IP Library Granted Patent US 11,781,410
Granted Patent B2
US 11,781,410 · App. 17/246,320 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Fluid injection systems, apparatus, and methods including flexible hoses for wellhead sites

Inventors: Steven Post (Fort Worth, TX); Peter Middleton (Aledo, TX); Harry Hughes (Beeville, TX); William Perry Lamar (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Forum US, Inc.
E21B43/2607B67D7/002B67D7/58E21B43/26F04D13/04F16L27/0861
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,781,410
App. No.
17/246,320
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to fluid injection systems, apparatus, methods, and associated components thereof that include flexible hoses for wellhead sites. In one implementation, a fluid injection system for wellhead sites includes a platform, a pump manifold mounted to the platform, and a pair of rails mounted to the platform. The fluid injection system includes a trolley disposed between the pair of rails and above the pump manifold. The trolley is movable along the pair of rails. The fluid injection system includes an articulation arm device mounted to the trolley. The articulation arm device includes one or more pivot joints coupled between two or more arms, and a connection device coupled to an end arm of the two or more arms.

Claims (56)

1. A fluid injection system for wellhead sites, comprising:

a pump manifold;

a flexible hose comprising a first end and a second end; and

a lift system mounted to the pump manifold and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the lift system comprising:

a base coupled to a frame of the pump manifold,

a column pivotably coupled to the base, wherein the column is pivotable relative to the base between the extended position and the retracted position,

a rail pivotably coupled to the column,

a trolley movable along the rail,

a hoist line coupled to the trolley, and

a connection device coupled to the hoist line.

2. The fluid injection system of claim 1 , wherein the lift system further comprises an articulation arm device pivotably coupled to the column, the articulation arm device comprising:

one or more pivot joints coupled between one or more arms.

3. The fluid injection system of claim 1 , wherein the connection device and the trolley are remotely operable using a remote system.

4. The fluid injection system of claim 3 , wherein the remote system comprises a feedback loop control.

5. The fluid injection system of claim 1 , wherein the column is rotatable relative to the base.

6. The fluid injection system of claim 1 , wherein the pump manifold comprises a first angled joint and a support structure, the first end of the flexible hose is supported on the support structure, and the second end of the flexible hose is coupled to the first angled joint.

7. A method of deploying the fluid injection system of claim 1 , comprising:

gripping the first end of the flexible hose using the lift system mounted to the pump manifold;

actuating the lift system to move the first end of the flexible hose toward a first frac pump;

coupling the first end of the flexible hose to the first frac pump;

disconnecting the lift system from the first end of the flexible hose;

gripping a first end of a second flexible hose using the lift system;

actuating the lift system to move the first end of the second flexible hose toward a second frac pump;

coupling the first end of the second flexible hose to the second frac pump;

disconnecting the lift system from the first end of the second flexible hose; and

pumping a frac fluid through the first flexible hose and the second flexible hose and into the pump manifold.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second end of the flexible hose is coupled to a first angled joint of the pump manifold while gripping the first end of the flexible hose using the lift system, and a second end of the second flexible hose is coupled to a second angled joint of the pump manifold while gripping the first end of the second flexible hose using the lift system.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second end of the flexible hose is supported on a support structure of the pump manifold while gripping the first end of the flexible hose using the lift system.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

collapsing the lift system to a retracted position, the collapsing comprising pivoting a column of the lift system toward the pump manifold; and

transporting the lift system with the lift system in the retracted position.

11. The method of claim 7 , removing a column of the lift system from a base receptacle of the lift system.

12. A fluid injection system for wellhead sites, comprising:

a pump manifold;

a flexible hose comprising a first end and a second end; and

a lift system mounted to the pump manifold and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the lift system comprising:

a base coupled to a frame of the pump manifold, and

a column pivotably coupled to the base, wherein the column is pivotable relative to the base between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein the lift system is an overhead crane disposed above the pump manifold, wherein the overhead crane comprises:

a bridge disposed between a pair of rails and movable along the pair of rails; and

a trolley coupled to and movable along the bridge.

13. The fluid injection system of claim 12 , wherein the pair of rails are coupled to a frame of the pump manifold.

14. The fluid injection system of claim 12 , wherein the first end of the flexible hose comprises a disconnection device configured to connect to and disconnect from a pump, and wherein the second end of the flexible hose is coupled to the pump manifold.

15. The fluid injection system of claim 14 , wherein the disconnection device comprises an actuator that actuates one or more ring segments between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the one or more ring segments engage a latch of the flexible hose to lock the flexible hose to the disconnection device.

16. The fluid injection system of claim 14 , wherein the disconnection device comprises a dry break coupling device or a hot stab device that comprises a female receptacle and a male stab, and the disconnection device is remotely operable from a remote structure.

17. A fluid injection system for wellhead sites, comprising:

a pump manifold; and

a lift system mounted to the pump manifold, the lift system comprising:

a base coupled to a frame of the pump manifold,

a column rotatably coupled to the base, wherein the column is rotatable relative to the base,

a rail pivotably coupled to the column,

a trolley movable along the rail,

a hoist line coupled to the trolley, and

a connection device coupled to the hoist line.

18. The fluid injection system of claim 17 , wherein the base comprises a base plate coupled to the frame of the pump manifold using a plurality of legs, and the lift system further comprises:

a mount plate rotatably coupled to the base plate, and

a base receptacle coupled to the mount plate, wherein the column is insertable into the base receptacle.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 066565/FRAME 0968 Recorded Nov 12, 2024
From: GLAS USA LLC
To: FORUM ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORUM US, INC.; GLOBAL TUBING, LLC; VARIPERM ENERGY SERVICES INC.
Reel/Frame 069338/0131 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2024
From: FORUM US, INC.
To: NORDIC TRUSTEE AS
Reel/Frame 069338/0347 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECOND LIEN TERM LOAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Sep 27, 2024
From: VARIPERM ENERGY SERVICES PARTNERSHIP, AS RESIGNING COLLATERAL AGENT AND ASSIGNOR
To: GLAS USA LLC, AS SUCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNEE
Reel/Frame 069067/0317 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2024
From: FORUM US, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO, NA
Reel/Frame 066049/0540 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2024
From: FORUM ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORUM US, INC.; GLOBAL TUBING, LLC; VARIPERM ENERGY SERVICES INC.
To: VARIPERM ENERGY SERVICES PARTNERSHIP
Reel/Frame 066565/0968 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: POST, STEVEN; MIDDLETON, PETER; HUGHES, HARRY; LAMAR, WILLIAM PERRY
To: FORUM US, INC.
Reel/Frame 056468/0885 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63053230 · Jul 17, 2020
Related Publication 20220017355A1 · Jan 20, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,662,922