Systems and methods for controlling silica dust during hydraulic fracturing operations

摘要

A system for capturing dust during the movement of sand between a container and a fracing blender includes a conveyor system having a lateral portion for transporting sand discharged from the container, a lifting portion for lifting sand received from the lateral portion, and a spout for discharging sand received from the lifting portion into a bin of the fracing blender. An enclosure encloses a substantial length of the lateral portion of the conveyor, with portions of the enclosure disposed above and along opposing sides of a belt of the lateral portion of the conveyor system. A manifold is supported on the ground and is coupled in fluid communication with a flexible conduit, which has an inlet disposed in an area proximate a discharge end of the spout. An air system is coupled in fluid communication with the manifold and the flexible conduit for drawing air through the inlet of flexible hose to capture dust around the discharge end of the spout. A collapsible cover is disposed over the discharge end of the spout and the bin of the blender.

主权项

1. A system for capturing dust during the movement of sand between a container and a fracing blender comprising:
a conveyor system including a lateral portion for transporting sand discharged from the container and an angled portion for lifting said received from the lateral portion, the angled portion having a discharge end extending over an edge of a bin of the fracing blender for discharging sand receiving from the lateral portion into the bin of a fracing blender; a first enclosure enclosing substantially an entire length of the lateral portion of the conveyor system, portions of the first enclosure disposed above and along opposing sides of a belt of the lateral portion of the conveyor system; a manifold supported independently of the container at a point below a container roof; a flexible hose in fluid communication with the manifold; an air system in fluid communication with the manifold and the flexible conduit for drawing air through an inlet of the flexible hose to capture dust around the discharge end of the angled portion of the conveyor system; a second enclosure disposed over the discharge end of the angled portion of the conveyor system and the bin of the blender, the inlet end of the flexible hose extending into a space defined by the second enclosure to locate the inlet of the flexible hose in an area proximate the discharge end of the angled portion of the conveyor system, and wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of spaced apart fittings for allowing selective placement of conduits for capturing dust at corresponding points along the lateral portion of the conveyor system.