Instrumented fracturing slurry flow system and method

A system for monitoring a hydraulic fracturing operation, comprising:

• an electric-powered pump arranged a well site where hydraulic fracturing is to be performed, the electric-powered pump being fluidly coupled to a slurry supply at a suction end and to discharge piping at a discharge end;
• a first sensor arranged at least one of the suction end or the discharge end, the first sensor to provide data indicative of a flow rate of the slurry;
• a second sensor arranged on the electric-powered pump or a component associated with the system to measure one or more operating parameters of the electric-powered pump;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the electric-powered pump, the first sensor, and the second sensor, wherein the controller adjusts the one or more operating parameters based at least in part on information received from the first sensor and the second sensor.

A system for monitoring an electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump, comprising:

• a first sensor providing a suction side flow rate for the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump;
• a second sensor providing a discharge side flow rate for the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump;
• a third sensor providing one or more operating parameters for the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor, the controller including at least one processing unit and at least one memory, the at least one memory including stored software instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the controller to:
• determine an efficiency of the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump based, at least in part, on the suction side flow rate and the discharge side flow rate;
• determine the efficiency is below a target pump efficiency;
• and
• adjust the one or more operating parameters for the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump.

A system for monitoring an electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump, comprising:

• a first sensor providing a suction side flow rate for the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump;
• a second sensor providing a discharge side flow rate for the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump;
• a third sensor providing one or more operating parameters for the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor, the controller including at least one processing unit and at least one memory, the at least one memory including stored software instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the controller to:
• determine a first operating condition of the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump based, at least in part, on the suction side flow rate and the discharge side flow rate;
• determine the first operating condition exceeds a first damage threshold for the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump;
• adjust, after determining the first operating condition exceeds the damage threshold, a first selected pump setting from a set of adjustable pump settings;
• determine a second operating condition of the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump based, at least in part, on the one or more operating parameters;
• determine the second operating condition exceeds a second damage threshold;
• select, from the set of adjustable pump settings, a second selected pump setting;
• adjust, after determining the second operating condition exceeds the second damage threshold, the second selected pump setting;
• determine a third operating condition of the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump based, at least in part, on the one or more operating parameters after adjusting the second selected pump setting is below the second damage threshold;
• and
• cause the electric-powered hydraulic fracturing pump to operate using the second selected pump setting.