IP Library Granted Patent US 11,035,207
Granted Patent B2
US 11,035,207 · App. 16/385,070 · Granted Jun 15, 2021

Hybrid hydraulic fracturing fleet

Inventors: Jared Oehring (Houston, TX); Brandon Neil Hinderliter (Houston, TX)
Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
E21B41/0085B60W10/105E21B43/2401E21B43/26F04B17/03F04B49/065
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,035,207
App. No.
16/385,070
Granted
Jun 15, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hydraulic fracturing system is disclosed as including a singular mobile platform of at least one mobile power unit (MPU) and at least one first switch gear that is configured to handle electric power from the MPU. The MPU is configured to generate voltage that matches the requirements of an electrical bus from the at least one switch gear such that a combined electrical current generated as a result of the generated voltage is provided to the electrical bus to the components of the hydraulic fracturing system. Further, the hydraulic fracturing system may include electrical fracturing equipment with at least one second switch gear to support the at least one first switch gear in handling electric power from the MPU. A datavan may be included in the system to control load shedding, load sharing, and power distribution for the electrical fracturing equipment comprising the at least one second switch gear.

Claims (42)

1. A hydraulic fracturing fleet, comprising:

a datavan for engaging an interchangeable combination of diesel-powered components and electric-powered components, the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components comprising at least one back-up component that is diesel-powered, electric-powered, or a combination of diesel-powered and electric-powered;

a controller executing a software module for determining a type of a connected component to the datavan by an indication provided to the software module by the connected component, the type associated with the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components; and

switching components associated with the datavan for communicating with the software module to receive control gear levels for a diesel engine or frequency levels for a variable frequency drive (VFD) of an electric pump, and for switching between the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components,. upon determination by the controller of the type of the connected component.

2. The hydraulic fracturing fleet of claim 1 , wherein:

multi-pump controls in the datavan for controlling a diesel or an electric pump in the interchangeable combination of the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components.

3. The hydraulic fracturing fleet of claim 1 , further comprising:

the switching components configured to receive engine revolutions per minute (RPM) for the diesel engine and voltage levels for the VFD, the switching components configured to control the gear levels and the frequency levels based at least in part on requirements of the hydraulic fracturing fleet.

4. The hydraulic fracturing fleet of claim 1 , further comprising:

electric and diesel blenders in the interchangeable combination of the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components, the electric and the diesel blenders associated with back-up counterpart blenders.

5. The hydraulic fracturing fleet of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pump operator station comprised in the datavan for enabling operator control of the interchangeable combination of the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components or of back-up counterpart components that are either diesel-powered or electric-powered.

6. The hydraulic fracturing fleet of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pump down station configured to operate with a second well concurrently with the interchangeable combination of the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components being in operation with a first well.

7. The hydraulic fracturing fleet of claim 1 , further comprising:

a data network coupled to the datavan for transmitting on-site data associated with the hydraulic fracturing fleet to a remote station and for transmitting remote data from the remote station to the datavan.

8. The hydraulic fracturing fleet of claim 1 , further comprising:

waterproof covers provided in the datavan for safeguarding the switching components of the datavan.

9. The hydraulic fracturing fleet of claim 1 , further comprising:

a redundant diesel or electric power source to power the datavan from within the hydraulic fracturing fleet or from a remote station.

10. A method of operating hydraulic fracturing fleet, comprising:

engaging, using a datavan, an interchangeable combination of diesel- powered components and electric-powered components, the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components comprising at least one back-up component that is diesel-powered, electric-powered, or a combination of diesel-powered and electric-powered;

determining, by a software module executing on a controller, a type of a connected component to the datavan by an indication provided to the software module by the connected component, the type associated with the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components; and

switching, by switching components associated with the datavan, between the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components upon determination by the controller of the type of the connected component, the switching components communicating with the software module to receive control gear levels for a diesel engine of the connected component or to receive frequency levels for a variable frequency drive (VFD) of an electric pump of the connected component.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

controlling, by multi-pump controls in the datavan, the diesel engine or the electric pump in the interchangeable combination of the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving instructions for the gear levels and for an engine revolutions per minute (RPM) for the diesel engine or for the frequency levels and voltage levels for the VFD; and

controlling the gear levels the frequency levels, the RPM, or the voltage levels based at least in part on requirements of the hydraulic fracturing fleet.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

providing electric and diesel blenders in the interchangeable combination of the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components, the electric and the diesel blenders associated with back-up counterpart blenders.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

enabling, from a pump operator station comprised in the datavan, operator control of the interchangeable combination of the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components, or of back-up counterpart components that are either diesel powered or electric-powered.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

operating, using a pump down station, a second well with the interchangeable combination of the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components, the diesel-powered components and the electric-powered components being in concurrent operation with a first well.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

transmitting, using a data network coupled to the datavan, on-site data associated with the hydraulic fracturing fleet to a remote station; and

transmitting remote data from the remote station to the datavan.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

covering, using waterproof covers in the datavan, the switching components for safeguarding communications to the electric-powered components.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

providing redundant power, from a redundant diesel or electric power source of the hydraulic fracturing fleet or a remote station, to power the datavan.

Assignments (7)
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 27, 2023
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 066127/0981 →
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2022
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: PIPER SANDLER FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 061875/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 057434/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2019
From: OEHRING, JARED; HINDERLITER, BRANDON N.
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 049052/0800 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62658257 · Apr 16, 2018
Related Publication 20190316447A1 · Oct 17, 2019
Cited By (6)
US 12,241,352 US 12,261,417 US 12,378,865 US 12,442,338 US 12,444,910 US 12,500,423