SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

Abstract

An embodiment of a pumping unit includes a gas turbine engine, an enclosure housing the engine, an exhaust assembly connected to the engine, an air intake duct connected to the engine, and an air treatment system connected to the air intake duct. The air treatment system including one or more inlet pre-cleaners configured to eject debris. Each of the inlet pre-cleaners having a cylindrical tubular portion configured to channel air toward the air intake duct. In addition, the pumping unit includes a gearbox operatively coupled to the engine and a drive shaft having a first end operatively coupled to the gearbox. Further, the pumping unit includes a pump comprising an input shaft operatively coupled to a second end of the drive shaft, wherein the engine, the gearbox, the drive shaft, and the pump are disposed along a longitudinal axis of the pumping unit.

Description

Claims

1. A pumping unit, comprising: a gas turbine engine;an enclosure housing the gas turbine engine;an exhaust assembly connected to the gas turbine engine;an air intake duct connected to the gas turbine engine;an air treatment system connected to the air intake duct, the air treatment system comprising one or more inlet pre-cleaners configured to eject debris, each of the one or more inlet pre-cleaners having a cylindrical tubular portion configured to channel air toward the air intake duct;a gearbox operatively coupled to the gas turbine engine;a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the drive shaft is operatively coupled to the gearbox; anda pump comprising an input shaft operatively coupled to the second end of the drive shaft, wherein the gas turbine engine, the gearbox, the drive shaft, and the pump are disposed along a longitudinal axis of the pumping unit.

2. The pumping unit of claim 1, further comprising a trailer configured to support both the pump and the enclosure.

3. The pumping unit of claim 1, wherein the gas turbine engine is a dual fuel, dual shaft gas turbine engine.

4. The pumping unit of claim 1, wherein the gas turbine engine is cantilever mounted to the gearbox and the gearbox is supported by a floor of the enclosure.

5. The pumping unit of claim 1, further comprising a brake configured to stop rotation of the drive shaft.

6. The pumping unit of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft is offset from a longitudinal axis of the input shaft of the pump.

7. The pumping unit of claim 1, further comprising an electric generator mechanically linked to the gearbox, the electric generator configured to convert electricity from mechanical energy generated by the gas turbine engine.

8. The pumping unit of claim 1, further comprising one or more torsional vibration dampers operably connected to the input shaft of the pump and configured to reduce tortional resonance within the gas turbine engine, the gearbox, the drive shaft, or the pump.

9. The pumping unit of claim 2, further comprising: auxiliary equipment comprising lubrication and cooling equipment driven by hydraulic motors to support operation of the hydraulic fracturing unit including the pump; andone or more hydraulic power arrangements configured to power the auxiliary equipment, each hydraulic power arrangement comprising a hydraulic power source including an electric motor configured to drive a plurality of pumps via a hydraulic pump drive to generate hydraulic power.

10. The pumping unit of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary equipment is powered by an electric power arrangement, the electric power arrangement comprising an electric motor located on a gooseneck area of the trailer, wherein the electric motor is configured to drive the auxiliary equipment.

11. A pumping unit, comprising: a chassis;an enclosure disposed on the chassis, the enclosure housing a gas turbine engine and a gearbox operatively coupled to the gas turbine engine, wherein the enclosure comprises: a first lateral side;a second lateral side; anda door mounted on the first lateral side proximate to the gas turbine engine;an exhaust assembly connected to the gas turbine engine;an air intake duct connected to the gas turbine engine;an air treatment system connected to the air intake duct, the air treatment system comprising one or more inlet pre-cleaners configured to eject debris particles via inertia of the debris particles;a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the drive shaft is operatively coupled to the gearbox; anda pump disposed on the chassis, the pump comprising an input shaft operatively coupled to the second end of the drive shaft, wherein the gas turbine engine, the gearbox, the drive shaft, and the pump are disposed along a longitudinal axis of the pumping unit.

12. The pumping unit of claim 1, wherein the gas turbine engine is a dual fuel, dual shaft gas turbine engine.

13. The pumping unit of claim 11, wherein the gas turbine engine is cantilever mounted to the gearbox and the gearbox is supported by a floor of the enclosure.

14. The pumping unit of claim 11, further comprising a brake configured to stop rotation of the drive shaft.

15. The pumping unit of claim 11, wherein a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft is offset from a longitudinal axis of the input shaft of the pump.

16. The pumping unit of claim 11, further comprising one or more torsional vibration dampers operably connected to the input shaft of the pump and configured to reduce tortional resonance within the gas turbine engine, the gearbox, the drive shaft, or the pump.

17. The pumping unit of claim 11, further comprising a fuel line connected to the pumping unit and configured to supply field gas from a fuel source to the gas turbine engine.

18. The pumping unit of claim 11, further comprising: auxiliary equipment comprising lubrication and cooling equipment driven by hydraulic motors to support operation of the hydraulic fracturing unit including the pump; andone or more hydraulic power arrangements configured to power the auxiliary equipment, each hydraulic power arrangement comprising a hydraulic power source including an electric motor configured to drive a plurality of pumps via a hydraulic pump drive to generate hydraulic power,wherein the auxiliary equipment is powered by an electric power arrangement, the electric power arrangement comprising an electric motor configured to drive the auxiliary equipment.

19. A hydraulic fracturing system comprising: a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units;a fuel line configured to supply fuel from a fuel source to the plurality of hydraulic fracturing units; anda first hydraulic fracturing unit of the plurality of hydraulic fracturing units comprising: a gas turbine engine;an enclosure housing the gas turbine engine;an exhaust assembly connected to the gas turbine engine;an air intake duct connected to the gas turbine engine;an air treatment system connected to the air intake duct, the air treatment system comprising one or more inlet pre-cleaners configured to eject debris;a gearbox operatively coupled to the gas turbine engine;a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the drive shaft is operatively coupled to the gearbox; anda pump comprising an input shaft operatively coupled to the second end of the drive shaft, wherein the gas turbine engine, the gearbox, the drive shaft, and the pump are disposed along a longitudinal axis of the pump, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft is offset from a longitudinal axis of the input shaft of the pump.

20. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 19, wherein the first hydraulic fracturing unit further comprises: auxiliary equipment comprising lubrication and cooling equipment driven by hydraulic motors to support operation of the hydraulic fracturing unit including the pump; andone or more hydraulic power arrangements configured to power the auxiliary equipment, each hydraulic power arrangement comprising a hydraulic power source including an electric motor configured to drive a plurality of pumps via a hydraulic pump drive to generate hydraulic power.

21. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 19, wherein the gas turbine engine is a dual fuel, dual shaft gas turbine engine.

22. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 19, wherein the fuel line is connected to the pump and configured to supply field gas from a fuel source to the gas turbine engine.

23. The hydraulic fracturing system of claim 20, wherein the auxiliary equipment is powered by an electric power arrangement, the electric power arrangement comprising an electric motor located on a gooseneck area of a trailer, wherein the electric motor configured to drive the auxiliary equipment.