System for pumping hydraulic fracturing fluid using electric pumps
AssigneeU.S. Well Services, LLC
InventorsJoel N. Broussard, Jeff McPherson, Robert Kurtz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for hydraulically fracturing an underground formation in an oil or gas well to extract oil or gas from the formation, the oil or gas well having a wellbore that permits passage of fluid from the wellbore into the formation. The system includes a plurality of pumps powered by electric induction motors and fluidly connected to the well, the pumps configured to pump fluid into the wellbore at high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the, and fractures the formation. The system can also include a plurality of natural gas powered generators electrically connected to the plurality of pumps to provide electrical power to the pumps.
Claims22
A system for hydraulically fracturing an underground formation in an oil or gas well to extract oil or gas from the formation, the oil or gas well having a wellbore that permits passage of fluid from the wellbore into the formation, the system comprising;
- a plurality of pumps mounted on a trailer or truck and powered by electric motors and fluidly connected to the well, the pumps configured to pump fluid into the wellbore at high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the formation, and fractures the formation;
- at least one variable frequency drive connected to the electric motors to control the speed of the motors, the at least one variable frequency drive frequently performing electric motor diagnostics to prevent damage to the electric motors if they become grounded or shorted;
- and
- a plurality of generators electrically connected to the plurality of pumps to provide electrical power to the pumps.
A system for fracturing a rock formation in an oil or gas well by pumping hydraulic fracturing fluid into the well, the system comprising:
- a pump for pumping the hydraulic fracturing fluid into the well, and then from the well into the formation, the pump mounted on a trailer or truck and capable of pumping the hydraulic fracturing fluid at high pressure to crack the formation;
- an electric motor having a high-strength steel or steel alloy drive shaft attached to the pump and configured to drive the pump;
- a variable frequency drive connected to the electric motor to control the speed of the motor, the variable frequency drive frequently performing electric motor diagnostics to prevent damage to the electric motor if it becomes grounded or shorted;
- and
- a generator connected to the electric motor that provides electric power to the electric motor.
A system for hydraulically fracturing an underground formation in an oil or gas well to extract oil or gas from the formation, the oil or gas well having a wellbore that permits passage of fluid from the wellbore into the formation, the system comprising:
- a trailer;
- two or more pumps attached to the trailer without a skid and fluidly connected to the well, the pumps configured to pump fluid into the wellbore at high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the formation, and fractures the formation;
- one or more electric motors attached to the pumps to drive the pumps, the electric motors attached to the trailer without a skid;
- at least one variable frequency drive connected to the one or more electric motors to control the speed of the motors, the at least one variable frequency drive frequently performing electric motor diagnostics to prevent damage to the electric motors if they become grounded or shorted;
- and
- a generator for connection to the one or more electric motors that provides electric power to the one or more electric motors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.