System and method for remotely disconnecting a high-pressure pump from an active fracturing operation

A system for remotely disconnecting a high-pressure pump from an active fracturing operation that is operating at high-pressure, comprising:

• a missile side remotely actuated valve in fluid communication with a missile or manifold of a fracturing system;
• a pump side remotely actuated valve mounted to a moveable high-pressure pump truck and in fluid communication with a high-pressure pump thereon;
• a remotely controlled bleed valve in communication with a fluid passage interconnecting the missile side valve and the pump side valve with the high-pressure pump truck is connected to the fracturing system;
• and
• a remotely controlled pump side valve connector mounted at a specific height on a rear facing portion of the moveable high-pressure pump truck, the specific height being equal to a height of a corresponding fixed position connector positioned near and in fluid communication with the missile or manifold, the remotely controlled pump side valve connector being configured to selectively connect to and disconnect from the corresponding fixed position connector by remote control.

A method for disconnecting a high-pressure fracking pump truck from an active fracking operation that remains under pressure during the disconnect process, comprising:

• closing, in response to a remotely generated control signal, a missile-side valve in fluid communication with a missile or manifold of the fracking operation, the missile side valve being in fluid communication with the high-pressure fracking pump truck;
• closing, in response to a remotely generated control signal, a truck-side valve in fluid communication with a high-pressure supply of the high-pressure fracking pump truck and the missile side valve though a fluid conduit;
• opening, in response to a remotely generated control signal, a bleed valve in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, opening the bleed valve operating to vent the fluid conduit to atmospheric pressure;
• disconnecting, in response to a remotely generated control signal, a pump side valve connector mounted at a specific height on a rear facing portion of the high-pressure fracking truck, the disconnection severing the fluid communication between the high-pressure fracking pump truck and the fluid conduit;
• moving the high-pressure fracking pump truck away from the active fracking operation once the disconnecting is complete;
• replacing the high-pressure fracking pump truck that was moved away from the active fracking operation with another high-pressure pump truck having the same pump side valve connector mounted on a rear portion thereof that is configured to secure to the fixed position fluid connector;
• and
• testing pressure integrity of the high-pressure pump truck connected to the missile before pressurizing and going online by pumping a gas into the fluid conduit and monitoring for pressure loss indicative of a leak.