Cold weather package for oil field hydraulics

• US 9,611,728 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2016
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Kenneth L
• Application Number:
  US15/145,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20160319649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 1663081, 1661775
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0209 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/04 Combinations of two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/10 the fluid being liquid

Abstract

A hydraulic fracturing system includes an electrically powered pump that pressurizes fluid, which is piped into a wellbore to fracture a subterranean formation. System components include a fluid source, an additive source, a hydration unit, a blending unit, a proppant source, and a fracturing pump. The system includes heaters for warming hydraulic fluid and/or lube oil. The hydraulic fluid is used for operating devices on the blending and hydration units. The lube oil lubricates and cools various moving parts on the fracturing pump.

Claims

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

a plurality of electric pumps fluidly connected to the well and powered by at least one electric motor, and configured to pump fluid into the wellbore at high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the formation, and fractures the formation;

a variable frequency drive connected to the electric motor to control the speed of the motor, wherein the variable frequency drive frequently performs electric motor diagnostics to prevent damage to the at least one electric motor; and

a working fluid system comprising working fluid, and a heater that is in thermal contact with the working fluid;

wherein the heater comprises a tank having working fluid and a heating element in thermal contact with the working fluid.

2. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is selected from the list consisting of lube oil and hydraulic fluid.

3. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises one of an elongate heating element, a heating coil, or a thermal blanket.

4. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, further comprising a turbine generator, a transformer having a high voltage input in electrical communication with an electrical output of the turbine generator and a low voltage output, wherein the low voltage output is at an electrical potential that is less than that of the high voltage input, and a step down transformer having an input that is in electrical communication with the low voltage output of the transformer.

5. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 4, wherein the step down transformer has an output that is in electrical communication with the heater.

6. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1, wherein the pumps are moveable to different locations on mobile platforms.

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

a pump having a discharge in communication with a wellbore that intersects the formation;

an electric motor coupled to and that drives the pump;

a variable frequency drive connected to the electric motor that controls a speed of the motor and performs electric motor diagnostics; and

a working fluid system comprising a piping circuit having working fluid, and a heater that is in thermal contact with the working fluid;

wherein the working fluid comprises one of lube oil and hydraulic fluid.

8. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 7, wherein the lube oil circulates through the pump.

9. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 7, further comprising a hydrator, chemical additive unit, and blender, and wherein the hydraulic fluid circulates through the hydrator, chemical additive unit, and blender.

10. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 7, further comprising a turbine generator that generates electricity for use in energizing the motor.

11. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 7, wherein the pump comprises a first pump and the motor comprises a first motor, the system further comprising a trailer, a second pump, and a second motor coupled to the second pump and for driving the second pump, and wherein the first and second pumps and motors are mounted on the trailer.

12. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 7, further comprising a first transformer for stepping down a voltage of electricity from an electrical source to a voltage that is useable by the pump, and a second transformer that steps down a voltage of the electricity useable by the pump to a voltage that is usable by the heater.

13. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 7, wherein the pump comprises a first and second pump, and the motor comprises a first motor with two drive shafts.