Turbine chilling for oil field power generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10731561-B2
Application number	US-201815994759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2018
Priority date	Nov 16, 2012
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system may include a plurality of electric pumps configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with a well at a high pressure; at least one turbine generator electrically coupled to the plurality of electric pumps so as to generate electricity for use by the plurality of electric pumps, each turbine generator having at least one air intake channel; and an air chiller system associated with the at least one turbine generator, the air chiller system comprising: a chiller unit configured to chill a fluid; and at least one coil in fluid communication with the chiller unit and positioned adjacent to the at least one air intake channel, wherein the air chiller system is configured to increase a power output of the at least one turbine generator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
a plurality of electric pumps fluidly connected 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;
at least one turbine generator electrically coupled to the plurality of electric pumps so as to generate electricity for use by the plurality of electric pumps, each turbine generator having at least one air intake channel;
a transformer having a primary voltage input in electrical communication with an electrical output of the turbine generator; and
an air chiller system associated with the at least one turbine generator, the air chiller system comprising:
a chiller unit configured to chill a fluid; and
at least one coil in fluid communication with the chiller unit;

wherein the system comprising the plurality of electric pumps, the at least one turbine generator, and the air chiller system comprises a single electrical micro-grid.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second transformer having an input that is in electrical communication with a secondary voltage output of the transformer.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second transformer has an output that is in electrical communication with the air chiller system so as to provide electricity for use by the air chiller system.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the chilled fluid is circulated from the chiller unit through the at least one coil, and wherein ambient air is passed from the at least one air intake channel along an outer surface of the at least one coil and into the at least one turbine generator, such that the air is chilled by the chilled fluid.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the chilled air is taken in by the at least one turbine generator so as to increase the power output of the at least one turbine generator.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the fluid is returned to the chiller unit after passing through the at least one coil.

7. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a condensation tank, wherein condensation formed on the outer surface of the at least one coil after the chilled fluid is circulated from the chiller unit through the at least one coil is contained in the condensation tank.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbine generator is powered by natural gas.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises any of water, ammonia, Freon, or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein each component of the system is modular and movable to different locations on mobile platforms.

11. 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.

12. A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
a plurality of electric pumps fluidly connected 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;
a variable frequency drive connected to the at least one electric motor to control the speed of the at least one electric motor;
at least one turbine generator electrically coupled to the plurality of electric pumps so as to generate electricity for use by the plurality of electric pumps; and
an air chiller system associated with the at least one turbine generator, the air chiller system comprising:
a chiller unit configured to chill a fluid; and
at least one coil in fluid communication with the chiller unit;

wherein the system comprising the plurality of electric pumps, the at least one turbine generator, and the air chiller system comprises a single electrical micro-grid.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a transformer having a high voltage input in electrical communication with an electrical output of the turbine generator, and a low voltage output; and
a step down transformer having an input that is in electrical communication with the low voltage output of the transformer.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the step down transformer has an output that is in electrical communication with the air chiller system so as to provide electricity for use by the air chiller system.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the chilled fluid is circulated from the chiller unit through the at least one coil, and wherein ambient air is passed from at least one air intake channel of the at least one turbine generator along an outer surface of the at least one coil and into the at least one turbine generator, such that the air is chilled by the chilled fluid.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the chilled air is taken in by the at least one turbine generator so as to increase the power output of the at least one turbine generator.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the fluid is returned to the chiller unit after passing through the at least one coil.

18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a condensation tank, wherein condensation formed on the outer surface of the at least one coil after the chilled fluid is circulated from the chiller unit through the at least one coil is contained in the condensation tank.

Assignees

• U S Well Services Llc

Inventors

• Oehring Jared
• Hinderliter Brandon N

Classifications

• E21B43/2607

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• F04B35/04

  the means being electric · CPC title

• F04B47/00

  Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps (by using positive or negative pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped F04F1/00) · CPC title

• F01D15/10

  Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators · CPC title

• F05D2220/76

  an electrical generator · CPC title