Distribution unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10900475-B2
Application number	US-201616333953-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2016
Priority date	Oct 17, 2016
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, a system and method for distributing electrical or other forms of power, fluids, data, fuel, and combinations thereof for performing hydraulic well stimulation treatments is provided. The disclosed distribution unit may include an arrangement of distribution lines (e.g., cables or fluid conduits) disposed within a body of the distribution unit for routing various resources between connection points used to connect the distribution unit to nearby stimulation equipment. The manifolded distribution unit provides convenient and efficient routing of power, fuel, data, and other items needed by equipment disposed about a well site.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a power source;
a distribution unit coupled to the power source, the distribution unit comprising:
a body;
a plurality of connecting points disposed along the body for coupling the distribution unit to a plurality of stimulation equipment units; and
an arrangement of cables or conduits disposed through the body between the power source and the plurality of connecting points to deliver power from the power source to the plurality of stimulation equipment units; and
a manifold of fluid lines disposed through the body for delivering treatment fluid between the plurality of stimulation equipment units, wherein a portion of the fluid lines are configured to distribute low pressure treatment fluids and a remaining portion of the fluid lines are configured to distribute high pressure treatment fluids.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises an electrical power source, wherein there are electrical distribution lines disposed between the plurality of stimulation equipment units and the plurality of connecting points of the distribution unit and between the electrical power source and the distribution unit.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the electrical distribution lines comprise a common bus disposed along a length of the body and parallel electrical lines coupling the common bus to the plurality of connecting points.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of stimulation equipment units comprises a separate electrical circuit, and wherein the distribution unit selectively couples the separate electrical circuits to the electrical distribution lines.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a steam, hydraulic, or pneumatic power source, and wherein the distribution unit comprises an arrangement of conduits to deliver steam, hydraulic fluid, or airflow to the stimulation equipment units.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fuel source coupled to the distribution unit, wherein the distribution unit comprises an arrangement of fuel lines disposed between the fuel source and the plurality of connecting points.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the distribution unit further comprises an arrangement of data lines, control lines, or both for communicating signals between the plurality of stimulation equipment units.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the distribution unit further comprises one or more bonding lines coupled to the plurality of stimulation equipment units at the connecting points.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the distribution unit comprises a protective structure disposed around the cables or conduits.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of connecting points comprises a shut off component for selectively suspending delivery of power from the power source to the corresponding stimulation equipment unit.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stimulation equipment units comprise a unit selected from the group consisting of: a high pressure hydraulic pumping unit, a blender unit, a gel/advanced dry polymer (ADP) mixer, a sand handling unit, and a control center.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the body is selected from the group consisting of: one or more trailers, one or more skids, a self-powered truck, a permanent or semi-permanent structure, and a modular structure.

13. A method, comprising:
coupling a distribution unit to a plurality of stimulation equipment units;
distributing electrical power from an electrical power source to the plurality of stimulation equipment units via an arrangement of distribution lines disposed between the plurality of stimulation equipment units and a plurality of connecting points of the distribution unit and between the electrical power source and the distribution unit;
powering each of the plurality of stimulation equipment units via the electrical power received from the distribution unit; and
distributing treatment fluid to the plurality of stimulation equipment units via a manifold of fluid lines disposed through the distribution unit, wherein a portion of the fluid lines are configured to distribute low pressure treatment fluids and a remaining portion of the fluid lines are configured to distribute high pressure treatment fluids.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising distributing electrical power from a power source to the plurality of stimulation equipment units, and powering an auxiliary system on each of the plurality of stimulation equipment units via the electrical power.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising detecting an abnormal condition of the flow of power through the distribution unit, and shutting off the flow of power to at least one of the plurality of stimulation equipment units based on the abnormal condition.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Weightman Glenn Howard
• Beisel Joe A

Classifications

• E21B43/2607

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• E21B43/25

  Methods for stimulating production {(by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003)} · CPC title

• F04B9/10

  the fluid being liquid · CPC title

• F04B17/03 Primary

  driven by electric motors · CPC title

• F04B9/12

  the fluid being elastic, e.g. steam or air · CPC title