. For example, a fracturing fluid generally contains proppant or other solid particulate material, which is insoluble in a base fluid. To create fractures, the fracturing fluid is generally pumped at high pressures, sometimes in the range of 5,000 to 15,000 pounds force per square inch (psi) or more. The proppant may initiate the fractures and/or keep the fractures propped open. The propped fractures provide highly permeably flow paths for oil and gas to flow from the subterranean formation, thereby enhancing the production of a well. However, the abrasive fracturing fluid may accelerate wear of the internal components of the pumps. Consequently, the repair, replacement, and maintenance expenses of the pumps can be quite high, and life expectancy can be low.

[0030] Example implementations of apparatus described herein relate generally to a fluid system for forming a pressurized solids-laden fluid (e.g., fracturing fluid) for injection into a wellbore during well treatment operations. The present disclosure also relates to, and utilization of, one or more solid material feeders to divert abrasive solid material away from high-pressure pumps, instead of pumping a solids-laden fluid with the high-pressure pumps. A non-abrasive solids-free fluid may be pressurized by the high-pressure pumps, while the solid material feeders, located downstream from the high-pressure pumps, transfer low-pressure solid material into a stream of pressurized solids-free fluid. The pressurized solids-laden fluid is then conducted from the solid material feeders to a wellhead for injection into the wellbore. Such use of the solid material feeders may facilitate improved fluid control during well treatment operations and/or increase functional life of the high-pressure pumps and other wellsite equipment fluidly coupled between the high-pressure pumps and the pressure exchangers. Example implementations of methods described herein relate generally to utilizing the fluid system to form and pressurize the solids-laden fluid for injection into the wellbore during well treatment operations. For clarity and ease of understanding, the solids-laden fluid may be referred to hereinafter simply as a "dirty fluid" and the solids-free fluid may be referred to hereinafter simply as a "clean fluid." Also, solid particulate material, whether in dry form or as a solids-laden fluid, may be referred to hereinafter simply as "solids."

[0031] FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic and exploded views of an example implementation of a solid material feeder 100, referred to hereinafter simply as a "feeder," according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The following description refers to FIGS. 1 and 2, collectively.

[0032] The feeder 100 comprises an end cap 102, another end cap 106, and a rotor 1 10 rotatably disposed between the end caps 102, 106. One or more through-holes or ports 104 extend through the end cap 102, one or more through-holes or ports 108 extend through the end cap 106, and one or more through-holes or chambers 112 extend through the rotor 1 10 between the end caps 102, 106. The ports 104, 108 and chambers 112 may be circumferentially spaced with respect to an axis of rotation 1 14 of the rotor 1 10. The end cap 102 may sealingly engage one side of the rotor 110 to sealingly cover the chambers 1 12 on that side of the rotor 1 10 when the ports 104 are not aligned with or otherwise overlapping the chambers 1 12. Similarly, the other end cap 106 may sealingly engage the other side of the rotor 1 10 to sealingly cover the chambers 112 on that side of the rotor 110 when the ports 108 are not aligned with or otherwise overlapping the chambers 1 12. For example, the end caps 102, 106 and/or the rotor 1 10 may be implemented as substantially disc-shaped plates or comprise substantially disc-shaped portions, through which the respective ports 104, 108 and chambers 1 12 extend. The rotor 1 10 may comprise a thickness 1 13 that is substantially greater than the thickness 103, 107 of the end caps 102, 106, respectively.

[0033] Each of the ports 104 may correspond with one of the ports 108. For example, each of the ports 104 may be substantially fully or at least partially aligned with a corresponding port 108 along a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 1 14. In other words, each port 104 may be substantially coaxial with a corresponding port 108, or each port 104 may just partially overlap a corresponding port 108 (e.g., resembling a two-circle Venn diagram when the corresponding ports 104, 108 are viewed axially). However, each port 104 may also be wholly misaligned with each port 108, such that none of the ports 104, 108 overlap.

[0034] Each port 104, 108 and chamber 1 12 may also be offset from the axis of rotation 114 by substantially the same distance 1 16. Each port 104, 108 and chamber 1 12 may also be spaced from an adjacent port 104, 108 and chamber 112 by substantially the same distance 118 or substantially the same angle with respect to the axis of rotation 114.

[0035] Each port 104, 108 and chamber 112 may be substantially cylindrical and have substantially the same diameter 120. Accordingly, the rotor 110 may be operable to rotate with respect to the end caps 102, 106 about the axis of rotation 114 to serially align the chambers 112 with the ports 104, 108. In the example implementation depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotor 110 comprises four chambers 112 and the end caps 102, 106 each comprise four ports 104, 108. However, other implementations within the scope of the present disclosure may comprise as few as two chambers 112 and ports 104, 108, or as many as several dozen.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the feeder 100 shown in FIG. 1 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is another view of the feeder 100 shown in FIG. 3 in a different stage of operation. The following description refers to FIGS. 3 and 4, collectively.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows the feeder 100 fluidly connected with a plurality of conduits 122, 124, 126, 128 operable to communicate or convey various fluids and/or solids described herein into and out of the chambers 112 as the rotor 110 rotates during solids feeding operations. The rotation of the rotor 110 about the axis 114 is depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 by arrows 1 11. The conduits 122, 124 are shown fluidly connected with corresponding ports 104, and the conduits 126, 128 are shown fluidly connected with corresponding ports 108. For example, fluids and/or solids may be injected or introduced into the chambers 112 via the ports 104 and discharged from the chambers 112 via the ports 108.

[0038] Corresponding ports 104, 108 may be alternately fluidly connected with one of the conduits conveying low-pressure solids and then another one of the conduits conveying high- pressure clean fluid, while other corresponding ports 104, 108 may be alternately fluidly connected with another one of the conduits receiving low-pressure clean fluid from the chambers 112 and then another one of the conduits receiving high-pressure solids from the chambers 112. Hence, in a feeder comprising four chambers 112 and four ports 104, 108, such as the feeder 100, the feeder 100 may be fluidly connected with two conduits conveying low-pressure solids and two conduits conveying high-pressure clean fluid.

[0039] For example, one of the ports 104 may be an inlet 132 designated to conduct solids into the chambers 1 12 from the conduit 122, while the corresponding port 108 may be an outlet 134 designated to conduct discharged clean fluid or material from the chambers 1 12 into the conduit 126 during the solids feeding operations. Similarly, the other of the ports 104 may be an inlet 136 designated to conduct the clean fluid into the chambers 1 12 from the conduit 124, while the corresponding port 108 may be an outlet 138 designated to conduct discharged solids from the chamber 112 into the conduit 128 during the solids feeding operations.

[0040] The solids feeding operations may be achieved as the rotor 1 10 is rotating with respect to the end caps 102, 106. For example, as the rotor 1 10 rotates relative to the end caps 102, 106, the low-pressure solids may be conducted into one of the chambers 1 12 (as indicated in FIG. 4 by arrow 142) during the portion of the rotation in which that chamber 1 12 is aligned with or at least partially overlaps the inlet 132. The rotation is continuous, such that the flow rate of the low-pressure solids into that chamber 112 increases as the chamber 1 12 comes into alignment with the inlet 132 and then decreases as that chamber 1 12 rotates out of alignment with the inlet 132. Further rotation of the rotor 110 relative to the end caps 102, 106 isolates the chamber 1 12 from the respective conduits 122, 126, because the chamber 1 12 becomes blocked by the solid portions of the end caps 102, 106, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0041] Further rotation of the rotor 1 10 relative to the end caps 102, 106 permits a pressurized clean fluid to be conducted from the conduit 124 into the chamber 112 containing the low-pressure solids during the portion of the rotation in which the chamber 1 12 is aligned with or at least partially overlaps the inlet 136. During this time, the chamber 112 may also be aligned with or at least partially overlap the outlet 138, depending on the degree of alignment/overlap of the inlet 136 and the outlet 138. As the chamber 1 12 becomes partially overlapped, then aligned (e.g., substantially coaxial), and then again partially overlapped with the inlet 136 and the outlet 138, the flow of the pressurized clean fluid into the chamber 1 12 (as indicated in FIG. 4 by arrow 144) pushes, flushes, or otherwise discharges the solids (perhaps along with some of the clean fluid) from the chamber 1 12 and into the conduit 128 via the outlet 138 (as indicated by arrow 146). The pressurized clean fluid may also act to pressurize the solids, whether by mixing with the solids, interacting against another fluid carrying the solids, and/or otherwise. As the rotor 1 10 further rotates relative to the end caps 102, 106, the chamber 112 will rotate out of alignment/overlapping with the inlet 136 and outlet 138, such that the solid portions of the end caps 102, 106 close off the chamber 1 12 and prevent further fluid communication between the chamber 112 and the respective conduits 124, 128 (as shown in FIG. 3), at least until further rotation repeats the above-described process.

[0042] For example, further rotation of the rotor 110 relative to the end caps 102, 106 once again permits the solids to be conducted from the conduit 122 into the chamber 112, which may still contain some remaining (perhaps now low-pressure) clean fluid, during the portion of the rotation in which the chamber 112 is again aligned with or at least partially overlapping the inlet 132. During this time, as described above, the chamber 112 may also be aligned with or at least partially overlap the outlet 134, depending on the degree of alignment/overlap of the inlet 132 and the outlet 134. As the chamber 112 becomes partially overlapped, then aligned (e.g., substantially coaxial), and then again partially overlapped with the inlet 132 and the outlet 134, the flow of the solids into the chamber 112 (as indicated in FIG. 4 by arrow 142) pushes or otherwise discharges the remaining clean fluid from the chamber 112 and into the conduit 126 via the outlet 134 (as indicated by arrow 148).

[0043] Such operations may be continuously repeated to continuously receive and discharge the solids, including implementations in which the clean fluid is pressurized sufficiently to pressurize the solids. For example, the solids may be received in the chamber 112 at a first pressure, the clean fluid may be received in the chamber 112 at a second pressure that is substantially greater than the first pressure, such that the solids may be discharged at a third pressure between the first and second pressures. In an implementation utilized to form a solids- laden fluid, for example, such as where the feeder 100 is utilized to blend or mix a solids-free carrying fluid or gel with a solid material to form the solids-laden fluid, the solids (which may also be carried by a fluid) may be at or near atmospheric pressure, and the clean fluid received via the conduit 124 may have a pressure sufficient to discharge the solids-laden fluid at a flow rate ranging between about 0.5 cubic meters per minute (m ³ /min) and about 10 m ³ /min.

[0044] Inadvertent flow of solids from the chambers 1 12 to the fluid conduit 126 and/or the inadvertent flow of clean fluid from the chambers 112 to the fluid conduit 128 may be prevented or otherwise minimized by controlling the timing of the alignment (i.e., opening and closing) of the inlets 132, 136 and outlets 134, 138. For example, during continuous rotation of the rotor 110 in the example implementation depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, each chamber 112 is sequentially aligned with the inlet 132 (to receive the solids) and the outlet 134 (to discharge remaining clean fluid). Thus, as the solids fill the chamber 112, the solids fall or otherwise move toward the outlet 134 simultaneous with the clean fluid draining from the chamber 112. However, the rotation of the rotor 110 seals off the outlet 134 when or just before the solids reach the outlet 134 to prevent or minimize the solids from entering into the fluid conduit 126 before being pressurized by further rotation of the rotor 110. The chamber 112 then becomes aligned with the inlet 136 and the outlet 138 to permit the high-pressure clean fluid to enter the chamber 112 via the inlet 136 and thereby expel the solids from the chamber 112 at an increased pressure via the outlet 138. As the clean fluid fills the chamber 1 12, the solids move toward the outlet 138 and are pushed out of the chamber 112. However, the rotation of the rotor 110 seals off the outlet 138 when or just before the solids-free clean fluid reaches the outlet 138, thus preventing or minimizing the clean fluid from entering into the fluid conduit 128.

[0045] As described above, although FIGS. 2-4 show the ports 104 and the corresponding ports 108 as being wholly aligned (e.g., substantially coaxial), the ports 104 and the

corresponding ports 108 of the end cap 106 may be partially misaligned (e.g., not coaxial, but overlapping) or wholly misaligned (e.g., with no overlap). For example, FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views of a portion of an example implementation of a feeder 101 in different stages of operation according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The feeder 101 is substantially similar in structure and operation to the feeder 100 shown in FIGS. 1-4, including where indicated by like reference numbers, except as described below. The following description refers to FIGS. 3-6, collectively.

[0046] The feeder 101 comprises inlets 152, 156 and outlets 154, 158 that are substantially similar to the inlets 132, 136 and outlets 134, 138 of the feeder 100 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, except that the inlets 152, 156 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are partially misaligned with the corresponding (i.e. opposing) outlets 154, 158. That is, the inlets 152, 156 are not coaxial with the outlets 154, 158, but still overlap.

[0047] FIG. 5 depicts an operational stage in which the rotor 1 10 is rotated to a position such that the chambers 112 are partially aligned with the outlets 154, 158 and wholly misaligned or out-of-phase with the inlets 152, 156. FIG. 6 depicts another operational stage in which the rotor 110 is rotated to a position such that the chambers 112 are partially aligned with the inlets 152, 156 and the outlets 154, 158, and wherein the open area (e.g., the overlap allowing material flow) between the chambers 112 and the outlets 154, 158 is substantially larger than the open area between the chambers 112 and the inlets 152, 156. [0048] The solids feeding operations utilizing the feeder 101 may be achieved similarly as described above with respect to the feeder 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the chamber 112 initially overlaps the outlet 158 but not the inlet 156, thus permitting the contents of the chamber 112 to begin exiting through the outlet 158 before new material is introduced into the chamber 112 from the inlet 156. With further rotation of the rotor 110, as shown in FIG. 6, the chamber 112 moves into partial alignment with the inlet 156 and nears substantially alignment with the outlet 158. At this time, the flow area between the chamber 112 and the outlet 158 is substantially larger than the flow area between the chamber 112 and the inlet 156. As a result, the flow of the clean fluid into the chamber 112 (as indicated in FIG. 6 by arrow 160) pushes, flushes, or otherwise discharges the solids (and perhaps some of the clean fluid) from the chamber 112 and into the conduit 128 via the outlet 158, as indicated by arrow 162. With further rotation of rotor 110, the chamber 112 will rotate out of alignment with the outlet 158 and then the inlet 156, thus preventing further fluid communication between the chamber 1 12 and the respective conduits 124, 128.

[0049] Providing inlets 152, 156 that are partially misaligned or out-of-phase with corresponding outlets 154, 158, as depicted in the example implementation shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, may reduce erosion of the rotor 110 and the end caps 102, 106 that may be at least partially caused by choked flow across the open flow area between the chamber 112 and the inlets 152, 156 and outlets 154, 158 at the time when the chamber 112 becomes initially overlaps the inlets 152, 156 and outlets 154, 158. Such erosion may be increased at the flow area between the chamber 112 and the outlet 158 when the chamber 1 12 is filled with the solids, resulting in a stream of solids-laden fluid being discharged from the chamber 112 and through the outlet 158 at high velocity. When the inlet 156 and the outlet 158 are partially misaligned or out-of-phase with each other, the flow area between the chamber 112 and the outlet 158 is substantially larger than if the inlet 156 and the outlet 158 are substantially aligned or in-phase (such as inlet 136 and outlet 138 shown in FIGS. 2-4) when the clean fluid is introduced into the chamber 112 through the inlet 156. The substantially larger orifice results in substantially slower fluid velocities through the flow area, which may reduce erosion. Although both inlets 152, 156 are shown partially misaligned or out-of-phase with the corresponding outlets 154, 158, just the inlet 156 may be misaligned or out-of-phase with the outlet 158, while the inlet 152 may be fully aligned or in-phase with the outlet 154 (such as inlet 132 and outlet 134). In an example implementation, the inlets 152, 156 may be misaligned or out-of-phase with the corresponding outlets 154, 158 by an amount ranging between about one degree and about ten degrees with respect to the axis of rotation 114.

[0050] The inlets 132, 136 and the outlets 134, 138 may have a variety of dimensions and shapes. For example, as in the example implementations shown in FIGS. 1-4, the inlets 132, 136 and the outlets 134, 138 each have dimensions and shapes substantially corresponding to the cross-sectional dimensions and shapes of the openings of each chamber 1 12 at the opposing ends of the rotor 110. However, other implementations are also within the scope of the present disclosure, provided that the chambers 112 may each be sealed against the end caps 102, 106 in a manner preventing or minimizing fluid leaks.

[0051] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an example implementation of a feeder 200 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The feeder 200 comprises one or more similar features of the feeders 100, 101 shown in FIGS. 1-6, except as described below. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the feeder 200 shown in FIG. 7, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Although not shown in FIGS. 1-6, the various features described below may be implemented as part of the feeders 100, 101 described above. The following description refers to FIGS. 7 and 8, collectively.

[0052] The feeder 200 comprises a rotor 210 rotatably disposed between end caps 202, 206. The rotor 210 and the end caps 202, 206 are substantially similar to the above-described rotor 110 and end caps 102, 106, respectively. Fluid sealing means between the rotor 210 and the end caps 202, 206 may be achieved, for example, by machining or grounding mating surfaces 204, 208, 212, of the end caps 202, 206 and the rotor 210 to a high level of flatness (i.e., a few microns) to prevent or minimize fluids or solids from entering between the mating surfaces 204, 208, 212. Seal assemblies 220, such as face seals, may exist between the mating surfaces 204, 208, 212 of the end caps 202, 206 and the rotor 210 to prevent or minimize fluids or solids from escaping between the end caps 202, 206 and the rotor 210.

[0053] The seal assemblies 220 may also or instead comprise floating bushings 222 and viscoelastic seals 224. Such implementations may permit a lubricant or the clean fluid to be introduced into the spaces around the bushings 222 to form a thin fluid film operating as a hydraulic bearing around the bushings 222, such as may prevent or minimize fluids or solids from escaping between the end caps 202, 206 and the rotor 210 during solid feeding operations. The clean fluid or the lubricant may be introduced into the spaces around the bushings 222 via a system of fluid channels 203 extending through the end caps 202, 206, as shown by arrows 214, 218.

[0054] Still another approach may be to form a hydraulic bearing between the mating surfaces 204, 208, 212 of the end caps 202, 206 and the rotor 210. For example, a portion of the clean fluid introduced into the feeder 200 may be diverted between the mating surfaces 204, 208, 212 of the end caps 202, 206 and the rotor 210 to form a thin fluid film operating as a hydraulic bearing or otherwise providing lubrication between the rotating rotor 210 and the static end caps 202, 206, such as may prevent or reduce contact or friction between the rotor 210 and the end caps 202, 206 during solid feeding operations. The flow of clean fluid may be biased such that substantially just the clean fluid, and not the dirty fluid or the solids, enters the area between the mating surfaces 204, 208, 212, such as to prevent or minimize friction or wear caused by the dirty fluid and/or the solids between the rotor 210 and the end caps 202, 206. The flow of the clean fluid to the outside of the feeder 200 may be blocked or reduced by bushings 226 installed between the rotor 210 and the end caps 202, 206. Instead of the clean fluid, a lubricant may be introduced between the mating surfaces 204, 208, 212 of the end caps 202, 206 and the rotor 210. The clean fluid or the lubricant may be introduced between the mating surfaces 204, 208, 212 of the end caps 202, 206 and the rotor 210 via the system of fluid channels 203 extending through the end caps 202, 206, as shown by arrows 214, 216.

[0055] Fluid connection between the conduits 122, 124, 126, 128 (shown in FIGS. 3-6) and a corresponding inlet 207 and outlet 209, may be achieved by various means. For example, each inlet 207 and outlet 209 may terminate with a corresponding flange connection 213, 215 facilitating a high-pressure fluid connection with corresponding flange connections (not shown) of the conduits 122, 124, 126, 128. The conduits 122, 126 conveying the low-pressure solids may be low-pressure conduits facilitating a low-pressure connection with the corresponding inlet 207 and outlet 209. The conduit 122 may also be omitted and replaced with a solids container 303 (shown in FIG. 1 1), such as an open hopper or a funnel-shaped feeder, operable to store, direct, and/or gravity feed the solids into the chamber 205 via the inlet 207. The container 303 may be fixedly connected at the inlet 207 via the flange connection 213. A single container 303 may also supply solids to multiple chambers 205 of the feeder 200. Accordingly, the container 303 may be connected with multiple conduits 122 to feed the solids into the chambers 205. [0056] Rotation of the rotor 210 may be achieved by various means. For example, rotation may be imparted via a motor 230 operably connected to the rotor 210. The motor 230 may be an electrical or fluid powered motor connected with the rotor 210 via a shaft 232, a transmission, or another intermediate driving member extending through at least one of the end caps 202, 206 and fixedly connected with the rotor 210 along the axis of rotation 201 to transfer torque to and rotate the rotor 210. The rotation of the rotor 210 about the axis of rotation 201 is depicted in FIG. 7 by arrow 211.

[0057] The feeder 200 may be provided with rotor speed sensing means operable to measure rotational speed of the rotor 210. For example, the rotor speed sensing means may comprise one or more sensors 236 associated with the rotor 210 and operable to convert position or presence of a rotating or otherwise moving portion of the rotor 210, a feature of the rotor 210, or a marker 238 disposed in association with the rotor 210, into an electrical signal or information related to or indicative of the position and/or speed of the rotor 210. Each sensor 236 may be disposed adjacent the rotor 210 or otherwise disposed in association with the rotor 210 in a manner permitting sensing of the rotor 210 or the marker 238 during solids feeding operations. Each sensor 236 may sense one or more magnets on the rotor 210, one or more features on the rotor 210 that can be optically detected, conductive portions or members on the rotor 210 that can be sensed with an electromagnetic sensor, and/or facets or features on the rotor 210 that can be detected with an ultrasonic sensor, among other examples. Each sensor 236 may be or comprise a linear encoder, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, a magnetic sensor, a Hall effect sensor, and/or a reed switch, among other examples.

[0058] The rotational speed of the rotor 210 may also vary, and may be timed based on velocities of the solids and the clean fluid entering the chambers 205 and the length of the chambers 205 such that the timing of the opening and closing of the inlets 207 and outlets 209 are adjusted in order to facilitate intended operation as described herein. The rotational speed of the rotor 210 may be based on the intended flow rate of the pressurized solids and/or dirty fluid exiting the chambers 205 collectively, the dimensions of the chambers 205, the quantity of the chambers 205 in the feeder 200, and/or the quantity of feeders 200 utilized on a wellsite. For example, larger dimensions of the chambers 205 and greater rotational speed of the rotor 210 relative to the end caps 202, 206 may increase the discharge volume of the pressurized solids and/or dirty fluid. [0059] The solids discharge flow rate by each feeder 200 may be determined, for example, by utilizing Equation (1) set forth below. m = spVf (1) where, m is a solids mass flow rate, p is a solids density, J ⁷ is a volume of each chamber 205, ε is a fraction of the chambers 205 filled with the solids, and /is a number of rotations of the rotor 210 per minute.

[0060] The quantity of feeders 200 utilized at the wellsite in oil and gas operations may depend on the size of each feeder 200. FIG. 9 is a graph showing an estimated relationship between a diameter of the rotors 210, shown along the horizontal axis, and the quantity of feeders 200, shown along the vertical axis, that may be utilized on a wellsite to achieve a maximum flow rate of about 12,000 pounds per minute (lbs/min) of sand at a rotor rotation rate of about 30 revolutions per minute (RPM). The relationship curve shows that the diameter of the rotors 210 may be between about 36 and about 48 inches, such that the number of feeders 200 may be kept low.

[0061] The feeders 100, 101, 200 within the scope of the present disclosure may utilize various forms of solids, dirty fluids, and clean fluids. The solids injected or fed into the stream of pressurized clean fluid may be in a dry form or the solids may be suspended or otherwise carried by a fluid, thus in a form of a dirty fluid. For example, the solids may be in a form of a high-density and/or high -viscosity solids-laden fluid comprising insoluble solid particulate material and/or other ingredients that may compromise the life or maintenance of pumps disposed downstream of the feeders 100, 101, 200, especially when such pumps are operated at higher pressures. Accordingly, in addition to utilizing the feeders 100, 101, 200 to inject or feed dry solid material into the stream of clean fluid, solids may be injected or fed into the stream of clean fluid in the form of a solids-laden or dirty fluid. When the solids are injected or fed into the stream of clean fluid, the clean fluid and the solids may mix to form a dirty fluid.

[0062] Examples of the dirty fluid injected into, formed by, or otherwise utilized by the feeders 100, 101, 200 in oil and gas operations may include treatment fluid, drilling fluid, spacer fluid, workover fluid, a cement composition, fracturing fluid, acidizing fluid, stimulation fluid, and/or combinations thereof, among others within the scope of the present disclosure. The dirty fluid may be a foam, slurry, emulsion, or a compressible gas. The viscosity of the dirty fluid may be sufficient to permit transport of solid additives or other solids without appreciable settling or segregation. Chemicals, such as biopolymers (e.g. polysaccharides), synthetic polymers (e.g. polyacryl amide and its derivatives), crosslinkers, viscoelastic surfactants, oil gelling agents, low molecular weight organogel ators, and phosphate esters may be included in the dirty fluid to control viscosity of the dirty fluid.

[0063] The composition of the clean fluid may permit the clean fluid to be pumped at higher pressures with reduced adverse effects on the downstream pumps. For example, the clean fluid may be a solids-free fluid that does not include insoluble solid particulate material or other abrasive ingredients or a fluid that includes low concentrations of insoluble solid particulate material or other abrasive ingredients. The clean fluid may be a liquid, such as water (including freshwater, brackish water, or brine), a gas (including a cryogenic gas), or combinations thereof.

[0064] The following are additional examples of the dirty and clean fluids that may be utilized during oil and gas operations. However, the following are merely examples, and are not considered to be limiting to the dirty and clean fluids and that may also be utilized within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0065] For fracturing operations, the dirty fluid may be a slurry with a continuous phase comprising water and a dispersed phase comprising proppant (including foamed slurries), including implementations in which the dispersed proppant includes two or more different size ranges and/or shapes, such as may optimize the amount of packing volume within the fractures. The dirty fluid may also be a cement composition (including foamed cements), or a compressible gas. For such fracturing implementations, the clean fluid may be a liquid comprising water, a foam comprising water and gas, a gas, a mist, or a cryogenic gas.

[0066] For cementing operations, including squeeze cementing, the dirty fluid may be a cement composition comprising water as a continuous phase and cement as a dispersed phase, or a foamed cement composition. For such cementing implementations, the clean fluid may be a liquid comprising water, a foam comprising water and gas, a gas, a mist, or a cryogenic gas.

[0067] For drilling, workover, acidizing, and other wellbore operations, the dirty fluid may be a homogenous solution comprising water, soluble salts, and other soluble additives, a slurry with a continuous phase comprising water and a dispersed phase comprising additives that are insoluble in the continuous phase, an emulsion or invert emulsion comprising water and a hydrocarbon liquid, or a foam of one or more of these examples. In such implementations, the clean fluid may be a liquid comprising water, a foam comprising water and gas, a gas, a mist, or a cryogenic gas.

[0068] In the above example implementations, and/or others within the scope of the present disclosure, the solids, whether in dry or dirty fluid form, may include proppant; swellable or non- swellable fibers; a curable resin; a tackifying agent; a lost-circulation material; a suspending agent; a viscosifier; a filtration control agent; a shale stabilizer; a weighting agent; a pH buffer; an emulsifier; an emulsifier activator; a dispersion aid; a corrosion inhibitor; an emulsion thinner; an emulsion thickener; a gelling agent; a surfactant; a foaming agent; a gas; a breaker; a biocide; a chelating agent; a scale inhibitor; a gas hydrate inhibitor; a mutual solvent; an oxidizer; a reducer; a friction reducer; a clay stabilizing agent; an oxygen scavenger; cement; a strength retrogression inhibitor; a fluid loss additive; a cement set retarder; a cement set accelerator; a light-weight additive; a de-foaming agent; an elastomer; a mechanical property enhancing additive; a gas migration control additive; a thixotropic additive; and/or combinations thereof.

[0069] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an example wellsite system 370 that may be utilized for pumping a fluid from a wellsite surface 310 to a well 311 during a well treatment operation. Water from a plurality of water tanks 301 may be substantially continuously pumped to a gel maker 302, which mixes the water with a gelling agent to form a carrying fluid or gel, which may be a clean fluid. The gel may be substantially continuously pumped into a blending/mixing device, hereinafter referred to as a mixer 304. Solids, such as proppant and/or other solid additives stored in a solids container 303, may be intermittently or substantially continuously conveyed into the mixer 304 to be mixed with the gel to form a substantially continuous stream or supply of treatment fluid, which may be a dirty fluid. The treatment fluid may be pumped from the mixer 304 to a plurality of plunger, firac, and/or other pumps 306 through a system of conduits 305 and a manifold 308. Each pump 306 pressurizes the treatment fluid, which is then returned to the manifold 308 through another system of conduits 307. The stream of treatment fluid is then directed to the well 311 via a wellhead 313 through a system of conduits 309. A control unit 312 may be operable to control various portions of such processing via wired and/or wireless communications (not shown).

[0070] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an example implementation of another wellsite system 371 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The wellsite system 371 comprises one or more similar features of the wellsite system 370 shown in FIG. 10, including where indicated by like reference numbers, except as described below.

[0071] The wellsite system 371 includes a feeder 320, which may be utilized to eliminate or reduce pumping of solids through the pumps 306. The feeder 320 may be, comprise, and/or otherwise have one or more aspects in common with the apparatus shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-8. Similarly to as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-8, the feeder 320 comprises a non-pressurized solids inlet 331, a pressurized clean fluid inlet 332, a reduced-pressure fluid discharge or outlet 333, and a pressurized solids and/or dirty fluid discharge or outlet 334. Thus, the solids, in the form of a dirty fluid, may be conducted at low pressure from the mixer 304 through the conduit system 305 into one or more chambers 112, 205 of the feeder 320 via the inlet 331. The pumps 306 may conduct the clean fluid to and from the manifold 308 and then to the pressurized clean fluid inlet 332 of the feeder 320 via a conduit system 316, where the pressurized clean fluid may be utilized to push, flush, or otherwise discharge the solids out of the feeder 320 via the outlet 334. The pressurized mixture of clean fluid and the solids (i.e., dirty fluid) discharged from the feeder 320 is then conducted to the wellhead 313 of the well 311 via a conduit system 309. Although FIG. 11 shows the feeder comprising one solids inlet 331 and one clean fluid inlet 332, it is to be understood that the feeder 320 may include a plurality of solids inlets 331, each connected to receive the solids from the mixer 304 via the conduit system 305. It is to be further understood that the feeder 320 may include a plurality of clean fluid inlets 332, each connected to receive the clean fluid from the manifold 308 via the conduit system 316.

[0072] In the wellsite system 371, the clean fluid may be conducted to the manifold 308 via a conduit system 330, the pump 314, and the conduit system 315. That is, the clean fluid stream leaving the gel maker 302 may be split into a low-pressure side, for utilization by the mixer 304, and a high-pressure side, for pressurization by the manifold 308. Similarly, although not depicted in FIG. 11, the fluid stream entering the gel maker 302 may be split into the low- pressure side, for utilization by the gel maker 302, and the high-pressure side, for pressurization by the manifold 308. Thus, the clean fluid stream and the dirty fluid stream may have the same source, instead of utilizing a separate clean fluid source.

[0073] The reduced-pressure discharge from the feeder 320 via the outlet 333 may be conducted to a tank/pit 340 via a conduit system 343. The reduce pressure discharge from the feeder 320 may be recycled back into the mixer 304 via a conduit system 341 to be combined with the gel from the gel maker 302 and the dry solids from the solids container 303 to form the dirty fluid for conveyance into the feeder 320.

[0074] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an example implementation of another wellsite system 372 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The wellsite system 372 comprises one or more similar features of the wellsite system 370 shown in FIG. 10, including where indicated by like reference numbers, except as described below.

[0075] The wellsite system 372 includes the feeder 320, which may be utilized to eliminate or reduce pumping of the solids through the pumps 306. The solids, in dry form, may be conducted at low pressure from the solids container 303 through the conduit system 305 into one or more chambers 112, 205 of the feeder 320 via the inlet 331. In the wellsite system 372, the clean fluid may be conducted to the manifold 308 via the conduit system 330, the pump 314, and the conduit system 315. That is, the fluid stream leaving the gel maker 302 may be conveyed to the manifold 308 to be pressurized by the pumps 306. The pumps 306 may conduct the clean fluid to and from the manifold 308 and then to the pressurized clean fluid inlet 332 of the feeder 320 via the conduit system 316, where the pressurized clean fluid may be utilized to push, flush, or otherwise discharge the solids out of the feeder 320 via the outlet 334. The pressurized mixture of clean fluid and the solids (i.e., dirty fluid) discharged from the feeder 320 is then conducted to the wellhead 313 of the well 311 via the conduit system 309. Although FIG. 12 shows the feeder comprising one solids inlet 331 and one clean fluid inlet 332, it is to be understood that the feeder 320 may include a plurality of solids inlets 331, each connected to receive the solids from the solids container 303 via the conduit system 305. It is to be further understood that the feeder 320 may include a plurality of clean fluid inlets 332, each connected to receive the clean fluid from the manifold 308 via the conduit system 316. The reduced- pressure discharge from the feeder 320 via the outlet 333 may be conducted to the tank/pit 340 via the conduit system 343.

[0076] Flow rates of the solids from the container 303 and the clean fluid from the manifold 308 may be adjusted to vary the concentration of solids and/or the flow rate of the dirty fluid discharged from the feeder 320.

[0077] Accordingly, a flow rate control device 335 may be fluidly connected along the conduit system 316. The flow rate control device 335 may be or comprise a needle valve, a metering valve, a butterfly valve, a globe valve, or another valve operable to progressively or gradually open and close to control rate of fluid flow of the clean fluid being conveyed to the feeder 320. The flow rate of the solids from the solids container 303 may be controlled via a flow rate control device 336 connected along the conduit system 305. The flow rate control device 336 may be a volumetric or mass dry metering device operable to control the volumetric or mass flow rate of the solids into the feeder 320. The flow rate control device 336 may include a proportional valve, such as a knife gate valve, a butterfly valve, a globe valve, and/or other valves operable to substantially instantaneously or progressively open and close. The flow rate control device 336 may also be or comprise a feeder device, such as a metering feeder, a screw feeder, an auger, and/or conveyor, among other examples. Each flow rate control device 335, 336 may be actuated remotely by a corresponding actuator (not shown) coupled with each flow rate control device 335, 336. The actuators may be or comprise electric actuators, such as solenoids or motors, or fluid actuators, such as pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders or rotary actuators. The flow rate control devices 335, 336 may also be actuated manually, such as by a lever (not shown).

[0078] A fluid analyzer 337 may be disposed along the conduit system 309 in a manner permitting monitoring of the dirty fluid flow rate and/or solids concentration or density of the dirty fluid discharged by the feeder 320. For example, the fluid analyzer 337 may comprise a density sensor operable to measure the solids concentration or the amount of particles in the dirty fluid, which may be indicative of the amount of proppant or other solids in the fluid conducted by the conduit system 309. The density sensor may emit radiation that is absorbed by different particles in the fluid. Different absorption coefficients may exist for different particles, which may then be utilized to translate the signals or information generated by the density sensor to determine the density or solids concentration. The fluid analyzer 337 may also comprise a flow rate sensor, such as a flow meter, operable to measure the volumetric and/or mass flow rate of the dirty fluid. The fluid analyzer 337 may be operable to generate signals or information indicative of the flow rate and/or solids concentration of the dirty fluid and utilized by a controller 410 (shown in FIG. 16), for example, to facilitate intended changes to the flow rate and/or solids concentration of the dirty fluid.

[0079] Although not shown in FIG. 11, it is to be understood that flow rates of the dirty fluid from the mixer 304 and the clean fluid from the manifold 308 may be similarly adjusted in the wellsite system 371 to vary the concentration of solids and/or the flow rate of the dirty fluid discharged from the feeder 320.

[0080] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an example implementation of another wellsite system 373 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The wellsite system 373 is substantially similar in structure and operation to the wellsite system 372, including where indicated by like reference numbers, except as described below.

[0081] Unlike the wellsite system 372, the wellsite system 373 utilizes multiple instances of the feeder 320. The low-pressure solids from the solids container 303 may be split into multiple streams each conducted to a corresponding one of the feeders 320 via a conduit system 351. Similarly, the high-pressure discharge from the manifold 308 may be split into multiple streams each conducted to a corresponding one of the feeders 320 via a conduit system 352. The pressurized dirty fluid discharged from the feeders 320 may be combined and conducted towards the well 311 via a conduit system 353, and the reduced-pressure discharge from the feeders 320 may be combined or separately conducted to the tank/pit 340 via a conduit system 354.

[0082] In addition to or instead of fluidly connecting a feeder in series with a stream of clean fluid, as shown in FIGS. 1 1-13, the feeder may be fluidly connected with a stream of clean fluid utilizing a parallel fluid connection. FIG. 14 is a schematic view of an example implementation of a feeder 201 fluidly connected with two streams of clean fluid utilizing a parallel fluid connection according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The feeder 201 comprises one or more similar features of the feeder 100, 101, 200 shown in FIGS. 1-8, including where indicated by like reference numbers.

[0083] FIG. 14 shows the feeder 201 receiving pressurized clean fluid into the chambers 205 from two fluid conduits 361 conveying high -pressure clean fluid. The high-pressure inlets 207 are fluidly connected to receive the clean fluid from the fluid conduits 361 via corresponding fluid conduits 362, which are fluidly connected with the corresponding fluid conduits 361 at the connection points 371. The high -pressure outlets 209 are fluidly connected with the conduits 361 via corresponding fluid conduits 363, which are fluidly connected with the corresponding fluid conduits 361 at the connection points 372, downstream of connection points 371.

[0084] The fluid conduits 361 at or about the connection points 372 may be constricted or comprise a diameter 376 that is substantially smaller than a diameter 375 of the fluid conduits 361 at or about the connection points 371. Based on the of principles of fluid dynamics, the fluid pressure at the first connection points 371 may be substantially greater than the fluid pressures at the constricted portions of the conduits 361 at the second connection points 372, thus forming a finite pressure drop across the feeder 201 to impart a fluid flow through the feeder 201 via the fluid conduits 362, 363, as indicated by arrows 373, 374. Accordingly, during solids feeding operations the rotor 210 may be rotated with respect the end caps 202, 206 by a motor (not shown) connected to the rotor 210 via a shaft 232. The fluid flowing through the conduits 362, 363 may be utilized to push, flush, or otherwise discharge the solids from the chambers 205 into the fluid conduits 363 and into the fluid conduits 361. Accordingly, the mixing of the clean fluid and the solids introduced into the stream of clean fluid at the connection points 372 may form streams of dirty fluid flowing through the conduits 361 downstream of the connection points 372.

[0085] FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an example implementation of another wellsite system 374 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The wellsite system 374 is substantially similar in structure and operation to one or more of the wellsite systems 371-373, shown in FIGS. 11-13, including where indicated by like reference numbers, except as described below. Although not shown in FIG. 15, the various features described above in association with wellsite systems 371-373 may be implemented as part of the wellsite system 374 described below.

[0086] Unlike in the wellsite systems 371-373, the feeder 320 in the wellsite system 374 is fluidly connected in parallel with a fluid conduit system 361 connecting the manifold 308 and the well 311. Similarly to as shown in FIG. 14, a portion of the clean fluid flowing through the fluid conduit system 361 is diverted to flow through the feeder 320. The solids from the feeder 320 may be introduced into the fluid conduit system 361 via a fluid conduit system 363 to form a stream of dirty fluid downstream of the connection between the fluid conduit systems 361, 363. A pressure differential may be formed along the conduit system 361 between conduit systems 362, 363, such as may cause fluid flow through the feeder 320. The pressure differential may be formed by a flow constriction, such as shown in FIG. 14, or by other means. Two or more feeders 320 may be fluidly connected along the fluid conduit system 361, to increase solids flow rate and/or minimize solids concentration variation of the stream of fluid flowing through the conduit system 361 into the well 311. [0087] Combinations of various aspects of the example implementations depicted in FIGS. 1 1-15 are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0088] Various portions of the wellsite systems 371 -374 described above may collectively form and/or be controlled by a control system, such as may be operable to monitor and/or control operations of the wellsite systems 371-374. FIG. 16 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of such a control system 400 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The following description refers to one or more of FIGS. 1-16.

[0089] The control system 400 may comprise the above-mentioned controller 410, which may be in communication with the gel maker 302, the solids container 303, the mixer 304, the pumps 306, 314, the manifold 308, the motor 230, the sensor 236, the flow control devices 335, 336, the fluid analyzer 337, and/or actuators associated with one or more of these components. For clarity, these and other components in communication with the controller 410 will be collectively referred to hereinafter as "controlled equipment." The controller 410 may be operable to receive coded instructions 432 from wellsite operators and signals generated by the fluid analyzer 337, process the coded instructions 432 and the signals, and communicate control signals to the controlled equipment to execute the coded instructions 432 to implement at least a portion of one or more example methods and/or processes described herein, and/or to implement at least a portion of one or more of the example systems described herein. The controller 410 may be or form a portion of the control unit 312.

[0090] The controller 410 may be or comprise, for example, one or more processors, special- purpose computing devices, servers, personal computers (e.g., desktop, laptop, and/or tablet computers) personal digital assistant (PDA) devices, smartphones, internet appliances, and/or other types of computing devices. The controller 410 may comprise a processor 412, such as a general-purpose programmable processor. The processor 412 may comprise a local memory 414, and may execute coded instructions 432 present in the local memory 414 and/or another memory device. The processor 412 may execute, among other things, the machine-readable coded instructions 432 and/or other instructions and/or programs to implement the example methods and/or processes described herein. The programs stored in the local memory 414 may include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by an associated processor, facilitate the wellsite systems 371-374 to perform the example methods and/or processes described herein. The processor 412 may be, comprise, or be implemented by one or more processors of various types suitable to the local application environment, and may include one or more of general-purpose computers, special-purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as non- limiting examples. Of course, other processors from other families are also appropriate.

[0091] The processor 412 may be in communication with a main memory 417, such as may include a volatile memory 418 and a non-volatile memory 420, perhaps via a bus 422 and/or other communication means. The volatile memory 418 may be, comprise, or be implemented by random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), RAMBUS dynamic random access memory (RDRAM), and/or other types of random access memory devices. The non-volatile memory 420 may be, comprise, or be implemented by read-only memory, flash memory, and/or other types of memory devices. One or more memory controllers (not shown) may control access to the volatile memory 418 and/or non-volatile memory 420.

[0092] The controller 410 may also comprise an interface circuit 424. The interface circuit 424 may be, comprise, or be implemented by various types of standard interfaces, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), a third generation input/output (3GIO) interface, a wireless interface, a cellular interface, and/or a satellite interface, among others. The interface circuit 424 may also comprise a graphics driver card. The interface circuit 424 may also comprise a communication device, such as a modem or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data with external computing devices via a network (e.g., Ethernet connection, digital subscriber line (DSL), telephone line, coaxial cable, cellular telephone system, satellite, etc.). One or more of the controlled equipment may be connected with the controller 410 via the interface circuit 424, such as may facilitate communication between the controlled equipment and the controller 410.

[0093] One or more input devices 426 may also be connected to the interface circuit 424. The input devices 426 may permit the wellsite operators to enter the coded instructions 432, including control commands, operational set-points, and/or other data for use by the processor 412. The operational set-points may include, as non-limiting examples, solids concentration set- points, time interval set-points, rotor speed set-points, and/or flow rate set-points, such as may collectively control the solids concentration levels and/or the flow rate of the dirty fluid being injected into the well 311. The input devices 426 may be, comprise, or be implemented by a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, an isopoint, and/or a voice recognition system, among other examples.

[0094] One or more output devices 428 may also be connected to the interface circuit 424. The output devices 428 may be, comprise, or be implemented by display devices (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, or cathode ray tube (CRT) display), printers, and/or speakers, among other examples. The controller 410 may also communicate with one or more mass storage devices 430 and/or a removable storage medium 434, such as may be or include floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, compact disk (CD) drives, digital versatile disk (DVD) drives, and/or USB and/or other flash drives, among other examples.

[0095] The coded instructions 432 may be stored in the mass storage device 430, the main memory 417, the local memory 414, and/or the removable storage medium 434. Thus, the controller 410 may be implemented in accordance with hardware (perhaps implemented in one or more chips including an integrated circuit, such as an ASIC), or may be implemented as software or firmware for execution by the processor 412. In the case of firmware or software, the implementation may be provided as a computer program product including a non-transitory, computer-readable medium or storage structure embodying computer program code (i.e., software or firmware) thereon for execution by the processor 412.

[0096] The coded instructions 432 may include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by the processor 412, may cause the wellsite systems 371-374 to perform methods, processes, and/or routines described herein. For example, the controller 410 may receive and process the operational set-points entered by a human operator. Based on the received operational set-points and the signals generated by the sensor 236 and/or the fluid analyzer 337, the controller 410 may send signals or information to the various controlled equipment to cause the gel maker 302, the solids container 303, the mixers 304, the flow control devices 335, 336, and/or other portions of the wellsite systems 371-374 to automatically perform and/or undergo one or more operations or routines described herein or otherwise within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0097] FIG. 17 is a flow-chart diagram of at least a portion of an example implementation of a method (500) according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The method (500) may be performed utilizing or otherwise in conjunction with at least a portion of one or more implementations of one or more instances of the apparatus shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-8 and 10-16 and/or otherwise within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the method (500) may be performed and/or caused, at least partially, by the controller 410 executing the coded instructions 432 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description of the method (500) also refers to apparatus shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-8 and 10-16. However, the method (500) may also be performed in conjunction with implementations of apparatus other than those depicted in FIGS. 1-8 and 10-16, which are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0098] The method (500) comprises rotating (505) a rotor 110 of an apparatus 100 with respect to first and second ends 102, 106 about an axis of rotation 114 of the rotor 110. The apparatus may comprise the first end 102 comprising a first port 132 extending through the first end 102 and a second port 136 extending through the first end, the second end 106 comprising a third port 134 extending through the second end 106 and a fourth port 138 extending through the second end 106, and the rotor 110 rotatably disposed between the first and second ends 102, 106 and comprising a chamber 112 extending through the rotor 110 between the first and second ends 102, 106. The chamber 112 may be offset from the axis of rotation 114 of the rotor 110. The method (500) also comprises conducting (510) solids into the chamber 112 via one of the first and third ports 132, 134 when the chamber 1 12 is at least partially aligned with the first and third ports 132, 134, and conducting (515) a fluid into the chamber 112 via one of the second and fourth ports 136, 138 when the chamber 112 is at least partially aligned with the second and fourth ports 136, 138 to discharge the solids out of the chamber 112 via other of the second and fourth ports 136, 138.

[0099] The solids may be conducted (510) into the chamber 112 until the chamber 112 is wholly misaligned with at least one of the first and third ports 132, 134, and wherein the fluid may be conducted (515) into the chamber 112 until the chamber 112 is wholly misaligned with at least one of the second and fourth ports 136, 138.

[00100] Furthermore, conducting (510) the solids into the chamber 112 may discharge (520) out of the chamber 112 the fluid conducted into and remaining in the chamber 112. Also, conducting (515) the fluid into the chamber 112 may form (525) a mixture of the fluid and the solids. Accordingly, discharging (520) the solids out of the chamber 112 may comprise discharging (530) the mixture out of the chamber 112. Furthermore, conducting (510) the solids into the chamber 112 may be performed at a first pressure, conducting (515) the fluid into the chamber 112 may be performed at a second pressure, and discharging (520) the solids out of the chamber 112 may be performed at a third pressure. The second and third pressures may be substantially greater than the first pressure.

[00101] Rotating (505) the rotor 110 of the apparatus 100 until the chamber 112 is at least partially aligned with the first and third ports 132, 134 may fluidly connect (530) the first and third ports 132, 134, and rotating (505) the rotor 110 of the apparatus 100 until the chamber 112 is at least partially aligned with the second and forth ports 136, 138 may fluidly connect (535) the second and fourth ports 136, 138. The first and third ports 132, 134 may be at least partially aligned with each other along a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 114, and the second and fourth ports 136, 138 may be at least partially aligned with each other along the direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 114. Also, the second and fourth ports 136, 138 may be partially misaligned with each other along a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 114.

[00102] Rotating (505) the rotor 110 of the apparatus 100 until the chamber 112 is at least partially aligned with the second and forth ports 136, 138 may comprise rotating (540) the rotor 110 of the apparatus 100 to partially align the chamber 112 with the fourth port 158 before partially aligning the chamber 1 12 with the second port 156.

[00103] The method (500) may further comprise conducting (545) the solids into the plurality of chambers 112 via one of the pluralities of first and third ports 132, 134 when the plurality of chambers 112 are at least partially aligned with the pluralities of first and third portsl32, 134, and conducting (550) the fluid into the plurality of chambers 112 via one of the pluralities of second and fourth ports 136, 138 when the plurality of chambers 1 12 are at least partially aligned with the pluralities of second and fourth ports 136, 138 to discharge the solids from the plurality of chambers 112 via other of the pluralities of second and fourth ports 136, 138.

[00104] Conducting (510) the solids into the chamber 112 may comprise gravity feeding (555) the solids into the chamber 112 from a container 303 of solids.

[00105] One of the second and fourth ports 132, 134 may be fluidly connected with a first fluid conduit 316 and other of the second and fourth ports 132, 134 may be fluidly connected with a second fluid conduit 309. Accordingly, conducting (515) the fluid into the chamber 112 may comprise conducting (560) the fluid from a pump 306 into the chamber 112 via the first conduit 316 and discharging (515) the solids out of the chamber 112 may comprise conducting (565) the solids out of the chamber 112 for injection into a wellbore 311 via the second conduit 309.

[00106] The first conduit 362 may be fluidly connected with a third conduit 361 at a first location 371 and the second conduit 363 may be fluidly connected with the third conduit 361 at a second location 372 downstream from the first location 371, wherein fluid pressure at the first location 371 may be substantially greater than the fluid pressure at the second location 372. Accordingly, conducting (560) the fluid from the pump 306 into the chamber 112 via the first conduit 362 may comprise conducting (570) the fluid from the third conduit 361 into the chamber 112 via the first conduit 362, and conducting (565) the solids out of the chamber 112 for injection into a wellbore 311 via the second conduit 363 may comprise conducting (575) the solids out of the chamber 112 into the second conduit 363 for injection into the wellbore 311 via the third conduit 361.

[00107] The method (500) wherein the fluid may be substantially free of the solids. Also, the fluid may be a first fluid and conducting (510) solids into the chamber 112 may comprise conducting (580) a mixture of the solids and a second fluid into the chamber 112. The method (500) may further comprise injecting (585) the solids discharged out of the chamber 112 into a wellbore 311 during a subterranean well treatment operation. The fluid and solids may form at least a portion of a fracturing fluid, wherein the solids may comprise a proppant material, and wherein the subterranean well treatment operation may comprises a subterranean formation fracturing operation.

[00108] In view of the entirety of the present disclosure, including the figures and the claims, a person having ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure introduces an apparatus comprising: a first end, wherein a first port and a second port each extend through the first end; a second end, wherein a third port and a fourth port each extend through the second end; and a rotor disposed between the first and second ends and comprising a chamber extending through the rotor between the first and second ends, wherein the rotor is operable to rotate with respect to the first and second ends to: alternatingly align the chamber with the first and third ports; and alternatingly align the chamber with the second and fourth ports. [00109] The first and third ports may be substantially aligned, and the second and fourth ports may be substantially aligned.

[00110] The first and third ports may be partially misaligned relative to each other, and the second and fourth ports may be partially misaligned relative each other. In such

implementations, among others within the scope of the present disclosure, rotation of the rotor may cause the chamber to cyclically: partially overlap the second port but none of the first, third, and fourth ports; then wholly align with the second port while partially overlapping the first port but not overlapping either of the third and fourth ports; then partially overlap the second port while wholly aligning with the first port but not overlapping either of the third and fourth ports; then partially overlap the first port but none of the second, third, and fourth ports; then partially overlap the fourth port but none of the first, second, and third ports; then wholly align with the fourth port while partially overlapping the third port but not overlapping either of the first and second ports; then partially overlap the fourth port while wholly aligning with the third port but not overlapping either of the first and second ports; and then partially overlap the third port but none of the first, second, and fourth ports.

[00111] The first port may be a plurality of first ports each extending through the first end, the second port may be a plurality of second ports each extending through the first end, the third port may be a plurality of third ports each extending through the second end, and the fourth port may be a plurality of fourth ports each extending through the second end. In such implementations, each of the first ports may correspond with one of the third ports, and each of the second ports may correspond with one of the fourth ports. The chamber may also be a plurality of chambers each extending through the rotor between the first and second ends.

[00112] The apparatus may further comprise a rotary actuator operable to rotate the rotor with respect to the first and second ends.

[00113] The first and second ends may sealingly engage the rotor.

[00114] The first port may be fluidly connected with a source of solids, and the second port may be fluidly connected with a source of a pressurized fluid. The pressurized fluid may be substantially free of particulate material. The source of the solids may comprise a container of solids operable to gravity feed the solids into the chamber via the first port. The pressurized fluid may be a first fluid, and the solids may be conveyed into the chamber via a second fluid. The second port may be fluidly connected with a first fluid conduit to communicate the pressurized fluid into the chamber, and the fourth port may be fluidly connected with a second fluid conduit to communicate the solids out of the chamber. The first fluid conduit may be fluidly connected with a third fluid conduit at a first location, the second fluid conduit may be connected with the third conduit at a second location downstream from the first location, and fluid pressure at the first location may be substantially greater than fluid pressure at the second location.

[00115] The chamber may receive the solids via the first port while the chamber at least partially overlaps the first port. The chamber may receive the pressurized fluid via the second port while the chamber at least partially overlaps the second port, thereby by pressurizing the solids and depressurizing the pressurized fluid in the chamber. The pressurized solids may be discharged from the chamber while the chamber at least partially overlaps the third port. The depressurized fluid may be discharged from the chamber while the chamber at least partially overlaps the fourth port. A portion of the depressurized fluid may be discharged with the pressurized solids. The mixture may be a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a workover fluid, a cement composition, a fracturing fluid, or an acidizing fluid.

[00116] The chamber may receive the solids at a first pressure, and may receive the fluid at a second pressure. The pressurized solids may be discharged from the chamber at a third pressure that is between the first and second pressures.

[00117] The discharged, pressurized solids may be for injection into a wellbore during a subterranean well treatment operation. For example, the pressurized fluid and solids may form at least a portion of a fracturing fluid, the solids may comprise a proppant material, and the subterranean well treatment operation may comprise a subterranean formation fracturing operation.

[00118] The present disclosure also introduces a method comprising: rotating a rotor with respect to first and second ends, wherein a first port and a second port each extend through the first end, a third port and a fourth port each extend through the second end, and the rotor is rotatably disposed between the first and second ends and comprises a chamber extending through the rotor between the first and second ends; conducting solids to the first port such that the solids enter the chamber when the chamber rotates through alignment with the first port; and conducting a fluid to the second port such that the fluid enters the chamber when the chamber rotates through alignment with the second port, whereby the fluid in the chamber discharges the solids from the chamber when the chamber rotates through alignment with the third port.

[00119] The fluid in the chamber may pressurize the solids before the solids are discharged from the chamber via the third port.

[00120] After the fluid in the chamber discharges the solids from the chamber via the third port, the fluid may be discharged from the chamber when the chamber rotates through alignment with the fourth port.

[00121] The first and fourth ports may be at least partially aligned in an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor, such that the solids entering the chamber via the first port discharge the fluid in the chamber via the fourth port. The second and third ports may be at least partially aligned in the axial direction, such that the fluid entering the chamber via the second port discharges the solids in the chamber via the third port. For example, the first and fourth ports may be substantially coaxial, and/or the second and third ports may be substantially coaxial.

[00122] The fluid entering the chamber via the second port may mix with the solids that previously entered the chamber via the first port, and the discharge from the chamber when the chamber rotates through alignment with the third port may comprise a mixture of the fluid and the solids. The mixture may be a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a workover fluid, a cement composition, a fracturing fluid, or an acidizing fluid.

[00123] The solids may be conducted to the first port at a first pressure, the fluid may be conducted to the second port at a second pressure that is substantially greater than the first pressure, and the solids discharged from the chamber via the third port may be at a third pressure that is between the first and second pressures.

[00124] The solids may enter the chamber via the first port via gravity.

[00125] Conducting the fluid to the second port may comprise operating a pump to pump the fluid through a first conduit to the second port, and the method may further comprise conducting the solids discharged from the chamber to a wellbore via a second conduit fluidly coupled between the third port and the wellbore. A third conduit may fluidly couple the pump and the wellbore, the first conduit may be fluidly connected with the third conduit at a first location, the second conduit may be connected with the third conduit at a second location downstream from the first location, fluid pressure at the first location may be substantially greater than fluid pressure at the second location, conducting the fluid to the second port may comprise conducting the fluid from the third conduit through the first conduit to the second port, and conducting the solids discharged from the chamber to the wellbore may comprise conducting the solids discharged from the chamber through the second conduit to the third conduit for injection into the wellbore.

[00126] The fluid may be substantially free of the solids.

[00127] The fluid may be a first fluid, and conducting the solids to the first port may comprise conducting a mixture of the solids and a second fluid to the first port.

[00128] The method may further comprise conducting the solids discharged from the chamber to a wellbore during a subterranean well treatment operation. For example, the fluid and the solids may mix within the chamber to form at least a portion of a fracturing fluid, the solids may comprise a proppant material, and the subterranean well treatment operation may comprise a subterranean formation fracturing operation.

[00129] The present disclosure also introduces an apparatus comprising: a first end, wherein a first port and a second port each extend through the first end; a second end, wherein a third port extends through the second end; and a first conduit fluidly coupled between a solids source and the first port; a second conduit fluidly coupled between a fluid source and the second port; a third conduit fluidly coupled between a wellbore and the third port; and a rotor disposed between the first and second ends and comprising a chamber extending through the rotor between the first and second ends, such that rotation of the rotor with respect to the first and second ends causes: solids received from the solids source via the first conduit to enter the chamber as the chamber rotates through alignment with the first port; fluid received from the fluid source via the second conduit to enter the chamber as the chamber rotates through alignment with the second port, thereby pressurizing the solids within the chamber; and the pressurized solids to be discharged into the third conduit as the chamber rotates through alignment with the third port.

[00130] Centerlines of the first and third ports may extend axially through the first and third ports. For example, the first and third ports may be substantially coaxial.

[00131] Rotation of the rotor may also cause the fluid remaining in the chamber, after the pressurized solids are discharged, to be discharged into a fourth conduit fluidly coupled with a fourth port that extends through the second end. In such implementations, the second and fourth ports may not be coaxial. [00132] The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that a person having ordinary skill in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. A person having ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same functions and/or achieving the same benefits of the embodiments introduced herein. A person having ordinary skill in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[00133] The Abstract at the end of this disclosure is provided to permit the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.