Patent Application
20120181785
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1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure generally relates oilfield applications having a pumping system with piping. More particularly, the disclosure relates to oilfield applications having a pumping system that pumps an abrasive fluid through piping for fracturing operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
To keep the fractures open after the injection stops, propping agents are introduced into the fracturing fluid and pumped into the fractures to extend the breaks and pack them with proppants, or small spheres generally composed of quartz sand grains, ceramic spheres, or aluminum oxide pellets. The proppant is chosen to be higher in permeability than the surrounding formation, and the propped hydraulic fracture then becomes a high permeability conduit through which the formation fluids can flow to the well.
In general, hydraulic fracturing equipment used in oil and natural gas fields usually includes frac tanks with fracturing fluid coupled through hoses to a slurry blender, one or more high-pressure, high volume fracturing pumps to pump the fracturing fluid to the well, and a monitoring unit. Associated equipment includes fracturing tanks, high-pressure treating iron, a chemical additive unit (used to monitor accurately chemical addition), pipes, and gauges for flow rates, fluid density, and treating pressure. Fracturing equipment operates over a range of pressures and injection rates, and can reach up to 15,000 psi (100 MPa) and 100 barrels per minute (265 L/s). Many frac pumps are typically used at any given time to maintain the very high, required flow rates into the well.
In the exemplary prior art fracturing system 2, fracturing tanks 4A-4F (generally “4”) deliver fracturing fluids to the well site and specifically to one or more blenders 8. The tanks 4 each supply the fluids typically through hoses 6A-6F (generally “6”) or other conduit to one or more blenders 8. One or more proppant storage units 3 can be fluidicly coupled to the blenders 8 to provide sand or other proppant to the blenders. Other chemicals can be delivered to the blenders for mixing. In most applications, the blenders 8 mix the fracturing fluids and proppant, and delivers the mixed fluid to one or more trucks 5A-5E (generally “5”) having high-pressure pumps 9A-9F (generally “9”) to provide the fluid through one or more supply lines 10A-10E (generally “10”) to a well 12A (generally “12”). The fluid is flushed out of a well using a line 14 that is connected to a dump tank 16. The fracturing operations are completed on the well 12A, and can be moved to other wells 12B and 12C, if desired.
Thus, there is a need to protect the fittings from unnecessary and premature wear when pumping the abrasive fracturing fluids that provide ready maintenance and replacement if required.
The disclosure provides fittings having one or more inlets and one or more outlets with a target port and a target hub adapted to be coupled to the target port. The target hub is adapted to be removably coupled to the target port at a target coupler and sealingly engage the target port. The target hub includes a protrusion that protrudes into a flow path, where the protrusion includes a target face. A protrusion seal on the periphery of the protrusion sealingly engages a surrounding wall of the target port bore.
The disclosure provides a fitting for an oilfield fracturing system having abrasive fluid, comprising: at least one inlet establishing a first flow direction for fluid to enter the fitting; at least one outlet establishing a second flow direction for fluid to exit the fitting; a target port at least partially aligned with at least one of the inlets and having a bore; and a target hub adapted to be coupled to the target port to intercept the abrasive fluid flowing in the first flow direction before exiting the fitting in the second flow direction, the target hub having a protrusion extending into the bore of the target port and having a protrusion seal disposed between the bore and the protrusion.
The disclosure provides a method of resisting erosion in fittings from abrasive fluids in an oilfield fracturing system, comprising: flowing the abrasive fluid into a fitting having at least one inlet to establish a first flow direction; impacting a protrusion on a target hub with the abrasive fluid while sealing the target hub protrusion in a bore of the fitting; and turning the abrasive fluid to a second flow direction to exit the fitting.
The Figures described above and the written description of specific structures and functions below are not presented to limit the scope of what Applicant has invented or the scope of the appended claims. Rather, the Figures and written description are provided to teach any person skilled in the art to make and use the inventions for which patent protection is sought. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that not all features of a commercial embodiment of the inventions are described or shown for the sake of clarity and understanding. Persons of skill in this art will also appreciate that the development of an actual commercial embodiment incorporating aspects of the present disclosure will require numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve the developer's ultimate goal for the commercial embodiment. Such implementation-specific decisions may include, and likely are not limited to, compliance with system-related, business-related, government-related and other constraints, which may vary by specific implementation, location and from time to time. While a developer's efforts might be complex and time-consuming in an absolute sense, such efforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in this art having benefit of this disclosure. It must be understood that the inventions disclosed and taught herein are susceptible to numerous and various modifications and alternative forms. The use of a singular term, such as, but not limited to, “a,” is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Also, the use of relational terms, such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” and the like are used in the written description for clarity in specific reference to the Figures and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appended claims. Where appropriate, some elements have been labeled with an “a” or “b” to designate one side of the system or another. When referring generally to such elements, the number without the letter is used. Further, such designations do not limit the number of elements that can be used for that function.
The disclosure provides fittings having one or more inlets and one or more outlets with a target port and a target hub adapted to be coupled to the target port. The target hub is adapted to be removably coupled to the target port at a target coupler and sealingly engage the target port. The target hub includes a protrusion that protrudes into a flow path, where the protrusion includes a target face. A protrusion seal on the periphery of the protrusion sealingly engages a surrounding wall of the target port bore.
The target hub 72 generally includes a protrusion 76 disposed in the bore 86 of the target port 70. The protrusion 76 includes a target face 78 that generally is aligned in a direction opposing the first flow direction 64 through the inlet 62. While the target face 78 is illustrated generally perpendicular to the inlet 62 and the first flow direction 64, it is to be understood that various angles besides perpendicular can be formed and may be appropriate in particular circumstances. As will be described below, the target hub 72 can include a target hub seal between the target hub 72 and the target port 70, and a protrusion seal between the protrusion 76 to the surface of the target port bore 86.
The target hub 72 includes the protrusion 76 having a target face 78. The target face 78 is generally illustrated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis through the target hub 72. However, angles and shapes can be used. The target hub 72 can include a target hub seal 90. The target hub seal 90 can sealingly engage the target hub 72 with the target coupler 74, described above in
The protrusion seal 92 provides additional sealing for the target hub 72 to the target port 70, given the nature of the fluids and abrasive contact with surfaces. The fittings and associated components sealingly engaged therewith expand by some amount during pressurization and contract during depressurization. The repetitive expansion and contraction allows the abrasive particles in the fluid to become positioned adjacent the target hub seal 90 and its sealing surfaces and can deteriorate the seal or sealing surfaces or otherwise inhibit and compromise the sealing. The protrusion seal 92 helps isolate particles in the fluid from becoming positioned between the target hub seal 90 and its sealing surfaces on the target port 70, the target hub 72, or both, during pressurization and fluid flow. The target hub seal 90 can maintain overall pressure integrity to the fitting in the target port/target hub zone. The protrusion seal 92 can be fitted to the target hub 72 along the perimeter of the protrusion 76, such as in a sealing groove 94.
Other and further embodiments utilizing one or more aspects of the inventions described above can be devised without departing from the spirit of the disclosed invention. Further, the various methods and embodiments of the system can be included in combination with each other to produce variations of the disclosed methods and embodiments. Discussion of singular elements can include plural elements and vice-versa. References to at least one item followed by a reference to the item may include one or more items. Also, various aspects of the embodiments could be used in conjunction with each other to accomplish the understood goals of the disclosure. Unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising,” should be understood to imply the inclusion of at least the stated element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalents thereof, and not the exclusion of a greater numerical quantity or any other element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalents thereof. The device or system may be used in a number of directions and orientations. The term “coupled,” “coupling,” “coupler,” and like terms are used broadly herein and may include any method or device for securing, binding, bonding, fastening, attaching, joining, inserting therein, forming thereon or therein, communicating, or otherwise associating, for example, mechanically, magnetically, electrically, chemically, operably, directly or indirectly with intermediate elements, one or more pieces of members together and may further include without limitation integrally forming one functional member with another in a unity fashion. The coupling may occur in any direction, including rotationally.
The order of steps can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise specifically limited. The various steps described herein can be combined with other steps, interlineated with the stated steps, and/or split into multiple steps. Similarly, elements have been described functionally and can be embodied as separate components or can be combined into components having multiple functions.
The inventions have been described in the context of preferred and other embodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has been described. Obvious modifications and alterations to the described embodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by the Applicant, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, Applicant intends to protect fully all such modifications and improvements that come within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims.
