Direct drive unit removal system and associated methods

A method of removing a direct drive unit (DDU) housed in an enclosure, the DDU including a gearbox and a turbine engine connected to the gearbox for driving a driveshaft connected to a pump for use in high-pressure, high-power hydraulic fracturing operations, the method comprising:

• accessing the enclosure, the enclosure containing air inlet ducting connected to the turbine engine and air exhaust ducting connected to the turbine engine;
• disconnecting the turbine engine from the air inlet ducting;
• disconnecting the turbine engine from at least one fuel line;
• disconnecting the gearbox from the driveshaft;
• disconnecting the turbine engine from an at least one exhaust flange connected to the air exhaust ducting;
• operating a DDU positioner assembly to position the DDU for withdrawal from the enclosure wherein the operating the DDU positioner assembly comprises first moving the DDU in a longitudinal direction towards the pump and then moving the DDU in a lateral direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and wherein the DDU positioner assembly comprises a plurality of lateral rails mounted on the floor of the enclosure, a platform slidably mounted on the plurality of lateral rails, a plurality of longitudinal rails mounted on the platform, and the DDU is slidably mounted to the longitudinal rails;
• and
• removing the DDU from the enclosure.