Fracturing blender system and method using liquid petroleum gas
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. The treatment fluid can comprise a water-based fracturing fluid or a waterless liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fracturing fluid.
1 . An electric blender system, comprising:
a blender tub system associated with an electric power source;
a fluid source system;
a fluid additive system,
an inlet electric motor configured to drive an inlet pump; and
a control system capable of linking the blender tub system and a fracturing pump under a single point of control for real-time automated adjustment of blending parameters responsive to a single command to change a fracturing pump rate, wherein the control system adjusts an operation of the blender tub system to maintain coordinated flow between the fluid source and additive delivery associated with a plurality of pre-set parameters.
2 . The electric blender system of claim 1 , wherein the blender system is configured to receive and be powered by electricity provided from a dedicated electric power source.
3 . The electric blender system of claim 2 , wherein the dedicated electric power source is selected from the group consisting of a gas-powered electric turbine generator and grid power.
4 . The electric blender system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid source system comprises an inlet manifold, fluid motor and fluid pump configured to deliver a fluid source to the blender tub.
5 . The electric blender system of claim 4 , wherein the fluid source is selected from the group consisting of water, oils or methanol blends.
6 . The electric blender system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid additive system comprises a fluid additive delivery system.
7 . The electric blender system of claim 6 , wherein the fluid additive delivery system comprises a hopper configured to receive fluid additives, an auger, and an auger motor.
8 . The electric blender system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid additive system comprises a sand belt system, wherein the sand belt system is configured to deliver sand to the blender tub.
9 . The electric blender system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid additives are selected from the group consisting of proppants, friction reducers, gellants, gellant breakers and biocides.
10 . The electric blender system of claim 1 , wherein the blender tub system comprises a blender tub, wherein the blender tub comprises an electric motor driven blending process in the blender tub to form a blended fluid, and wherein the blender tub system is configured to discharge the blended fluid out of the blender tub and into an outlet manifold, wherein the outlet manifold has an inlet configured to receive the blended fluid and an outlet configured to discharge the blended fluid.
11 . A method for operating an electric blender system, comprising:
providing a blender tub system associated with an electric power source;
providing a fluid source system configured to communicate with the blender tub system;
providing a fluid source configured to supply one or more fluids into the fluid source system;
providing a fluid additive source configured to introduce at least one additive to a fluid additive system;
combining the fluid source with the fluid additive source to form a blended fluid; and
discharging the blended fluid via a control system,
wherein the control system is configured to adjust performance of the responsive blender tub system and fluid additive system responsive to a single command to change a fracturing pump rate to maintain coordinated flow between the fluid source and additive delivery associated with a plurality of pre-set parameters.
12 . The method of claim 11 , comprising:
providing a fluid source system; and
providing a fluid additive system.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the blender system is configured to receive and be powered by electricity provided from a dedicated electric power source.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the dedicated electric power source is selected from the group consisting of a gas-powered electric turbine generator and grid power.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid source system comprises an inlet manifold, a fluid motor, and fluid pump configured to deliver a fluid source to a blender tub.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid source is selected from the group consisting of water, oils or methanol blends.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid additive system comprises a fluid additive delivery system, and wherein the fluid additive delivery system comprises a hopper configured to receive fluid additives, an auger, and an auger motor.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the fluid additive delivery system comprises a sand belt system configured to deliver sand to the blender tub.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the blender tub system comprises an outlet manifold, wherein the outlet manifold has an inlet configured to receive the blended fluid and an outlet configured to discharge the blended fluid.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid additives are selected from the group consisting of proppants, friction reducers, gellants, gellant breakers and biocides.