System for reducing vibrations in a pressure pumping fleet
AssigneeU.S. Well Services, LLC
InventorsJared Oehring, Robert Kurtz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims19
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.