Flexible pipe connection systems and methods

A system to deliver pressurized fluid to one or more frac trees, the system comprising:

• a first pump truck having a first pump disposed thereon, wherein the first pump comprises a first fluid outlet;
• a manifold having a second fluid outlet and a plurality of fluid inlets, wherein the first fluid outlet of the first pump is fluidly connected to a first fluid inlet of the plurality of fluid inlets;
• a first flexible pipe, wherein the first flexible pipe comprises:
• a first end of the first flexible pipe fluidly coupled, by a non-swiveling connection, to the second fluid outlet of the manifold, and
• a second end of the first flexible pipe fluidly coupled, by a non-swiveling connection, to a fluid inlet of a first frac tree;
• and
• a first outer shell, enclosing and supporting at least a portion of the first flexible pipe, mounted on the manifold, the first outer shell extending from the manifold a length between the first end and the second end to an end point,
• wherein the first flexible pipe extends in a downward direction an exposed length from the end point to the second end,
• wherein the first outer shell forms a self-supporting arch in a first vertical plane, and
• wherein the arch is configured to be manipulation from the first vertical plane to a second vertical plane without using a lifting device.

A method for fluidly connecting a manifold to at least two frac trees, the method comprising:

• attaching a flexible pipe and an outer shell, enclosing at least a portion of a length of the flexible pipe, to the manifold,
• wherein a first end of the flexible pipe fluidly connects, with a non-swiveling connection, to a fluid outlet of the manifold, and
• wherein the outer shell mounts on a non-swiveling structure of the manifold;
• disposing a second end of the flexible pipe to form an arch supported by the outer shell in a vertical plane containing the first end and a first fluid inlet of a first frac tree of the at least two frac trees;
• fluidly connecting the second end of the flexible pipe to the first fluid inlet;
• and
• switching the second end of the flexible pipe from the first fluid inlet of the first frac tree to fluidly connect to a second fluid inlet of a second frac tree of the at least two frac trees without using a lifting device,
• wherein the fluid outlet of the manifold and the second fluid inlet lie in a second vertical plane different from the first vertical plane.