Dual pump VFD controlled motor electric fracturing system
The present invention provides a method and system for providing on-site electrical power to a fracturing operation, and an electrically powered fracturing system. Natural gas can be used to drive a turbine generator in the production of electrical power. A scalable, electrically powered fracturing fleet is provided to pump fluids for the fracturing operation, obviating the need for a constant supply of diesel fuel to the site and reducing the site footprint and infrastructure required for the fracturing operation, when compared with conventional systems.
1. A system for hydraulically fracturing underground formations, comprising:
one or more transportable electric turbine generators;
an electric motor electrically connected to the one or more turbine generators;
one or more fracturing fluid pumps, wherein the one or more fracturing fluid pumps are configured to receive one or more conduit to deliver a fracturing fluid into a wellbore;
an electric blender system, operatively associated with a dedicated electric power source, capable of providing a blended fracturing fluid to a fracturing pump for delivery to a wellbore operation, comprising:
a blender tub;
a fluid additive system;
a fluid addition source hopper;
an inlet electric motor configured to drive an inlet pump, in communication with a fluid additive source and cable of pumping the fluid additive source into and out of the blender tub.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more variable frequency drives in communication with one or more of the electric motors, wherein the variable frequency drives are configured to control the speed of the one or more electric motors.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system in communication with one or more of the electric motors and the one or more generators.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the control system is configured to monitor a fracturing fluid pressure of the first fracturing fluid pump.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the control system is configured to monitor a fracturing fluid pressure of the first fracturing fluid pump, the second fracturing fluid pump, or both fracturing fluid pumps.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the control system is configured to monitor and control the one or more turbine generators.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to communicate with one or more variable frequency drives to provide fracturing fluid to the wellbore at a constant pressure.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to communicate with one or more variable frequency drives to provide the fracturing fluid to the wellbore at a constant flow rate.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical transformer in electrical communication with the one or more turbine generators.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electrical transformer steps down a voltage from the one or more turbine generators to a voltage appropriate for at least one of the electric motors.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more turbine generators are powered by natural gas.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more turbine generators are powered by condensate liquid fuel.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the electric motors, the one or more turbine generators, and one or more fracturing fluid pumps are located on a transportable trailer.
14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a transformer.
15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising one or more variable frequency drives and a control system.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the turbine generator provides a dedicated source of electrical power for fracturing operations at the wellbore.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more fracturing fluid pumps are capable of operation in the range of up to 1500 RPM and up to 20,000 ft/lbs of torque.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more fracturing fluid pumps are capable of operating at 2500 hp during fracturing operations.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid comprises a liquefied petroleum gas.
20. A method of delivering pressurized fluid to a wellbore to be fractured, comprising: providing one or more transportable electric turbine generators;
providing an electric motor electrically connected to the one or more turbine generators;
providing one or more fracturing fluid pumps configured to receive one or more conduits to deliver a fracturing fluid into a wellbore;
providing an electric blender system, operatively associated with a dedicated electric power source, capable of providing a blended fracturing fluid to a fracturing pump for delivery to a wellbore
operation, comprising:
a blender tub;
a fluid additive system;
a fluid addition source hopper;
an inlet electric motor configured to drive an inlet pump, in communication with a fluid additive source and capable of pumping the fluid additive source into and out of the blender tub.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising providing a variable frequency drive in communication with one or more of the electric motors, wherein the variable frequency drive is configured to control the speed of the one or more electric motors.
22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising providing a control system in communication with one or more of the electric motors and the one or more generators.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the control system is configured to monitor a fracturing fluid pressure of the first fracturing fluid pump.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the control system is configured to monitor a fracturing fluid pressure.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the control system is configured to monitor and control the one or more turbine generators.
26. The method of claim 22 , further comprising mounting a transformer, one or more variable frequency drives and a control system on the trailer.
27. The method of claim 22 , further comprising a platform structure mounted to the trailer and from which at one or more fracturing fluid pumps are accessible by operations personnel.
28. The method of claim 20 , further comprising providing a control system configured to communicate with one or more variable frequency drives to provide fracturing fluid to the wellbore at a constant pressure.
29. The method of claim 20 , further comprising providing a control system configured to communicate with one or more variable frequency drives to provide the fracturing fluid to the wellbore at a constant flow rate.
30. The method of claim 20 , further comprising providing an electrical transformer in electrical communication with the one or more turbine generators.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the electrical transformer steps down a voltage from the one or more turbine generators to a voltage for the electric motors.
32. The method of claim 20 , wherein the one or more turbine generators are powered by natural gas.
33. The method of claim 20 , wherein the one or more turbine generators are powered by condensate liquid fuel.
34. The method of claim 20 , further comprising mounting the one or more turbine generators on a trailer, and the one or more fracturing fluid pumps on a trailer.
35. The method of claim 20 , wherein the turbine generator provides a dedicated source of electrical power for fracturing operations at the wellbore.
36. The method of claim 20 , further comprising supplying a fracturing fluid to the one or more blender systems.
37. The method of claim 36 , further comprising introducing a fracturing fluid from the one or more blender systems into one or more fracturing fluid pumps.
38. The method of claim 37 , further comprising pumping the fracturing fluid from the one or more fracturing fluid pumps into one or more underground formations.