Fracturing Manifold Coupling Inlet Geometry for Proppant Suspension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure fracturing operations face challenges in effectively dissipating fluid energy, suspending proppants, and draining fracturing fluids from manifold assemblies, leading to vibration issues, reduced proppant effectiveness, and potential corrosion and weight imbalances during transportation.
Innovation Solution
The use of a manifold coupling with oriented inlet passages that promote swirling of fracturing fluid, enhancing energy dissipation and proppant suspension, and improving drainage by configuring the inlet passages to intersect with the manifold passage in a manner that reduces fluid retention and promotes turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-pressure fracturing fluid is pumped into the formation at high flow rates, then the formation fractures and creates additional flow paths for hydrocarbons, but large pressure oscillations occur in the high-pressure manifold
Solution Approach 1:
A surge tank is introduced as an intermediary component between the high-pressure manifold and the formation. The surge tank absorbs pressure oscillations and acts as a buffer, preventing direct transmission of pressure waves to the manifold while maintaining high flow rates to the formation. This mediator component resolves the contradiction by decoupling the productive high-flow operation from the harmful pressure oscillations.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure oscillations that would normally cause harmful vibrations are converted into a beneficial surge of fluid energy in the surge tank. The oscillating pressure drives vigorous mixing and suspension of proppants in the surge tank, transforming what would be a harmful vibration problem into a useful proppant suspension mechanism that prevents proppant settling in the manifold.
2Productivity
If fracturing fluid flows through the manifold assembly, then proppants can be delivered to the formation, but proppants may settle in the manifold reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The surge tank utilizes pressure-induced mechanical vibrations and turbulence to continuously suspend proppants in the fracturing fluid. The oscillating pressure flow creates vigorous mixing that prevents proppant settling, ensuring that proppants remain suspended and are effectively delivered to the formation throughout the fracturing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic pressure oscillations from the reciprocating pumps create cyclic flow patterns in the surge tank. This periodic action continuously disturbs the fluid and prevents proppant settling, maintaining suspension during the entire fracturing process. The cyclic nature of the pressure waves ensures consistent proppant delivery without settling issues.
3Productivity
If the manifold assembly is used for high-pressure operations, then fracturing fluid can be delivered to the formation, but fluid retention in the manifold causes weight imbalances during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the high-pressure manifold for fluid delivery and the surge tank for fluid storage and pressure regulation. This segmentation allows the manifold to be optimized for high-pressure operation with minimal fluid retention, while the surge tank handles the bulk fluid storage. The separated design enables the manifold to be lighter and more manageable during transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The surge tank extracts the fluid storage function from the high-pressure manifold. By removing the large-volume storage requirement from the manifold design, the manifold can be minimized to only the essential high-pressure delivery passages. This extraction of the storage function creates a lighter manifold assembly that is easier to transport and position during operations.
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 configuration reduces vibration, enhances proppant suspension, facilitates efficient drainage, and minimizes corrosion and weight imbalances, improving the overall efficiency and reliability of fracturing operations.
Implementation Method 1
oriented and/or configured such that fracturing fluid entering the manifold assembly via the first and second inlet passages promotes swirling of the fracturing fluid downstream of the manifold coupling
Implementation Method 2
enhancing dissipation of fluid energy associated with the fracturing fluid
Implementation Method 3
enhancing dissipation of fluid energy associated with the fracturing fluid, which may, in turn, dissipate and/or reduce vibration of the manifold assembly
Implementation Method 4
promotes swirling of the fracturing fluid downstream of the manifold coupling... may enhance proppant suspension in the fracturing fluid flowing though the manifold assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices to enhance fracturing fluid delivery to subsurface formations to enhance hydrocarbon production from the subsurface formations may include providing a manifold coupling having a manifold coupling passage with a manifold coupling axis. The manifold coupling may include a first inlet passage positioned to provide fluid flow between a first fracturing fluid output and the manifold coupling passage, and a second inlet passage positioned opposite the first inlet passage to provide fluid flow between a second fracturing fluid output and the manifold coupling passage. The first inlet passage may have a first inlet passage cross-section at least partially defining a first inlet axis extending transverse relative to the manifold coupling axis. The second inlet passage may have a second inlet passage cross-section at least partially defining a second inlet axis extending transverse relative to the manifold coupling axis and not being co-linear with the first inlet axis.