Oilfield pressure pumping system with slow speed and high pressure fracturing fluid output
AssigneeTwin Disc, Incorporated
InventorEdwin E. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oilfield pressure pumping system is configured to perform a preliminary fracturing stage or operation at a high pressure but slow speed before initiating normal fracturing. The oilfield pressure pumping system includes an auxiliary underdrive system that can drive the transmission at a slower input speed that can be provided by an idle speed of the power unit's engine to facilitate different fracturing modes, including a preliminary fracturing mode during a slow speed high pressure preliminary fracturing stage. The auxiliary underdrive system may include a hydrostatic transmission driven by the engine and which drives the transmission at an underdrive speed that would correspond to a sub-idle engine speed driving the transmission.
Claims15
An oilfield pressure pumping system for delivering a fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation, the oilfield pressure pumping system comprising:
- a pressure pumper configured to deliver the fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation to fracture the subterranean formation, the pressure pumper including:
- a fracturing pump that delivers the fracturing fluid at different output flow rates that correspond to different driven speeds of the fracturing pump;
- a power unit that drives the fracturing pump at the different driven speeds and includes:
- a prime mover;
- a transmission that receives power from the prime mover and selectively delivers power to drive the fracturing pump;
- a torque converter arranged between the prime mover and the transmission, the torque converter defining a main output configured to deliver power to the transmission and an auxiliary output;
- and
- an auxiliary underdrive system that is configured to receive power from the torque converter auxiliary output and selectively deliver power to the transmission for driving the fracturing pump.
An oilfield pressure pumping system for delivering a fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation, the oilfield pressure pumping system comprising:
- a pressure pumper configured to deliver the fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation to fracture the subterranean formation, the pressure pumper including:
- a fracturing pump that delivers the fracturing fluid at different output flow rates that correspond to different driven speeds of the fracturing pump;
- a power unit that drives the fracturing pump at the different driven speeds and includes:
- a prime mover;
- a transmission that receives power from the prime mover and selectively delivers power to drive the fracturing pump;
- and
- an auxiliary underdrive system that selectively delivers power to the transmission for driving the fracturing pump;
- wherein:
- the prime mover is defined by an internal combustion engine that operates at variable speeds and includes an idle speed as a slowest engine speed;
- the transmission has multiple ranges that correspond to multiple gear ratios for driving the fracturing pump at different rotational speeds at a constant speed of the internal combustion engine, with the multiple ranges including a low range as a lowest gear ratio;
- the pressure pumper power unit defines a slowest engine-driven speed defined when:
- the internal combustion engine is operating at the idle speed;
- and
- the transmission is in the low range;
- and
- the auxiliary underdrive system selectively drives the fracturing pump at an underdrive speed that is slower than the slowest engine-driven speed.
An oilfield pressure pumping system for delivering a fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation, the oilfield pressure pumping system comprising:
- a pressure pumper configured to deliver the fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation to fracture the subterranean formation, the pressure pumper including:
- a fracturing pump that delivers the fracturing fluid at different output flow rates that correspond to different driven speeds of the fracturing pump;
- a power unit that drives the fracturing pump at the different driven speeds and includes:
- a prime mover;
- a transmission that receives power from the prime mover and selectively delivers power to drive the fracturing pump;
- and
- an auxiliary underdrive system that selectively delivers power to the transmission for driving the fracturing pump;
- wherein:
- the transmission is a geared mechanical transmission;
- and
- the auxiliary underdrive system includes a hydrostatic transmission;
- a torque converter arranged between the internal combustion engine and the geared mechanical transmission, the torque converter selectively delivering power to the geared mechanical transmission through either of:
- a first power flow path that extends through the hydrostatic transmission of the auxiliary underdrive system;
- and
- a second power flow path that does not extend through the hydrostatic transmission of the auxiliary underdrive system.
An oilfield pressure pumping system for delivering a fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at a slow speed and high pressure using a prime mover, the oilfield pressure pumping system comprising:
- a pressure pumper configured to deliver the fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation to fracture the subterranean formation, the pressure pumper including a fracturing pump that delivers the fracturing fluid at different output flow rates that correspond to different driven speeds of the fracturing pump, a transmission, a torque converter, and an auxiliary underdrive system that includes a hydrostatic transmission that is arranged between the torque converter and the transmission and delivers power to the transmission through a first power flow path in an initial fracturing stage and through a second power flow path during a normal fracturing stage;
- and
- wherein the auxiliary underdrive system rotates an input shaft of the transmission at a slower rotational speed in the initial fracturing stage than an idle speed of the prime mover.
An oilfield pressure pumping system for delivering a fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at a slow speed and high pressure using a prime mover, the oilfield pressure pumping system comprising:
- a pressure pumper configured to deliver the fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation to fracture the subterranean formation, the pressure pumper including a fracturing pump that delivers the fracturing fluid at different output flow rates that correspond to different driven speeds of the fracturing pump, a transmission and an auxiliary underdrive system that includes a hydrostatic transmission that delivers power to the transmission through a first power flow path in an initial fracturing stage and through a second power flow path during a normal fracturing stage;
- and
- wherein:
- the auxiliary underdrive system rotates an input shaft of the transmission at a slower rotational speed in the initial fracturing stage than an idle speed of the prime mover;
- the transmission is a geared mechanical transmission;
- and
- the pressure pumper further comprises:
- a torque converter arranged between the internal combustion engine and the transmission, the torque converter selectively delivering power to each of:
- the geared mechanical transmission;
- and
- the hydrostatic transmission of the auxiliary underdrive system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.