System for reducing vibrations in a pressure pumping fleet

• US 10,119,381 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC (ProFrac Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC (ProFrac Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Oehring, Jared, Kurtz, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Yong-Suk
• Application Number:
  US15/145,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20170037717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/08 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/22 the fuel or oxidant being gaseous at standard temperature and pressure F02C3/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/22 of reciprocating-piston type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/00 Pumping installations or systems pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors F04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/04 Combinations of two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/00 Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps by using positive or negative pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped F04F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/003 by damping supports
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/32 in gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/067 using only wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 3/04 composed only of wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/041 specially adapted for preventing vibrations flexible pipe connections F16L27/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 23/00 Arrangements or methods for the control of AC motors characterised by a control method other than vector control

Abstract

An electrically powered hydraulic fracturing system having pumps for pressurizing fracturing fluid, piping for carrying fracturing fluid, and vibration reducing equipment for use with the piping. The vibration reducing equipment includes helical coils that support the piping. The coils are made of a wire rope made of strands of steel cable twisted together. Grooved fittings are provided on some piping connections, and which allow pivoting between adjacent fluid conveyance members. Swivel joints are strategically located in the piping which allow rotational flexing between adjacent sections of the piping; thereby attenuating vibration in the piping but without stressing the piping.

Claims

1. A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:

an electrically powered fracturing pump having a suction side and a discharge side;

a suction branch of piping having fracturing fluid therein;

a discharge branch of piping having therein pressurized fracturing fluid supplied from the fracturing pump;

a tubular suction lead having an end mounted to the suction side and an opposite end coupled to an end of the suction branch by a grooved connection, and which is pivotal with respect to the suction branch; and

swivel connections strategically located in the discharge branch of piping, so that when pressurized fracturing fluid flows through the discharge branch of piping, a section of the discharge branch of piping is axially rotatable with an adjacent section of the discharge branch of piping.

2. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, further comprising helical coils supporting suction and discharge branches of piping at strategically located positions.

3. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, wherein a one of the helical coils has an axis that is disposed oblique with an axis of an adjacent amount of piping.

4. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, further comprising a pulsation dampener in fluid communication with the suction branch and adjacent the suction lead.

5. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, wherein the fracturing pump is a first fracturing pump, wherein the suction and discharge branches respectively intersect with suction and discharge piping that are in fluid communication with a second fracturing pump, and wherein the suction and discharge branch intersections are at locations that are each spaced away from a surface on which the first fracturing pump is supported.

6. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 5, wherein the surface on which the first fracturing pump is supported comprises a trailer, truck, or skid.

7. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, further comprising a turbine generator for generating electricity used for powering the fracturing pump.

8. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, further comprising a controller that uses vibration data to monitor and/or adjust control commands of the system.

9. A method of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:

pressurizing fracturing fluid with a hydraulic fracturing system that comprises an electrically powered fracturing pump, a tubular suction branch, and a tubular discharge branch;

drawing the fracturing fluid into the fracturing pump through the suction branch;

discharging the fracturing fluid from the fracturing pump through the discharge branch;

introducing the fracturing fluid to the formation to create a fracture in the formation; and

reducing vibration in the hydraulic fracturing system by,

strategically locating swivel joints in the suction and discharge branches, so that designated sections of the suction and discharge branches are moveable with respect to other sections of the suction and discharge branches,

providing a grooved connection in the suction branch, so that piping supplying fracturing fluid to the fracturing pump is pivotable with respect to the fracturing pump, and

maintaining portions of the suction and discharge branches that are supported on a surface that supports the fracturing pump from other suction and discharge branches.

10. The method of claim 9, farther comprising resting the suction and discharge branches on helical coils.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising including an elastomeric yoke with the helical coils.

12. The method of claim 9, diverting some of the fluid in the suction ranch to an accumulator or pulsation dampener.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising powering the fracturing pump with electricity generated by a turbine generator or other electrical power supply.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising using vibration data to monitor or adjust control commands of the system, or to both monitor and adjust control commands of the system.

15. A method of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:

pressurizing fracturing fluid with a hydraulic fracturing system that includes an electrically powered fracturing pump and piping coupled with the fracturing pump;

discharging pressurized fracturing fluid for delivery to a wellbore that intersects the formation so that the pressurized fracturing fluid fractures the formation; and

reducing vibration in the hydraulic fracturing system by providing joints in the piping at strategic locations so that adjacent sections of the piping pivot or swivel, or both monitor and adjust control commands of the system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the joints comprise a swiveling joint that allows relative rotational movement between adjacent sections of the piping.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the joints comprise a grooved connection joint that allows pivoting between adjacent sections of the piping.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising maintaining the piping separate from piping that is in fluid communication with another fracturing pump while on the unit.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising using vibration data to monitor or adjust control commands of the system or both monitor and adjust commands of the system.