US 2026/0168602 A1Published application

Systems, apparatus & methods for disconnecting a hydraulic fracturing pump from a hydraulic fracturing missile and related apparatus, systems & methods

AssigneePaloma Technology Holdings LLC.

InventorsRobert Ripple, Bryan Wilborn, Roman Eddie Cline, Colton Trego

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Abstract

Systems for disconnecting the respective interconnected high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) fluid flow lines extending between a hydraulic fracturing (frac) pump and a frac missile are provided. Certain embodiments involve a disconnect trailer separate and distinct from the frac pump, its carrier and the frac missile. First and second rotation drivers are disposed on the disconnect trailer and configured to engage and rotate at least part a corresponding connector coupled between the respective interconnected HP and LP fluid flow lines without any personnel in the red zone.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A system for rotatably disconnecting a first high-pressure (HP) fluid flow line coupled to a hydraulic fracturing (frac) pump from a second HP fluid flow line of a frac missile and a first low-pressure (LP) fluid flow line coupled to the frac pump from a second LP fluid flow line of the frac missile without any personnel in the red zone, the frac pump being disposed on a frac pump carrier, the system comprising:

a disconnect trailer separate and distinct from the frac pump, frac pump carrier and frac missile, the disconnect trailer being movable with the frac pump carrier toward and away from the frac missile in the red zone;
a first portion of a HP line connector associated with the first HP line and a second portion of the HP line connector associated with the second HP line, at least part of each of the first and second HP line connector portions being rotatably engageable with and disengageable from at least part of the other respective HP line connector portion to rotatably connect and disconnect the first and second HP line connector portions, whereby rotatable disengagement of the first and second HP line connector portions disengages the first and second HP lines from one another;
at least a first rotation driver disposed on the disconnect trailer and configured to engage and rotate at least part of one of the first and second HP line connector portions into and out of engagement with at least part of the other respective HP line connector portion without any personnel in the red zone;
a first portion of a LP line connector associated with the first LP line and a second portion of the LP line connector associated with the second LP line, at least part of each of the first and second LP line connector portions being rotatably engageable with and disengageable from at least part of the other respective LP line connector portion to rotatably connect and disconnect the first and second LP line connector portions, whereby rotatable disengagement of the first and second LP line connector portions disengages the first and second LP lines from one another;
at least a second rotation driver disposed on the disconnect trailer and configured to engage and rotate at least part of one of the first and second LP line connector portions into and out of engagement with at least part of the other respective LP line connector portion without any personnel in the red zone;
and
at least one switch configured to actuate the first and second drivers and be selectively operatable by personnel outside the red zone, whereby the disconnect trailer is configured to be movable with the frac pump carrier away from the frac missile and red zone after the first and second HP flow lines and the first and second LP flow lines are disconnected, respectively.

4 more elements

A system for rotatably disconnecting a first high-pressure (HP) fluid flow line fluidly coupled to a hydraulic fracturing (frac) pump from a second HP fluid flow line fluidly coupled to a frac missile without any personnel in the red zone, the frac pump being disposed on a frac pump carrier, the system comprising:

at least one HP fluid flow connection line fluidly coupled between the first and second HP fluid flow lines, the at least one HP connection line including at least a first pipe section fluidly coupled to the first HP fluid flow line and carrying a male threaded portion of a connector and at least a second pipe section fluidly coupled to the second HP fluid flow line and carrying a female threaded portion of the connector, wherein the first and second pipe sections are configured to be engaged and disengaged to connect and disconnect the first and second HP fluid flow lines;
a wheeled carrier separate and distinct from the frac pump, frac pump carrier and frac missile, the wheeled carrier being movable toward and away from the frac missile into and out of the red zone;
at least a first rotation driver disposed on the wheeled carrier and configured to engage and rotate the male threaded portion of the connector into and out of engagement with the female threaded portion of the connector without any personnel in the red zone;
a first gearbox disposed on the wheeled carrier, having front and rear ends and at least partially housing the first rotation driver, the front end of the first gearbox being configured to be closer to the frac missile and the rear end thereof being configured to be closer to the frac pump, wherein the first pipe section is configured to extend from the first HP fluid flow line into the first gearbox from the rear end toward the front end thereof and the second pipe section is configured to extend from the second HP fluid flow line to the front end of the first gearbox;
and
a first yoke rigidly engageable with and rotationally lockable to the second pipe section, the first yoke being releasably engageable with the first gearbox at at least two locations and configured to prevent rotation of the second pipe section in any direction during actuation of the first rotation driver.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/301,969Filed 16 Aug 2025
Priority: 19 Aug 2024
Published: 18 Jun 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F04B 17/06
Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors: mobile combinations
F16L 25/04
Construction or details of pipe joints not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F16L13/00 - F16L23/00: comprising a collar or ring…
E21B 43/2607
By forming crevices or fractures: surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
F04B 15/02
Pumps adapted to handle specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts: the fluids being viscous or non-homogeneous