System for reducing noise in a hydraulic fracturing fleet
AssigneeU.S. Well Services, LLC
InventorJared Oehring
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Noise generated by a hydraulic fracturing system is abated by locating noise reduction equipment at strategic locations, and also by routing inlet and exit air along designated paths. Noise insulation panels are disposed around trailer mounted machinery to attenuate and redirect the noise generated by the machinery. The panels extend a distance above the machinery so that the noise is directed upward and away from operations personnel proximate the machinery. Air handling equipment having air inlets and exits that are formed to reduce turbulence, and thus noise, as well as redirect the flow of air to attenuate noise generated by its flow within the inlets and exits.
Claims13
A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
- a hydration unit having an inlet in communication with a source of fluid and with a source of additive, and having a discharge that selectively contains a mixture of the fluid and additive;
- a blender having an inlet in communication with a source of proppant and with the discharge of the hydration unit, and having a discharge that selectively contains a mixture of the fluid, additive, and proppant to define a slurry;
- a fracturing pump having an inlet in communication with the discharge of the blender, and a discharge in communication with the formation;
- a trailer on which the hydration unit or blender is mounted;
- noise reduction panels arranged along an outer periphery of the trailer and which extend from an upper surface of the trailer to above a piece of rotating machinery mounted on the trailer, the noise reduction panels comprising a layer of sound absorbing material;
- and
- a cooling system mounted to the piece of rotating machinery that comprises an intake shroud with an opening facing the upper surface of the trailer and sidewalls that gradually converge towards one another to maintain a substantially laminar flow in the shroud, and a discharge formed on a housing of the rotating machinery that is in fluid communication with the intake shroud and that comprises a discharge louver having an entrance that lies in a plane substantially perpendicular with the upper surface of the trailer, and an exit that faces the upper surface of the trailer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.