High horsepower pumping configuration for an electric hydraulic fracturing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10648311-B2
Application number	US-201816210749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2018
Priority date	Dec 5, 2017
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments include a hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation. The system includes an electric pump, arranged on a first support structure, the electric pump coupled to a well associated with the subterranean formation and powered by at least one electric motor, and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the subterranean formation and fractures the subterranean formation. The system also includes support equipment, arranged on a second support structure, electrically coupled to the electric pump, wherein the support equipment includes at least a transformer for distributing power to the electric pump, the power being received from at least one generator at a voltage higher than an operating voltage of the electric pump.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:
three electric pumps, arranged on a first support structure, the three electric pumps coupled to a well associated with the subterranean formation and powered by at least one electric motor, and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the subterranean formation and fractures the subterranean formation; and
support equipment, arranged on a second support structure, electrically coupled to the three electric pumps, wherein the support equipment includes at least a transformer for distributing power to at least one of the three electric pumps and a control system for monitoring or controlling one or more operational parameters of the three electric pumps, the power being received from at least one generator at a voltage higher than a respective operating voltage of the three electric pumps, the second support structure having integrated instrumentation and cabling for coupling the transformer and the control system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second support structure is separated from and distinct from the first support structure.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first support structure and the second support structure are at least one of a trailer, a skid, a pad, a truck bed, or a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a variable frequency drive connected to the at least one electric motor to control the speed of the at least one electric motor.

5. The system of 4 , wherein the control system comprises the variable frequency drive.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the three electric pumps have a combined horsepower of between 5,000 and 6,000 horsepower.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a switch gear positioned separate from the second support structure and between the at least one generator and the transformer.

8. A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:
a first support structure, forming a pumping trailer, comprising:
three electric pumps fluidly connected to a well associated with the subterranean formation and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the subterranean formation and fractures the subterranean formation;
at least one electric motor providing operational energy to the three electric pumps;
a first support component, the first support component regulating operation of at least one of the three electric pumps; and
a cable management system, associated with the first support structure, for coupling the three electric pumps to the at least one electric motor and the first support component; and

a second support structure, forming a support trailer, comprising:
a second support component, the second support component regulating electric power transmission to at least one of the three electric pumps; and
a control system for monitoring or controlling one or more operational parameters of the three electric pumps, the second support structure having integrated instrumentation and cabling for coupling the second support component and the control system.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second support component comprises at least one of a transformer, a variable frequency drive, or a motor control center.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first support structure and the second support structure are separate components arranged remote from and not in contact with one another.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first support structure and the second support structure are at least one of a trailer, a skid, a pad, a truck bed, or a combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second support component is a transformer for distributing power to at least one of the three electric pumps, the power being received from at least one generator at a voltage higher than a respective operating voltage of the three electric pumps.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the three electric pumps have a combined horsepower of between 5,000 and 6,000 horsepower.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein a respective pump of the three electric pumps has a horsepower rating of between approximately 1,750 and approximately 3,000.

15. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of pumping trailers and a plurality of support trailers arranged at well site, wherein a combined horsepower of the respective electric pumps of the plurality of pumping trailers is approximately 30,000.

16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first support component comprises at least one of a transformer, a variable frequency drive, or a motor control center.

17. A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:
at least one generator;
at least one switch gear receiving electrical power from the generator;
three electric pumps, arranged on a first support structure, the three electric pumps coupled to a well associated with the subterranean formation and powered by at least one electric motor arranged on the first support structure, the three electric pumps configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the subterranean formation and fractures the subterranean formation;
a transformer, arranged on a second support structure, positioned between the switch gear and at least one electric motor, the transformer reducing a voltage output from the at least one switchgear; and
a control system, arranged on the second support structure, for monitoring or controlling one or more operational parameters of the three electric pumps, the second support structure having integrated instrumentation and cabling for coupling the transformer and the control system.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first support structure and the second support structure are separate components arranged remote from and not in contact with one another.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first support structure and the second support structure are at least one of a trailer, a skid, a pad, a truck bed, or a combination thereof.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the three electric pumps have a combined horsepower of between 5,000 and 6,000 horsepower.

Assignees

• U S Well Services Inc
• U S Well Services Llc

Inventors

• Oehring Jared
• Hinderliter Brandon N
• Robinson Lon

Classifications

• F04D13/06

  the pump being electrically driven · CPC title

• F04D7/00

  Pumps adapted for handling specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts (F04D11/005, F04D29/22 take precedence) · CPC title

• H02P5/74

  controlling two or more AC dynamo-electric motors (H02P5/46, H02P5/60 take precedence) · CPC title

• H02J3/38 Primary

  Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel · CPC title

• E21B43/26 Primary

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title