Electric blender system, apparatus and method for use in fracturing underground formations using liquid petroleum gas
First Claim
1. An electric blender apparatus for fracturing operations, the electric blender comprising:
- a first inlet manifold and a second inlet manifold;
a first crossing inlet operatively coupled between and connecting the first inlet manifold and the second inlet manifold;
a second crossing inlet operatively coupled between and connecting the first inlet manifold and the second inlet manifold;
a first outlet manifold and a second outlet manifold;
a first crossing outlet that is operatively coupled to the first outlet manifold;
a second crossing outlet that is operatively coupled to the second outlet manifold;
a first electrically powered blender unit operatively coupled between and connecting the first inlet manifold and the first outlet manifold and capable of producing a first fracturing fluid stream;
a second electrically powered blender unit operatively coupled between and connecting the second inlet manifold and the second outlet manifold and capable of producing a second fracturing fluid stream;
a first inlet electric motor operatively coupled to the first inlet manifold, wherein the first inlet electric motor is capable of pumping a first fluid entering the first inlet manifold to the first electrically powered blender unit and the second electrically powered blender unit; and
a second inlet electric motor operatively coupled to the second inlet manifold, wherein the second inlet electric motor is capable of pumping the first fluid entering the first inlet manifold to the first electrically powered blender unit and the second electrically powered blender unit.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for providing on-site electrical power to a fracturing operation, and an electrically powered fracturing system. Natural gas can be used to drive a turbine generator in the production of electrical power. A scalable, electrically powered fracturing fleet is provided to pump fluids for the fracturing operation, obviating the need for a constant supply of diesel fuel to the site and reducing the site footprint and infrastructure required for the fracturing operation, when compared with conventional systems. The treatment fluid can comprise a water-based fracturing fluid or a waterless liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fracturing fluid.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An electric blender apparatus for fracturing operations, the electric blender comprising:
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a first inlet manifold and a second inlet manifold; a first crossing inlet operatively coupled between and connecting the first inlet manifold and the second inlet manifold; a second crossing inlet operatively coupled between and connecting the first inlet manifold and the second inlet manifold; a first outlet manifold and a second outlet manifold; a first crossing outlet that is operatively coupled to the first outlet manifold; a second crossing outlet that is operatively coupled to the second outlet manifold; a first electrically powered blender unit operatively coupled between and connecting the first inlet manifold and the first outlet manifold and capable of producing a first fracturing fluid stream; a second electrically powered blender unit operatively coupled between and connecting the second inlet manifold and the second outlet manifold and capable of producing a second fracturing fluid stream; a first inlet electric motor operatively coupled to the first inlet manifold, wherein the first inlet electric motor is capable of pumping a first fluid entering the first inlet manifold to the first electrically powered blender unit and the second electrically powered blender unit; and a second inlet electric motor operatively coupled to the second inlet manifold, wherein the second inlet electric motor is capable of pumping the first fluid entering the first inlet manifold to the first electrically powered blender unit and the second electrically powered blender unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for hydraulic fracturing, comprising:
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providing at least one dedicated source of electric power for fracturing operations on a well site that comprises a wellbore to be fractured, wherein the dedicated source of electrical power is a turbine generator that converts a source of hydrocarbon fuel to electricity; pressurizing a fracturing fluid using at least one pump driven by at least one electric motor at the well site, wherein the dedicated source of electric power provides electric power to the at least one electric motor that is operatively controlled with a variable frequency drive; operating the at least one pump and the at least one electric motor using electric power from the at least one dedicated source of electric power to pump the fracturing fluid into the wellbore; blending, using at least one electric blender, a fluid received from a first fluid source manifold of the at least one electric blender and a second fluid source manifold of the at least one electric blender with a fluid additive from at least one fluid additive source to produce the fracturing fluid, wherein the at least one dedicated source of electric power provides electric power to the at least one electric blender; discharging, using a first discharge motor of the at least one electric blender, the fracturing fluid from a first electrically powered blending tub of the at least one electric blender to both a first outlet manifold of the at least one electric blender and a second outlet manifold of the at least one electric blender; and discharging, using a second discharge motor of the at least one electric blender, the fracturing fluid from a second electrically powered blending tub of the at least one electric blender to the first outlet manifold of the at least one electric blender and to the second outlet manifold of the at least one electric blender. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification