IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,874,301
Granted Patent B2
US 9,874,301 · App. 14/628,705 · Granted Jan 23, 2018

Vibration reducing pipe junction

Inventors: Blake Eisner (Houston, TX); Kurt C. Gramoll (Norman, OK)
Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
F16L41/021E21B43/26F16L55/02772F16L55/041Y10T137/86131
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,874,301
App. No.
14/628,705
Granted
Jan 23, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A t-junction for use in a pipe manifold of a pumping system for supplying a fracturing fluid to well head.

Claims (9)

1. A method of reducing vibration in a process of delivering a fracturing fluid to a well head, comprising:

providing a pipe manifold comprising a plurality of pipe junctions,

each pipe junction comprising:

a first pipe section having a bore, a first inlet and an outlet, the bore having an internal diameter;

a second pipe section having a second inlet, the second pipe section attached to and extending from the first pipe section to form a junction between the first pipe section and the second pipe section, wherein the second pipe section is in fluid communication with the first pipe section and extends from the first pipe section at an angle in a range of from 10° to 90°; and

an enlarged zone in a medial portion of the first pipe section, the enlarged zone having a maximum internal diameter which exceeds the internal diameter of the bore of the first pipe section, and wherein when a first fluid stream is introduced into the first pipe section and a second fluid stream is introduced into the second pipe section, the first fluid stream and second fluid stream merge in the enlarged zone to form a combined fluid stream, wherein the pipe manifold is connected to a well head;

providing multiple displacement pumps having multiple pump crankshafts;

connecting the multiple displacement pumps to the plurality of pipe junctions of the pipe manifold; and

causing the multiple displacement pumps to deliver a fracturing fluid into the pipe manifold such that a transient periodic flow velocity is created by the multiple pump crankshafts, the transient periodic flow velocity causing vibrations in the pipe junctions when the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream merge in the enlarged zone to form a combined fluid stream in each pipe junction, and wherein the enlarged zone of each pipe junction reduces the vibrations caused therein by the transient periodic flow velocity created by the multiple pump crankshafts.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2015
From: EISNER, BLAKE; GRAMOLL, KURT C.
To: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
Reel/Frame 035321/0248 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61943093 · Feb 21, 2014
Related Publication 20150240982A1 · Aug 27, 2015