IP Library Granted Patent US 11,476,781
Granted Patent B2
US 11,476,781 · App. 15/235,788 · Granted Oct 18, 2022

Wireline power supply during electric powered fracturing operations

Inventors: Jared Oehring (Houston, TX); Brandon Neil Hinderliter (Buckhannon, WV); Joel Broussard (Lafayette, LA)
Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
H02P1/30E21B43/26E21B43/267F01D15/08F04B35/04F04B49/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,476,781
App. No.
15/235,788
Granted
Oct 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for supplying electric power to various pieces of fracturing equipment in a fracturing operation with gas powered generators. The system and method also includes switch gears, auxiliary trailers, transformers, power distribution panels, new receptacles, and cables to supply three-phase power to electric fracturing equipment. The switchgear in the power supply system is weatherproof and able to endure the wear and tear of mobilization. The novel system and method provide clean and quiet electricity to all the equipment on site.

Claims (33)

1. A fracturing system comprising:

a turbine generator having an electrical output;

an electric motor that is in electrical communication with the electrical output;

a variable frequency drive (VFD) connected to the electric motor to perform electric motor diagnostics to prevent damage to the electric motor;

a fracturing pump that is driven by the electric motor;

an auxiliary trailer for providing power to equipment separate from the fracturing pump, the auxiliary trailer including at least a transformer arranged over an axle of the auxiliary trailer, the auxiliary trailer having at least two axles proximate the transformer;

a wireline system that is in electrical communication with the electrical output and powered by the turbine generator; and

at least one weatherproofed switchgear connected to the at least one turbine, including at least one air conditioner, external deck, walkway, and vacuum circuit breaker.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireline system comprises a wireline tool that is disposable in a wellbore that is selected from the group consisting of a perforating gun, a plug, a formation logging tool, a cutting tool, a casing imaging tool, and combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising trailers that contain at least one power distribution panel that supplies power to the hydraulic fracturing equipment.

4. The system of claim 3 , where the trailers further contain receptacles for attaching cable to the hydraulic fracturing equipment and cables that can sustain the power draw of the turbines with three separate plugs for the three phase power.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a trailer having a 3500 KVA transformer which steps 13.8 kV power from the turbine generator down to 600 V for use by the hydraulic fracturing equipment.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a variable frequency drive that supplies power and controls a Blender Discharge Motor, where the Blender Discharge Motor is speed controlled.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power control room that contains electric motor soft starters that supply power to a blender hydraulic motor, a hydration unit hydraulic motor, blender blower motors, and a hydration unit blower motors.

8. A method for providing electric power to hydraulic fracturing equipment in a fracturing operation, the method including the steps of:

driving a fracturing pump with an electrically powered motor;

regulating a speed of the motor with a variable frequency drive (VFD);

performing electric motor diagnostics on the electric motor with the VFD;

providing electrical power to a wireline system by electrical connection of the wireline system to a turbine generator via a transformer arranged between the wireline system and the turbine generator, the transformer positioned on a separate trailer with a second VFD for controlling a second electric motor associated with at least one auxiliary component;

providing at least one auxiliary trailer with a second transformer, positioned distant from the separate trailer, the auxiliary trailer forming an alternative cable routing option; and

providing at least one weatherproofed switchgear connected to the turbine generator, the at least one weatherproofed switchgear including at least one air conditioner, external deck, walkway, and vacuum circuit breaker.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of creating at least one separate power grid using the at least one auxiliary trailer.

10. The method of claim 8 , further including the step of monitoring the power generation through the at least one auxiliary trailer for the fracturing equipment and providing an emergency shut-off switch.

11. The method of claim 8 , further including the step of stepping with at least one transformer the electricity to the needed voltage from at least one natural gas turbine generator.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one trailer contains a 3500 KVA transformer which steps 13.8 kV power from the turbine generator down to 600V for use by the fracturing equipment.

13. The method of claim 8 , further including the step of attaching

cables that can sustain the power draw of the turbines with three separate plugs for the three phase power to receptacles on the hydraulic fracturing equipment from the at least one trailer.

14. The method of claim 8 further including the step of supplying power with at least one power distribution panel and a variable frequency drive to the hydraulic fracturing equipment.

15. The method of claim 8 further including the step of generating three-phase power from at least one natural gas powered turbine generator.

16. The method of claim 8 further including the step of regulating power through the use of at least one switchgear that is connected to the at least one turbine generator and includes at least one air conditioner, external deck, walkway, and vacuum circuit breaker.

17. The method of claim 8 , further comprising detonating shaped charged in the perforating system using power provided from the auxiliary trailer.

18. The method of claim 8 , further including the step of selecting from the list consisting of a natural gas powered turbine on the trailer and power supplied by a third party.

19. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wireline system is selected from the group consisting of a perforating system, a plugging system, a formation logging system, a tubular cutting system, a tubular imaging system, and combinations thereof.

Assignments (16)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2024
From: FTS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC; PROFRAC SERVICES, LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES HOLDINGS, LLC; BEST PUMP AND FLOW, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066186/0752 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2023
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066091/0133 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2022
From: U.S. WELL SERVICE HOLDINGS, LLC; USWS HOLDINGS LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC; USWS FLEET 10, LLC; USWS FLEET 11, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 062142/0927 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 49111/0583 Recorded Nov 2, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061875/0260 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2022
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: PIPER SANDLER FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 061875/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 49107/0392 Recorded Nov 1, 2022
From: CLMG CORP.
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061835/0778 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2022
From: BROUSSARD, JOEL
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 059345/0600 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 057434/0429 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2019
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 049111/0583 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2019
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: CLMG CORP.
Reel/Frame 049107/0392 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT REEL 048041/FRAME 0605 Recorded May 7, 2019
From: PIPER JAFFRAY FINANCE, LLC
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 049110/0319 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT REEL 048818/FRAME 0520 Recorded May 7, 2019
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 049109/0610 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2019
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048818/0520 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2019
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: PIPER JAFFRAY FINANCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 048041/0605 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2019
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINSTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 049342/0819 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: OEHRING, JARED; HINDERLITER, BRANDON NEIL
To: US WELL SERVICES, LLC.
Reel/Frame 040178/0654 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 15202085 · Jul 5, 2016
Continuation 13679689 · Nov 16, 2012
Provisional Application 62204842 · Aug 13, 2015
Related Publication 20160348479A1 · Dec 1, 2016
Cited By (4)
US 12,261,417 US 12,392,232 US 12,438,480 US 12,500,423