# US 2020/0399979 A1 · Angled Block with Wear-Reducing Liner for One Straight-Line Connection in Hydraulic Fracturing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399979 A1 - Document ID: US20200399979A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/977,461 - Filed: 2019-03-01 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-02 - Assignees: Seaboard International Inc. - Applicants: Seaboard International, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew Thomas Robinson Webster - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399979A1 ## CPC - E21B 34/025: {Chokes or valves in wellheads and sub-sea wellheads for variably regulating fluid flow} - E21B 17/05: Swivel joints - E21B 33/03: Well heads; Setting-up thereof - E21B 43/0175: {Hydraulic schemes for production manifolds} - E21B 34/02: in well heads - F16L 27/053: held in place by bolts passing through flanges - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A frac tree coupled to a wellhead is connected to either flowback equipment or zipper modules using a single straight-line connection of pipes, valves, and/or frac iron that define a straight-line pathway for fluid, gas, or flowback materials. The disclosed single straight-line connections referenced herein may be used in pressure pumping operations to deliver hydraulic fracturing fluid (“frack fluid”) to a frac tree for delivery to a wellhead or for carrying flowback from the wellhead to a flowback-collecting equipment. To dramatically reduce the wear-and-tear on the frac tree, blocks at or near the top of the frac trees are strategically lined with a high-strength wear-resistant material internally at points where frack fluid or flowback changes direction to flow toward or away from the single straight-line connections. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: an angled block, made of a first material, for connection to a single straight-line connection between a frac tree and either a flowback container or a zipper module, the angled block comprising two ports for fluid to pass and defining an internal cavity having at least one backwall; and a liner of wear-resistant material positioned along the at least one backwall, wherein the first material and the wear-resistant material and different materials. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises steel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wear-resistant material comprises at least one member of a group comprising tungsten carbide, tungsten cobalt, tungsten nickel, ceramic, metal-ceramics, or polyurethane ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one backwall comprises two perpendicular backwalls that are both internally lined, at least partially, with the wear-resistant material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first of the at least one backwall faces a first opening of the angled block and a second of the backwalls faces a second opening of the angled block, thereby defining a fluid passageway from the first opening, through the internal cavity, and to the second opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one backwall is angled at an angle of 45 degrees relative to two adjacent sides of the angled block. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one backwall is at least partially curved in the internal cavity and the liner of wear-resistant material is positioned a curvature of the at least one backwall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one backwall comprises two angled backwalls that are angled relative to two adjacent sides. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one backwall comprises two perpendicular backwalls. ### Claim 9 A frac tree, comprising: one or more valves or pipes defining a vertical fluid channel for either frack fluid or flowback; an angled block, made of a first material, the angled block comprising two ports for fluid to pass and defining an internal cavity having at least one backwall; and a liner of wear-resistant material positioned along the at least one backwall, wherein the first material and the wear-resistant material and different materials. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The frac tree of claim 9, wherein the wear-resistant material covers a portion of the at least one backwall where frack fluid or flowback changes direction in the frac tree from flowing into the angled block to flowing out of the angled block. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The frac tree of claim 9, wherein the wear-resistant material covers a portion of the at least one backwall where frack fluid or flowback changes from flowing along a vertical axis extending up through the vertical fluid channel to a horizontal axis defined by a single straight-line connection attached to the frac tree at the angled block. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The frac tree of claim 9, wherein the angled block comprises an elbow. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The frac tree of claim 9, further comprising a single straight-line connection between the frac tree in which the angled block is connected and a flowback container, wherein the angled block is positioned in the frac tree to redirect flowback received by the frac tree from a wellhead toward the single straight-line connection for delivery to the flowback container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The frac tree of claim 13, wherein the single straight-line connection is connected between the frac tree and the flowback container along a single straight line and at a constant height. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The frac tree of claim 9, further comprising a single straight-line connection between a frac tree in which the angled block is connected and a zipper module, wherein the angled block is positioned in the frac tree to redirect frack fluid received from the single straight-line connection, and supplied by the zipper module, toward a wellhead coupled to the frac tree. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The frac tree of claim 9, wherein the wear-resistant material comprises at least one member of a group comprising tungsten carbide, tungsten cobalt, tungsten nickel, ceramic, metal-ceramics, or polyurethane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The frac tree of claim 9, wherein the at least one backwall is angled at an angle of 45 degrees relative to two adjacent sides of the angled block. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The frac tree of claim 9, wherein the at least one backwall comprises two angled backwalls that are angled relative to two adjacent sides. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The frac tree of claim 9, wherein the at least one backwall comprises two perpendicular backwalls. ### Claim 20 A system, comprising: a frac tree comprising one or more valves or pipes defining a vertical fluid channel for either frack fluid or flowback; a single straight-line connection connected to the frac tree, the single straight-line connection defining a pathway for frack fluid or flowback to be respectively communicated toward or away from the frac tree, the single straight-line connection defining the pathway along only a single straight line with a constant height; and an angled block, made of a first material, the angled block comprising two ports for fluid to pass and defining an internal cavity having at least one backwall; and a liner of wear-resistant material positioned along the at least one backwall.