IP Library Granted Patent US 11,808,125
Granted Patent B2
US 11,808,125 · App. 16/876,929 · Granted Nov 7, 2023

Smart fracturing system and method

Inventors: Jared Oehring (Houston, TX); Alexander James Christinzio (Houston, TX); Brandon N. Hinderliter (Houston, TX)
Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
E21B43/2607E21B41/00E21B43/26E21B44/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,808,125
App. No.
16/876,929
Granted
Nov 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hydraulic fracturing system includes a plurality of pumps positioned at a wellsite and configured to pressurize a fracturing fluid, a distribution system fluidly coupled to receive and consolidate fracturing fluid from the plurality of pumps for injection into a wellhead. The hydraulic fracturing system further includes a control system, which includes a plurality of sensing devices configured to measure one or more parameters of the plurality of pumps and the distribution system, one or more processing device configured to receive and analyze the one or more parameters measured by the plurality of sensing devices and generate control instructions based at least in part on the one or more parameters, and one or more control device configured 110 to receive the control instructions and control one or more aspects of the plurality of pumps or the distribution system based on the control instructions.

Claims (56)

1. A hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:

one or more pumps;

a distribution system; and

a control system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices configured to measure one or more parameters of the one or more pumps and the distribution system;

one or more processing devices configured to receive a first parameter from a first device of the one or more pumps or the distribution system, and transmit the first parameter to a second device of the one or more pumps or the distribution system, and detect that the first parameter is outside of an acceptable threshold, and generate automated control instructions at the second device based at least in part on the first parameter; and

one or more control devices configured to receive the automated control instructions and automatically adjust one or more aspects of the second device based on the control instructions.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a suction line through which fracturing fluid is supplied, wherein the plurality of sensing devices includes one or more flow sensors configured to measure flow through the suction line.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a discharge line through which fracturing fluid is discharged, wherein the plurality of sensing devices includes one or more flow sensors configured to measure flow through the discharge line.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more blenders, wherein the plurality of sensing devices includes one or more pressure or flow sensors for measuring flow conditions at the one or more blenders.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensing devices are installed on the one or more pumps and the distribution system, and selected from a group including flow sensors, accelerometers, pressure transducer, and tachometers.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pumps or the distribution system includes at least one device selected from a group include a gate, valve, actuator, motor, suction pipe, discharge pipe, engine, transmission, and temperature regulation device, controllable via the one or more control devices.

7. A hydraulic fracturing method, comprising:

measuring one or more parameters of a plurality of components of a hydraulic fracturing system;

detecting that a first parameter of the one or more parameters is outside of an acceptable threshold;

generating automated instructions for one or more control devices based at least in part on the first parameter;

automatically adjusting one or more functions of the hydraulic fracturing system based at least in part on the automated instructions;

transmitting the first parameter from a first component of the hydraulic fracturing system to a second component of the hydraulic fracturing system;

generating the automated instructions at the second component based at least in part on the first parameter; and

automatically adjusting one or more functions of the second component based on the automated instructions.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

detecting that a first pump of a plurality of pumps is underperforming, wherein the plurality of components includes the plurality of pumps.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

adjusting one or more other pumps of the plurality of pumps to compensate for the first pump.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

selecting the one or more other pumps to adjust based at least in part on the conditions of the one or more other pumps as indicated by one or more of the one or more parameters.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining that the one or more parameters are indicative of a potential failure condition; and

determining a source of the potential failure condition.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

generating an alert or notification indicative of the potential failure condition and the source.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

logging operation data including a number of strokes and pumping hours performed by a pump of a plurality of pumps, wherein the plurality of components includes the plurality of pumps; and

determining a maintenance schedule based at least in part on the operation data.

14. A hydraulic fracturing method, comprising:

measuring one or more operational parameters of a plurality of components of a hydraulic fracturing system;

transmitting a first parameter of the one or more operational parameters from a first component of the hydraulic fracturing system to a second component of the hydraulic fracturing system;

detecting that the first parameter is outside of an acceptable threshold;

generating automated instructions at the second device based at least in part on the first parameter; and

controlling one or more functions of the hydraulic fracturing system based on the automated instructions.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

automatically adjusting one or more functions of the second device based on the automated instructions.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first parameter includes measurements of one or more of a plurality of pumps, wherein the plurality of components includes the plurality of pumps.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

controlling one or more of a plurality of pumps individually based on the automated instructions, wherein the plurality of components includes the plurality of pumps.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

detecting that a measurement associated with a first pump of the plurality of pumps is outside of an acceptable threshold; and

automatically taking the first pump offline in response to the detection.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

adjusting one or more of the other pumps in the plurality of pumps to compensate for taking the first pump offline.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining that the one or more operational parameters are indicative of a potential failure condition; and

determining a source of the potential failure condition.

Assignments (6)
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 →
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 18, 2020
From: OEHRING, JARED; CHRISTINZIO, ALEXANDER JAMES; HINDERLITER, BRANDON
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 052691/0117 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16170695 · Oct 25, 2018
Provisional Application 62577056 · Oct 25, 2017
Related Publication 20200386077A1 · Dec 10, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,442,281