ELECTRIC POWERED HYDRAULIC FRACTURING SYSTEM WITHOUT GEAR REDUCTION
Embodiments include a hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation including an electric pump fluidly connected to a well associated with the subterranean formation and powered by at least one electric motor, and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the subterranean formation and fractures the subterranean formation. The system also includes at least one generator electrically coupled to the electric motor so as to generate electricity for use by the electric pump. In the system, a shaft of the motor is directly coupled to a crankshaft of the pump without an intermediate gear reduction system such that the shaft of the motor rotates at substantially the same speed as the crankshaft of the pump.
1 . A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
an electric pump fluidly connected to a well associated with the subterranean formation and powered by at least one electric motor, and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the subterranean formation and fractures the subterranean formation;
at least one generator electrically coupled to the electric motor so as to generate electricity for use by the electric pump;
wherein a shaft of the motor is directly coupled to a crankshaft of the pump without an intermediate gear reduction system such that the shaft of the motor rotates at substantially the same speed as the crankshaft of the pump.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a coupling device connecting the shaft of the motor to the crankshaft.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the coupling device is a flexible coupling device or a rigid coupling device.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the coupling device is at least one of a beam coupling, a bellows coupling, a chain coupling, a jaw coupling, a diaphragm coupling, a disc coupling, a gear coupling, a grid coupling, an Oldham coupling, a Schmidt coupling, or clamping coupling.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a variable frequency drive connected to the at least one electric motor to control the speed of the at least one electric motor.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one generator comprises one of a turbine generator or a reciprocating engine generator, or a combination thereof.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric pump comprises limited gearing.
8 . A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
an electric pump fluidly connected to a well associated with the subterranean formation and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the subterranean formation and fractures the subterranean formation;
at least one electric motor providing operational energy to the electric pump;
at least one generator electrically coupled to the electric motor so as to generate electricity for use by the electric pump;
a variable frequency drive connected to the at least one electric motor to control the speed of the at least one electric motor;
wherein a shaft of the motor is directly coupled to a crankshaft of the pump such that the shaft of the motor rotates at substantially the same speed as the crankshaft of the pump.
9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a coupling device connecting the shaft of the motor to the crankshaft.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the coupling device is a flexible coupling device or a rigid coupling device.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the coupling device is at least one of a beam coupling, a bellows coupling, a chain coupling, a jaw coupling, a diaphragm coupling, a disc coupling, a gear coupling, a grid coupling, an Oldham coupling, a Schmidt coupling, or clamping coupling.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one generator comprises one of a turbine generator or a reciprocating engine generator, or a combination thereof.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric pump comprises limited gearing.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the limited gearing is internal to the electric pump.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the limited gearing is external to the electric pump.
16 . A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
an electric pump fluidly connected to a well associated with the subterranean formation and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the subterranean formation and fractures the subterranean formation;
at least one electric motor providing operational energy to the electric pump;
a variable frequency drive connected to the at least one electric motor to control the speed of the at least one electric motor;
wherein a shaft of the motor is directly coupled to a crankshaft of the pump such that the shaft of the motor rotates at substantially the same speed as the crankshaft of the pump and a torque output of the at least one electric motor is directly transmitted to the electric pump.
17 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a coupling device connecting the shaft of the motor to the crankshaft.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the coupling device is a flexible coupling device or a rigid coupling device.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the coupling device is at least one of a beam coupling, a bellows coupling, a chain coupling, a jaw coupling, a diaphragm coupling, a disc coupling, a gear coupling, a grid coupling, an Oldham coupling, a Schmidt coupling, or clamping coupling.
20 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one generator electrically coupled to the electric motor so as to generate electricity for use by the electric pump, wherein the at least one generator comprises one of a turbine generator or a reciprocating engine generator, or a combination thereof.