Fracturing fluid delivery systems with sacrificial liners or sleeves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11885207-B2
Application number	US-202117758917-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2021
Priority date	Jan 17, 2020
Publication date	Jan 30, 2024
Grant date	Jan 30, 2024

Abstract

Fracturing fluid delivery systems having components with sacrificial liners or sleeves are provided. In one example, a fracturing system includes a flexible fracturing fluid conduit coupled to a wellhead assembly. The flexible fracturing fluid conduit includes a flexible body, a rigid end joined to the flexible body, and a bore extending through the flexible body and the rigid end for conveying fracturing fluid to the wellhead assembly. The flexible fracturing fluid conduit also includes a rigid sacrificial sleeve installed in the rigid end and within the bore. In another example, a fracturing system includes a fracturing fluid delivery apparatus coupled to a wellhead. The fracturing fluid delivery apparatus includes a pressure-containing component having a rigid body with a bore for conveying fracturing fluid. The pressure-containing component has a sacrificial liner provided through the bore along an interior surface of the rigid body. Additional systems, devices, and methods are disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fracturing system comprising:
a wellhead assembly; and
a flexible fracturing fluid conduit coupled to the wellhead assembly to enable receipt of fracturing fluid by the wellhead assembly from the flexible fracturing fluid conduit, the flexible fracturing fluid conduit including:
a flexible body;
a rigid end joined to the flexible body, the rigid end including a socket and an annular retention shoulder, wherein the annular retention shoulder has an inner diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the socket; and
a rigid sacrificial sleeve installed in the socket so as to extend along and protect at least a portion of a bore wall of the rigid end from erosive flow of the fracturing fluid through the flexible fracturing fluid conduit during a fracturing operation, wherein the rigid sacrificial sleeve includes a head with a retention shoulder engaged with the annular retention shoulder.

2. The fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the rigid sacrificial sleeve is contained within a bore of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit and does not protrude out of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit.

3. The fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the rigid sacrificial sleeve extends from the rigid end into the flexible body so as to cover an interface between the rigid end and the flexible body.

4. The fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the rigid end includes a connection flange to facilitate attachment of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit to other equipment.

5. The fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the wellhead assembly includes a fracturing tree.

6. The fracturing system of claim 5 , wherein the flexible fracturing fluid conduit is connected to route the fracturing fluid to the fracturing tree.

7. The fracturing system of claim 1 , comprising a fracturing manifold coupled to the wellhead assembly via the flexible fracturing fluid conduit.

8. The fracturing system of claim 7 , wherein the flexible fracturing fluid conduit is coupled to the fracturing manifold so as to route the fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold into the flexible fracturing fluid conduit through the rigid end and the rigid sacrificial sleeve.

9. The fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible fracturing fluid conduit includes an additional rigid end joined to the flexible body such that a bore of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit extends through the rigid end, the flexible body, and the additional rigid end, and wherein the rigid end and the additional rigid end are opposite ends of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit.

10. The fracturing system of claim 9 , wherein the rigid end or the additional rigid end is attached to the wellhead assembly.

11. The fracturing system of claim 9 , comprising an additional rigid sacrificial sleeve installed in the additional rigid end and within the bore so as to extend along and protect at least a portion of a bore wall of the additional rigid end from erosive flow of the fracturing fluid through the flexible fracturing fluid conduit during the fracturing operation.

12. A flexible fracturing fluid conduit comprising:
a flexible body;
a first rigid end coupled to a first end of the flexible body and a second rigid end coupled to a second end of the flexible body such that the first rigid end and the second rigid end are at opposite ends of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit, wherein the first rigid end includes a socket and an annular retention shoulder, wherein the annular retention shoulder has an inner diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the socket;
a bore of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit extending through the first rigid end, the flexible body, and the second rigid end; and
a sacrificial sleeve installed within the socket of the first rigid end of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit, wherein the sacrificial sleeve includes a head with a retention shoulder engaged with the annular retention shoulder.

13. The flexible fracturing fluid conduit of claim 12 , comprising an additional sacrificial sleeve installed within the bore in the second rigid end of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit.

14. The flexible fracturing fluid conduit of claim 12 , wherein the sacrificial sleeve extends through the bore from the first rigid end and into the flexible body.

15. The flexible fracturing fluid conduit of claim 12 , wherein the sacrificial sleeve includes a rigid sacrificial sleeve and is not forged into, adhered, or fastened to the first rigid end or the flexible body.

16. The flexible fracturing fluid conduit of claim 12 , wherein the sacrificial sleeve is contained within the bore of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit and does not protrude out of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit.

17. A method comprising:
inserting a rigid sacrificial sleeve into a socket of a rigid end of a flexible fracturing fluid conduit; and
positioning the rigid sacrificial sleeve within the socket to engage a first retention shoulder of a head of the rigid sacrificial sleeve with a second retention shoulder located at an end of the socket; and
coupling the flexible fracturing fluid conduit to fracturing equipment; and
routing fracturing fluid through the flexible fracturing fluid conduit, wherein the rigid sacrificial sleeve inhibits erosion, by the fracturing fluid, of the flexible fracturing fluid.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising:
uncoupling the flexible fracturing fluid conduit from the fracturing equipment;
removing the rigid sacrificial sleeve from the socket of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit; and
installing a replacement rigid sacrificial sleeve in the socket of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit to engage a retention shoulder of a head of the replacement rigid sacrificial sleeve with the second retention shoulder.

19. The method of claim 17 , comprising:
uncoupling the flexible fracturing fluid conduit from the fracturing equipment;
removing the rigid sacrificial sleeve from the socket of the flexible fracturing fluid conduit;
repairing the rigid sacrificial sleeve; and
reinserting the rigid sacrificial sleeve into the socket.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fracturing equipment is a fracturing tree.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Garro Juan Alexander
• Villarroel Enrique
• Robinson Stuart
• Guidry Kirk P
• Khokhar Aleem A

Classifications

• E21B43/2607 Primary

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• E21B34/02

  in well heads · CPC title

• F16L11/12

  with arrangements for particular purposes, e.g. specially profiled, with protecting layer, heated, electrically conducting (F16L11/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L57/06

  against wear (F16L57/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L55/00

  Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems (F16L1/00 - F16L53/00, F16L57/00, F16L59/00 take precedence; repairing or joining pipes on or under water F16L1/26; cleaning of pipes B08B9/02, e.g. removal of blockages B08B9/027; devices for preventing bursting of water pipes by freezing E03B7/10) · CPC title