Multi-Well Fracturing Schedule Offsets for Peak Pump Load Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of simultaneously stimulating multiple wells with existing fracturing equipment often exceeds pumping limits, particularly when using legacy equipment designed for single well operations, leading to wide swings in treatment parameters and potential equipment overload.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a time offset in the start times of treatments for multiple wells and dividing the fracturing fleet into clean and dirty pumping groups, along with a designed pumping schedule that offsets fluid delivery stages to manage equipment capacity and reduce peak demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple wells are stimulated simultaneously with the same fracturing equipment, then productivity increases, but the pumping limits of the equipment are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The fracturing fleet is divided into separate pumping groups (clean and dirty groups) that operate on different schedules. Each group handles specific treatment stages for specific wells, preventing the aggregation of peak demands that would exceed equipment capacity while still enabling simultaneous multi-well stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Treatment schedules are designed with time offsets where clean pumping groups complete their treatment of one well before the dirty pumping group begins treatment of another well. This preliminary sequencing ensures that peak pumping demands do not coincide, allowing simultaneous multi-well operations within equipment limits.
2Productivity
If treatment parameters are increased to stimulate multiple wells simultaneously, then productivity increases, but treatment parameter stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment process is segmented into distinct clean and dirty pumping groups with separate schedules. This segmentation distributes the treatment parameter demands across time, preventing wide swings in parameters while maintaining high overall productivity through coordinated simultaneous operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The pumping groups operate on periodic schedules with deliberate time offsets between clean and dirty groups. This periodic alternation smooths treatment parameter variations by ensuring that high-rate injections are staggered rather than concurrent, stabilizing parameters while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a pumping sequence of a fracturing fleet at a wellsite with three or more wellbores comprising determining first, second, and third pumping sequences for a first, second, and third wellbore. The pumping sequences are comprised of a plurality of pump stages that are intervals based on time or volume. The intervals of the first, second, and third pumping sequences are overlapped into a combined pumping sequence. Each of the plurality of intervals of the modified combined pumping sequence is below an operating limit of at least one fracturing unit of the fracturing fleet. The method can include identifying at least one interval wherein the combined pumping sequence exceeds an operating limit of at least one fracturing unit of the fracturing fleet, wherein the at least one interval of the modified combined pumping sequence is below the operating limit.