Fabrication Shop - PLC Programming, Industrial Controls, Machine And Tool Design

Cement Bin

In July of 2000, 3D Farms contracted with American Casedhole Specialists, Weatherford, Oklahoma to build a bulk cement storage bin. American Casedhole is an electric wireline service company in the oil and gas industry. One of the services they provide is to dump cement downhole in their customer’s wells. American Casedhole specializes in deep, hot, high pressure wells. Because of the well conditions in which they work they manufacture their own cement kits. To improve the quality of the cement kit they produced they wanted the capability to purchase and store cement in bulk.

SCOPE: American Casedhole had purchased an old cement bin from another company. They wanted to modify that bin to achieve the following goals:

a.) Achieve an 80 cubic foot storage capacity

b.) Have the bin skid mounted for easy transportation

c.) Have an elevated rack for storage and making cement kits

d.) Install a rotary feeder to accurately dispense powder cement

e.) Provide a sealed man hatch

f.) Provide a spout for filling the bin

g.) Provide long term storage for powder cement

RESULTS: We felt the biggest problem to overcome was the long term storage for the powder cement. The cement bin was probably going to be stored outside, so it would go through extreme temperature and moisture changes. This problem was overcome by pressurizing the bin with dry air. Another problem that we anticipated was that the cement would settle and pack during transportation, thus making it hard to feed from the bin. We installed three levels of aerators to help the cement flow from the bin. Our plan was to purchase a cone and rotary feeder for the bottom of the cement bin. We found several sources for cones and rotary feeders but after receiving the quotes we decided to design and build our own. By doing this we saved American Casedhole several thousand dollars.

In addition to doing all of the design work on the bin and storage skid, we did all of the fabrication and painting. We also designed and machined the rotary feeder. We provided American Casedhole with complete documentation, including bill of materials, instructions and air and electrical schematics. Below are before and after thumbnail pictures of the cement bin.

Before Picture 1 Before Picture 2

Finished Cement Bin without storage skid Rotary Valve

Plumbing