INTEGRAL FRACTURING MANIFOLD

• US 20130175038A1
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Conrad, Gregory A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,839,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/308.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/02 Couplings; joints expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/00 Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/14 operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools E21B34/066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/247 in association with fracturing processes or crevice forming processes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/12751 the threaded bolt extending longitudinally

Abstract

A fracturing system with an integral fracturing manifold is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of fracturing trees and an integral fracturing manifold may be directly coupled to each of the plurality of fracturing trees. In some embodiments, the integral fracturing manifold may accommodate spacing and elevation differences between the fracturing trees. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fracturing system comprising:

a plurality of fracturing trees; and

an integral fracturing manifold directly coupled to each of the plurality of fracturing trees.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fracturing trees bear at least a portion of the weight of the integral fracturing manifold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the integral fracturing manifold includes a plurality of connection blocks and a plurality of pipe sections.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of fracturing trees is directly coupled to the integral fracturing manifold via a respective connection block of the plurality of connection blocks.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the integral fracturing manifold includes at least one adjustment joint that enables variation in the length of the integral fracturing manifold to accommodate variation in the distance between fracturing trees of the plurality of fracturing trees.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the integral fracturing manifold includes at least one pivot joint.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one pivot joint enables a first portion of the integral fracturing manifold to be positioned at an angle with respect to a second portion of the integral fracturing manifold to accommodate variation in spacing between fracturing trees of the plurality of fracturing trees.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one pivot joint enables a first portion of the integral fracturing manifold to be positioned at an angle with respect to a second portion of the integral fracturing manifold to accommodate elevation differences between fracturing trees of the plurality of fracturing trees.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one pivot joint includes at least one ball joint.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the integral fracturing manifold is coupled to a plurality of gate valves that enable individual control of flow of fracturing fluids from the integral fracturing manifold to the plurality of fracturing trees.

11. A fracturing system comprising:

a fracturing tree; and

a fracturing manifold coupled to the fracturing tree by one or more valves of the fracturing tree to enable flow of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to the fracturing tree via the one or more valves without the use of frac iron or a fracturing head between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree.

12. The fracturing system of claim 11, comprising at least one additional fracturing tree coupled to the fracturing manifold by one or more additional valves of the at least one additional fracturing tree.

13. The fracturing system of claim 12, wherein each fracturing tree is coupled to a shared trunk line of the fracturing manifold.

14. The fracturing system of claim 13, wherein the shared trunk line includes a plurality of wellhead crosses and pipes extending between the plurality of wellhead crosses.

15. The fracturing system of claim 14, wherein the shared trunk line is configured to enable adjustments to the length and angular position of one or more portions of the shared trunk line.

16. The fracturing system of claim 14, wherein the fracturing manifold does not include a skid that supports one or more of the wellhead crosses of the fracturing manifold.

17. A method comprising:

coupling a fracturing manifold to a first fracturing tree to enable routing of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to the first fracturing tree without frac iron; and

coupling the fracturing manifold to a second fracturing tree adjacent to the first fracturing tree to enable routing of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to the second fracturing tree without frac iron.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising varying the length of the fracturing manifold by manipulating an adjustment joint of the fracturing manifold.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein coupling the fracturing manifold to the first fracturing tree includes coupling a connection block of the fracturing manifold to a gate valve of the first fracturing tree.

20. The method of claim 17, fracturing a well with fracturing fluid provided from the fracturing manifold through the first or second fracturing tree.