Single Pump Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Distribution Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic fracturing processes are inefficient due to reliance on operator knowledge and experience, leading to improper interpretation of real-time data and increased operational costs, equipment damage, and decreased capital efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that allows for concurrent pumping of fracturing fluid to multiple wellbores through a single pump, using a fluid pump of known operating capacity and fluid couplings to ensure fracturing fluid is provided within a known rate range for each perforation, thereby stabilizing fractures and optimizing fracturing fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a single pump is used to service multiple wellbores, then equipment fatigue is reduced and operational costs decrease, but the complexity of controlling fluid distribution to each wellbore increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fluid distribution control into multiple independent flow control devices, one for each wellbore. Each flow control device can independently regulate fluid flow to its associated wellbore, allowing the single pump to service multiple wellbores without complex centralized control while maintaining precise flow management for each well.
2Manufacturing precision
If real-time fracturing data is collected from multiple wellbores, then completion precision improves, but the difficulty of interpreting and acting on the data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback by collecting fracturing data from multiple wellbores and using this data to dynamically adjust flow control settings. The feedback mechanism allows operators to monitor completion precision across all wellbores and make data-driven adjustments to optimize fracturing operations without being overwhelmed by raw data volume.
3Manufacturing precision
If flow control devices are installed at each wellbore, then fracturing fluid distribution precision improves, but the number of components and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses universal flow control devices that can be installed at each wellbore to independently regulate fluid flow. These standardized multi-functional devices provide precise fluid distribution control for each wellbore while maintaining consistency across the system, reducing the complexity that would arise from custom-designed components for each location.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces equipment fatigue, minimizes screen outs, and enhances capital efficiency by optimizing fracturing fluid distribution and reducing operational costs through precise control of fracturing fluid flow rates and proppant concentration.
Implementation Method 1
a pump of known operating capacity fluidly connected to each of a plurality of cased wellbores for delivering a fracturing fluid to each of the wellbores
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for controlling a hydraulic fracturing job. A fracturing completion model can be applied to identify a plurality of possible fracturing completion plans for completing one or more wellbores at a target completion. The plurality of possible fracturing completion plans can include varying values of fracturing completion parameters and/or reservoir parameters. Completion characteristic data of the one or more wellbores can be gathered in response to application of at least a portion of a fracturing completion plan of the possible fracturing completion plans. Further, the completion characteristic data can be used to determine whether to apply a different fracturing completion plan of the possible fracturing completion plans. In turn, if it is determined to apply the different fracturing completion plan, then the method can include facilitating switching to the different fracturing completion plan in completing the one or more wellbores.