SYSTEM FOR GAS COMPRESSION ON ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC FRACTURING FLEETS

• US 20190323428A1
• Filed: 07/01/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: U.S. Well Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: U.S. Well Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Oehring, Jared, Hinderliter, Brandon N.
• Application Number:
  US16/458,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20190323428A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/00 Plural gas-turbine plants; Combinations of gas-turbine plants with other apparatus; Adaptations of gas-turbine plants for special use
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/05 having provisions for obviating the penetration of damaging objects or particles
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/22 Fuel supply systems

Abstract

Embodiments relate to hydraulic fracturing equipment powered by one or more natural gas turbine generators. Natural gas from a supply line is released via a valve into a turbine gas line. The turbine gas line includes one or more regulators to reduce the pressure of the natural gas stream in the turbine gas line to a pressure or pressure range optimum for one or more gas compressors. The gas compressors increase the pressure of the natural gas stream, which is then directed to one or more natural gas turbine generators. The natural gas turbine generators combust the natural gas to produce electricity, which powers electric hydraulic fracturing equipment.

Claims

1. A method of providing electric power to hydraulic fracturing equipment, the method comprising:

releasing a natural gas stream from a main gas line to a turbine gas line, the turbine gas line including one or more natural gas turbine generators;

reducing a natural gas stream pressure so that the natural gas stream pressure is within an optimum pressure range for use in a natural gas compressor;

compressing the natural gas stream using the natural gas compressor so that the natural gas stream pressure is within an optimum pressure range for use by the one or more natural gas turbine generators;

combusting natural gas from the natural gas stream in the one or more natural gas turbine generators to generate electric power; and

providing the electric power to an electric motor to power hydraulic fracturing equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing particulates from the natural gas stream; and

removing liquids from the natural gas stream.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

heating the natural gas stream to prevent the natural gas stream from condensing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural gas compressor is disposed on a mobile trailer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural gas stream includes liquefied natural gas, the method further comprising vaporizing the liquefied natural gas upstream from the natural gas compressor in the turbine gas line so that the natural gas stream entering the natural gas compressor is in a gaseous state.