Power sources and transmission networks for auxiliary equipment onboard hydraulic fracturing units and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11859482-B2
Application number	US-202318116383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2023
Priority date	Sep 13, 2019
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods disclosed provide a hydraulic fracturing unit that includes a reciprocating plunger pump configured to pump a fracturing fluid and a powertrain configured to power the reciprocating plunger pump. The powertrain includes a prime mover and a drivetrain, the prime mover including a gas turbine engine. The hydraulic fracturing unit also includes auxiliary equipment configured to support operation of the hydraulic fracturing unit including the reciprocating plunger pump and the powertrain. A power system is configured to power the auxiliary equipment. The power system includes a power source and a power network. The power source is configured to generate power for the auxiliary equipment. The power network is coupled to the power source and the auxiliary equipment, and configured to deliver the power generated by the power source to the auxiliary equipment. Associated systems including a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for fracturing a well, the system comprising:
a hydraulic fracturing unit comprising:
a chassis,
a pump connected to the chassis and configured to pump a fracturing fluid,
a powertrain connected to the chassis and configured to power the pump, and
auxiliary equipment driven by a motor to support operation of the hydraulic fracturing unit including the pump and the powertrain;

an electric power arrangement configured to power the auxiliary equipment, the electric power arrangement comprising an engine-generator set configured to generate electric power;
an electric power network configured to deliver electric power generated by the engine-generator set to the motor, the electric power network connected to the engine-generator set and the motor, the electric power network configured to connect to one or more of a utility power grid, a battery bank, or another engine-generator set responsive to a failure or fault of the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement, and the electric power network comprising an electric bus positioned to connect the hydraulic fracturing unit to the electric power arrangement; and
a manifold connected to the pump, the manifold configured to deliver fracturing fluid from the pump to the well.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement includes a diesel engine and an electric generator, the diesel engine configured to drive the electric generator to generate the electric power.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement includes a turbine engine and an electric generator, the turbine engine configured to drive the electric generator to generate the electric power.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric power network further comprises a connection to a utility power grid, and wherein the electric power network is further configured to switchably connect the utility power grid to the motor to deliver power to the motor responsive to the failure or fault of the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric power network further comprises a connection to a battery bank, and wherein the electric power network is further configured to switchably connect the battery bank to the motor responsive to the failure or fault of the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric power network further comprises a connection to another engine-generator set, and wherein the electric power network is further configured to switchably connect the another engine-generator set to the motor responsive to the failure or fault of the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units and a plurality of electric power arrangements, wherein each unit of the plurality of fracturing units comprises one of the hydraulic fracturing unit, wherein each arrangement of the plurality of electric power arrangements comprises one of the electric power arrangement, and wherein each arrangement of the plurality of electric power arrangements is connected to the chassis of a unit of the plurality of hydraulic fracturing units.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the electric power network is connected to the engine-generator set of each arrangement of the plurality of electric power arrangements and to the motor of each unit of the plurality of fracturing units, and wherein the electric power network is further configured to switchably connect the engine-generator set of a first arrangement of the plurality of electric power arrangements to the motor of a first unit of the plurality of hydraulic fracturing units responsive to the failure or fault of a second arrangement of the plurality of electric power arrangements.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the electric power network is connected to a battery bank, wherein each engine-generator set of the plurality of electric power arrangements is configured to generate electric power to charge the battery bank, and wherein the electric power network is further configured to switchably connect the battery bank to the motor of a first unit of the plurality of hydraulic fracturing units responsive to a failure or fault of the engine-generator set of a first arrangement of the plurality of electric power arrangements.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electric power network is connected to a utility power grid, and wherein the electric power network is further configured to switchably connect the utility power grid to the battery bank.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electric bus connects the plurality of electric power arrangements to the battery bank.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric power network is connected to a battery bank, and wherein the electric power network is further configured to switchably connect the battery bank to the motor responsive to the failure or fault of the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electric power network further comprises a connection to a utility power grid, and wherein the electric power network is further configured to switchably connect the utility power grid to the motor responsive to the failure or fault of the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the powertrain includes a direct drive gas turbine engine and a drivetrain.

15. A method of fracturing a well, the method comprising:
providing a hydraulic fracturing unit, the hydraulic fracturing unit comprising:
a chassis,
auxiliary equipment located onboard the chassis,
a pump connected to the chassis and configured to pump a fracturing fluid, and
a powertrain connected to the chassis and configured to power the pump;

arranging an electric power arrangement to power the auxiliary equipment, the electric power arrangement comprising an engine-generator set configured to generate electric power;
arranging an electric power network to deliver electric power generated by the electric power arrangement to the auxiliary equipment, the electric power network comprising an electric bus connected to the engine-generator set, and the electric power network configured to connect to and deliver power to the auxiliary equipment from one or more of a utility power grid, a battery bank, or another engine-generator set responsive to a failure or fault of the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement;
connecting a manifold to the pump, the manifold being configured to deliver fracturing fluid from the pump to the well;
operating the powertrain to power the pump to pump the fracturing fluid; and
operating the electric power arrangement to power the auxiliary equipment.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement includes a diesel engine and an electric generator, and wherein operating the electric power arrangement includes operating the diesel engine to drive the electric generator.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the engine-generator set of the electric power arrangement includes a turbine engine and an electric generator, and wherein operating the electric power arrangement includes operating the turbine engine to drive the electric generator.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the electric power network further comprises a connection to a utility power grid, and wherein the st

Assignees

• Bj Energy Solutions Llc

Inventors

• Yeung Tony
• Rodriguez-Ramon Ricardo
• Foster Joseph
• Tew Nicholas

Classifications

• H02J7/34

  Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J9/066

  characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines (H02J9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J9/062

  for AC powered loads · CPC title

• E21B43/2607 Primary

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• F04B9/02

  the means being mechanical · CPC title