Flexible pipe connection systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11549627-B2
Application number	US-202117315065-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2021
Priority date	May 7, 2021
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A system may include a manifold having a plurality of fluid inlets, a first pump truck having a first pump disposed thereon with a first fluid outlet, and a first flexible pipe. The first flexible pipe may include a first end of the first flexible pipe coupled to a first of the plurality of fluid inlets, a second end of the first flexible pipe is coupled to the first fluid outlet, and a first outer shell mounted on the manifold. The first outer shell may extend from the manifold a length between the first end and the second end. Additionally, the first outer shell may be curved to have a radius to arch the first flexible pipe from the manifold to the first pump truck.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, the system comprising:
a manifold having a plurality of fluid inlets;
a first pump truck having a first pump disposed thereon, wherein the first pump comprises a first fluid outlet; and
a first flexible pipe, wherein the first flexible pipe comprises:
a first end of the first flexible pipe coupled to a first of the plurality of fluid inlets;
a second end of the first flexible pipe is coupled to the first fluid outlet; and
a first outer shell mounted on the manifold, the first outer shell extends from the manifold a length between the first end and the second end,
wherein the first outer shell is curved to have a radius to arch the first flexible pipe from the manifold to the first pump truck,
wherein the first flexible pipe extends in an upward direction from the first of the plurality of fluid inlet and extends in a downward direction from the first outer shell.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second pump truck having a second pump disposed thereon, wherein the second pump comprises a second fluid outlet;
a second flexible pipe, wherein the second flexible pipe comprises:
a first end of the second flexible pipe coupled to a second of the plurality of fluid inlets;
a second end of the second flexible pipe is coupled to the second fluid outlet; and
a second outer shell mounted on the manifold, the second outer shell extends from the manifold a length between the first end and the second end of the second flexible pipe,
wherein the second outer shell is curved to have a radius to arch the second flexible pipe from the manifold to the second pump truck.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a third pump truck having a third pump disposed thereon, wherein the third pump comprises a third fluid outlet;
a third flexible pipe, wherein the third flexible pipe comprises:
a first end of the third flexible pipe coupled to a third of the plurality of fluid inlets;
a second end of the third flexible pipe is coupled to the third fluid outlet; and
a third outer shell mounted on the manifold, the third outer shell extends from the manifold a length between the first end and the second end of the third flexible pipe,
wherein the third outer shell is curved to have a radius to arch the third flexible pipe from the manifold to the third pump truck.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a fourth pump truck having a fourth pump disposed thereon, wherein the fourth pump comprises a fourth fluid outlet;
a fourth flexible pipe, wherein the fourth flexible pipe comprises:
a first end of the fourth flexible pipe coupled to a fourth of the plurality of fluid inlets;
a second end of the fourth flexible pipe is coupled to the fourth fluid outlet; and
a fourth outer shell mounted on the manifold, the fourth outer shell extends from the manifold a length between the first end and the second end of the fourth flexible pipe,
wherein the fourth outer shell is curved to have a radius to arch the fourth flexible pipe from the manifold to the fourth pump truck.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein a primary manifold conduit of the manifold is connected to and configured to receive fluid from each of the first pump truck, the second pump truck, the third pump truck, and the fourth pump truck.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein an outlet of the primary manifold is fluidly connected, directly or indirectly, to the wellbore.

7. A system, the system comprising:
a manifold skid having a first fluid inlet; and
a first flexible pipe comprising:
a first end fluidly coupled to the first fluid inlet;
a second end, wherein the first flexible pipe forms a first arch between the first and second ends;
an outer shell mounted on the manifold skid extending between the first end and the second end,
wherein the outer shell has a bend radius to configure the second end to be a free end,

wherein the first flexible pipe extends in an upward direction from the first fluid inlet and extends in a downward direction from the outer shell.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first flexible pipe is on a lateral side of the manifold skid.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the outer shell further comprises a plurality of pipes coupled together, and wherein each pipe of the plurality of pipes have a bend radius added together to equal the bend radius of the outer shell.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the manifold skid further comprises a support bracket with a flanged connection on which the outer shell is mounted.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first end is aligned with the flanged connection and the second end is angled off an axis of the flanged connection.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a vertical support to raise the support bracket a height above the first fluid inlet.

13. A method, the method comprising:
lifting a first flexible pipe to mount an outer shell of the first flexible pipe to a manifold;
fluidly connecting a first end of the first flexible pipe to a first fluid inlet of the manifold; and
hanging a second end of the first flexible pipe a distance from the first end thereby forming the first flexible pipe in a self-supporting arch.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising position a first pump truck proximate the manifold, wherein the first pump truck comprises a first pump disposed thereon.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising fluidly connecting the second end of the first flexible pipe to a first fluid outlet of the first pump.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising fluidly disconnecting the second end of the first flexible pipe from the first fluid outlet of the first pump and moving the first pump truck away from the manifold.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising re-positioning the first pump truck proximate the manifold skid and re-fluidly connecting the first fluid outlet of the first pump to the second end of the first flexible pipe.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
lifting a second flexible pipe to mount an outer shell of the second flexible pipe to the manifold;
fluidly connecting a first end of the second flexible pipe to a second fluid inlet of the manifold;
hanging a second end of the second flexible pipe a distance from the first end of the second flexible pipe thereby forming the second flexible pipe in a self-supporting arch.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising;
position a first pump truck proximate the manifold, wherein the first pump truck comprises a first pump disposed thereon;
fluidly connecting the second end of the first flexible pipe to a first fluid outlet of the first pump;
position a second pump truck proximate the manifold, wherein the second pump truck comprises a second pump disposed thereon; and
fluidly connecting the second end of the second flexible pipe to a second fluid outlet of the second pump.

Assignees

• Fmc Tech Inc

Inventors

• Cook James
• Massey Corey

Classifications

• F16L41/03 Primary

  comprising junction pieces for four or more pipe members · CPC title

• E21B43/2607 Primary

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• F16L3/015

  using articulated- or supple-guiding elements · CPC title