Grease delivery with accumulated pressure
A grease delivery with accumulated pressure system includes a grease accumulator comprising a first compartment containing a pressurized fluid and a second compartment containing a grease, a pressurized fluid source in communication with the first compartment, a grease reservoir connected to the second compartment through a supply conduit, and a discharge conduit extending from the second compartment to a receiving component.
1. A method for greasing a wellhead component with a grease delivery with accumulated pressure system, the method comprising:
supplying grease from a grease reservoir to a grease accumulator at a first pressure, the grease accumulator coupled to a greasing manifold through a discharge conduit, and the greasing manifold connected to the wellhead component through a delivery conduit;
applying, with a hydraulic accumulator, a second pressure to the grease in the grease accumulator; and
opening a valve in the discharge conduit permitting the grease to flow under pressure from the grease accumulator to the wellhead component;
wherein a plurality of local stations, each of which comprises a local grease accumulator, a local hydraulic accumulator, and a local greasing manifold;
the local stations located proximate to a respective local wellhead tree comprising wellhead components connected to the respective local greasing manifold; and
the grease reservoir located at a remote station removed from the local stations and connected through a first manifold to the local grease accumulators, wherein the remote station is located outside of a zone in which people are excluded during fracturing operations, wherein the local stations are located inside of the zone.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising permitting waste grease to be displaced from the wellhead component to a waste vessel in response to permitting the grease to flow from the grease accumulator to the wellhead component.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the greasing manifold is connected to two or more wellhead components through two or more delivery conduits.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the grease accumulator, the hydraulic accumulator, and the greasing manifold are positioned at a local station proximate to the wellhead component; and
the grease reservoir is located at a remote station removed from the local station.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the remote station is located outside of a zone in which people are excluded during fracturing operations; and
the local station is located inside of the zone.