Well fracturing manifold apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016298431-A1
Application number	US-201615018663-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 8, 2016
Priority date	Jan 11, 2012
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fracturing system can include a fracturing manifold coupled to a plurality of fracturing trees. The fracturing manifold may include adjustment joints that enable adjustment of the length of the fracturing manifold. The fracturing manifold can also include pivot joints that allow angular displacement of portions of the fracturing manifold with respect to other portions. The adjustment and pivot joints can accommodate spacing and elevation differences between the fracturing trees.

First claim

1 . A fracturing system, comprising:
a plurality of fracturing trees; and a fracturing manifold coupled to each of the plurality of fracturing trees, wherein the fracturing manifold includes at least one adjustment joint that enables variation in the length of the fracturing manifold to accommodate variation in the distance between fracturing trees of the plurality of fracturing trees, and wherein the fracturing manifold includes at least one pivot joint.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fracturing trees bear at least a portion of the weight of the fracturing manifold.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fracturing manifold includes a plurality of connection blocks and a plurality of pipe sections.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of fracturing trees is coupled to the fracturing manifold via a respective connection block of the plurality of connection blocks.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivot joint enables a first portion of the fracturing manifold to be positioned at an angle with respect to a second portion of the fracturing manifold to accommodate variation in spacing between fracturing trees of the plurality of fracturing trees.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivot joint enables a first portion of the fracturing manifold to be positioned at an angle with respect to a second portion of the fracturing manifold to accommodate elevation differences between fracturing trees of the plurality of fracturing trees.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivot joint includes at least one ball joint.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fracturing manifold is coupled to a plurality of gate valves that enable individual control of flow of fracturing fluids from the fracturing manifold to the plurality of fracturing trees.

9 . A fracturing system, comprising:
a fracturing tree; a fracturing manifold coupled to the fracturing tree by one or more valves of the fracturing tree to enable flow of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to the fracturing tree via the one or more valves; and at least one additional fracturing tree coupled to the fracturing manifold by one or more additional valves of the at least one additional fracturing tree; wherein each fracturing tree is coupled to a shared trunk line of the fracturing manifold and the shared trunk line includes a plurality of wellhead crosses and pipes extending between the plurality of wellhead crosses.

10 . The fracturing system of claim 9 , wherein the shared trunk line is configured to enable adjustments to the length and angular position of one or more portions of the shared trunk line.

11 . The fracturing system of claim 9 , wherein the fracturing manifold does not include a skid that supports one or more of the wellhead crosses of the fracturing manifold.

12 . A method, comprising:
coupling a fracturing manifold to a first fracturing tree to enable routing of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to the first fracturing tree; coupling the fracturing manifold to a second fracturing tree adjacent to the first fracturing tree to enable routing of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to the second fracturing tree; and varying the length of the fracturing manifold by manipulating an adjustment joint of the fracturing manifold, wherein the fracturing manifold includes at least one pivot joint.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein coupling the fracturing manifold to the first fracturing tree includes coupling a connection block of the fracturing manifold to a gate valve of the first fracturing tree.

14 . The method of claim 12 , comprising fracturing a well with fracturing fluid provided from the fracturing manifold through the first or second fracturing tree.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Conrad Gregory A

Classifications

• E21B34/14

  operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B17/02

  Couplings; joints {(expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106)} · CPC title

• E21B34/00

  Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells · CPC title

• E21B43/12 Primary

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title