Granted Patent B2

US 12,241,353 · App. 17/983,187 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Inventors: Jared Oehring (Houston, TX); Alexander Christinzio (Collegeville, PA); Lon Robinson (Houston, TX)

Assignee: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC

E21B43/2607E21B34/08E21B34/142F04B17/03E21B11/00E21B43/2605

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:

an electric pump having an inlet to receive an inlet fluid supply;

a suction stabilizer/dampener fluidly coupled to a suction end of the pump;

a compressed gas supply;

a first flow path extending between at least the compressed gas supply and the suction stabilizer/dampener;

one or more pressure regulation devices associated with the first flow path; and

a low pressure fluid supply upstream of the suction stabilizer/dampener, wherein a second flow path extends between the low pressure fluid supply and the suction stabilizer/dampener.

2. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure regulation devices include at least one or more of a regulator and a valve.

3. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 2 , wherein the valve is at least one of a manual valve and an actuated valve.

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

a sensor associated with the first flow path, wherein data acquired from the sensor is used to control operation of the one or more pressure regulation devices.

5. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure regulation devices is a regulator configured to be at a set pressure corresponding to an operating pressure for the suction stabilizer/dampener.

6. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein both the compressed gas supply and the electric pump are arranged on a common support structure.

7. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the compressed gas supply is on a different support structure than the electric pump.

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

a second electric pump fluidly coupled to the suction stabilizer/dampener.

9. A system for hydraulic fracturing, comprising:

a plurality of electric fracturing pumps;

a suction stabilizer/dampener fluidly coupled to each respective suction end of each electric pump of the plurality of electric fracturing pumps;

a compressed gas supply;

a first flow path extending between at least the compressed gas supply and the suction stabilizer/dampener;

a blender positioned upstream of the suction stabilizer/dampener, wherein a second flow path extends between the blender and the suction stabilizer/dampener, and

a pressure regulation system associated with the first flow path, comprising:

a regulator;

a valve; and

one or more sensors.

10. The system for hydraulic fracturing of claim 9 , further comprising:

a low pressure fluid supply upstream of the suction stabilizer/dampener, wherein a third flow path extends between the low pressure fluid supply and the suction stabilizer/dampener.

11. The system for hydraulic fracturing of claim 9 , wherein the valve is one of a manual valve or a remotely controlled valve.

12. The system for hydraulic fracturing of claim 9 , wherein the regulator is a pressure regulator having a controllable set point.

13. The system for hydraulic fracturing of claim 9 , further comprising:

one or more electric motors to drive the plurality of electric pumps.

14. The system for hydraulic fracturing of claim 9 , wherein the suction stabilizer/dampener is positioned on a first support structure and at least one electric pump of the plurality of electric pumps is positioned on a separate second support structure.

15. The system for hydraulic fracturing of claim 9 , wherein data acquired by the one or more sensors is used to adjust a position of at least one of the regulator or the valve.

16. A method, comprising:

supplying a pressurized gas to a suction stabilizer/dampener associated with an electric pump;

determining an operating pressure for the suction stabilizer/dampener meets or exceeds a threshold;

setting one or more pressure control devices associated with the suction stabilizer/dampener to maintain the operating pressure at or above the threshold, wherein the operating pressure is determined, at least in part, by a sensor associated with the one or more pressure control devices;

determining the operating pressure has dropped below the threshold; and

performing one or more remedial operations, wherein the one or more remedial operations are automatic operations triggered by data acquired by the sensor.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more remedial operations includes at least one of:

supplying additional pressurized gas to the suction stabilizer/dampener; or

modifying one or more properties of the one or more pressure control devices.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (398)