ADJUSTABLE FRACTURING SYSTEM

• US 20130075080A1
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Guidry, Kirk P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,978,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/177.5
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/1273 by quick-acting means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/12751 the threaded bolt extending longitudinally
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85938 Non-valved flow dividers

Abstract

An adjustable fracturing system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a fracturing manifold coupled to a fracturing tree to allow the fracturing tree to receive fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold. The system also includes an adjustment joint configured to be varied in length to facilitate coupling of the fracturing manifold to the fracturing tree. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a fracturing manifold;

a fracturing tree coupled to the fracturing manifold to enable receipt of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold; and

an adjustment joint including an inlet, an outlet, and a bore to transmit the fracturing fluid through the adjustment joint, wherein the adjustment joint is configured to be varied in length to facilitate coupling of the fracturing manifold to the fracturing tree.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fracturing manifold is mounted on at least one skid to enable movement of the fracturing manifold and includes a plurality of valves to control flow of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to a plurality of fracturing trees.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of valves includes a first valve to control flow of the fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to a first fracturing tree and a second valve to control flow of the fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to a second fracturing tree, and the adjustment joint is disposed in the fracturing manifold to enable variation in the distance between the first valve and the second valve.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fracturing manifold includes a valve to control flow of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to the fracturing tree, and the adjustment joint is disposed between the valve and the fracturing tree to enable variation in the length of a fluid connection between the valve and the fracturing tree.

5. The system of claim 4, comprising an additional adjustment joint disposed between the valve and the fracturing tree to enable variation in the length of the fluid connection between the valve and the fracturing tree, wherein the adjustment joint and the additional adjustment joint enable variation in the length of the fluid connection in different directions from one another.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the different directions are orthogonal.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising two additional adjustment joints, wherein the adjustment joint and the two additional adjustment joints enable three translational degrees of freedom in aligning a pipe connection between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the fracturing tree is coupled to the fracturing manifold by a single fluid connection.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the single fluid connection includes the adjustment joint.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the single fluid connection includes a pipe having a seven-inch bore.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment joint includes a fracturing head.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment joint includes a pipe connector.

13. An adjustment joint comprising:

an inlet, an outlet, and a bore to transmit a fracturing fluid through the adjustment joint, wherein the adjustment joint is configured to be varied in length to facilitate coupling of a fracturing manifold to a fracturing tree.

14. The adjustment joint of claim 13, wherein the adjustment joint includes a pipe connector having a first collar disposed about a first tubular member and a second collar having a flange;

the first collar includes an interior, threaded surface to engage a mating surface of the second collar;

the flange of the second collar is coupled to a mating flange of a second tubular member; and

the pipe connector is configured such that rotation of the first collar causes translation of the second collar with respect to the first collar to vary the length of the pipe connector.

15. The adjustment joint of claim 14, wherein the first tubular member is received within the second tubular member.

16. The adjustment joint of claim 15, comprising at least one seal in an annular space bound by the first tubular member, the second tubular member, and the second collar.

17. The adjustment joint of claim 16, wherein the at least one seal includes a first seal and a second seal, and the adjustment joint includes a test port extending from the annular space at a position between the first seal and the second seal and through the second tubular member.

18. The adjustment joint of claim 15, including a wiper seal disposed between the first tubular member and the second tubular member.

19. A method comprising:

adjusting a length of a first adjustment joint in a fracturing system to facilitate alignment of a connection between a fracturing manifold and a fracturing tree in a first dimension; and

adjusting a length of a second adjustment joint in the fracturing system to facilitate alignment of the connection between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree in a second dimension different from the first dimension.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising adjusting a length of a third adjustment joint in the fracturing system to facilitate alignment of the connection between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree in a third dimension different from the first dimension and the second dimension.