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 at a slow speed and high pressure, 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.
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 different power flow path in an initial fracturing stage than 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.