Power Rate-of-Change Control for Hydraulic Fracturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic fracturing operations in the oil and gas industry face interruptions due to power quality issues caused by rapid changes in power demand exceeding the limitations of available electric power sources, leading to potential shutdowns and increased non-productive time.
Innovation Solution
A method and system to determine and control the rate-of-change of power limits for individual and aggregate power sources, ensuring that the hydraulic fracturing operation does not exceed the allowable rate-of-change, thereby maintaining power quality and preventing shutdowns by using rate-of-change limits as a boundary to constrain power demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydraulic fracturing operation increases power demand rapidly to maintain productivity, then production efficiency is improved, but power quality deteriorates causing shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rate-of-change of power demand based on real-time power source capabilities. The controller monitors power source status and modulates load changes accordingly, transforming static power demand patterns into dynamic, adaptive patterns that match available power capacity while maintaining operational continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring power source status and using this information to adjust load demands. The controller receives feedback on power availability and modifies rate-of-change parameters to prevent exceeding power source limitations, thereby maintaining both productivity and power quality stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If power demand changes rapidly to respond to operational needs, then operational flexibility is improved, but power source limitations are exceeded causing shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamic rate-of-change control that adapts power demand transitions to match power source capabilities. Instead of fixed or unlimited rate changes, the system dynamically adjusts the speed of power demand changes based on real-time power source status, enabling responsive operational flexibility while preventing shutdowns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of rate-of-change of power demand to align with power source limitations. By modifying this critical parameter dynamically, the system maintains operational flexibility and responsiveness while ensuring that power demand transitions remain within acceptable power source capabilities, preventing interruptions.
3Reliability
If rate-of-change of power is limited to prevent shutdowns, then power quality is improved, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines optimal rate-of-change limits based on real-time power source capabilities rather than using fixed conservative limits. This dynamic approach allows the system to maximize power demand changes within safe operating boundaries, maintaining both power quality stability and operational efficiency by adapting to actual power source performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the rate-of-change parameter dynamically based on power source status to optimize the balance between power quality and operational efficiency. By adjusting this parameter in real-time rather than using static limits, the system maintains power quality while maximizing operational efficiency within the constraints of available power capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure presents processes for controlling a hydraulic fracturing operation at a wellbore. The processes can (1) determine a system rate-of-change of power limit (ROCL) to be supplied to one or more loads, where the system ROCL is based on an individual ROCL for one or more individual power sources; (2) determine an allowable rate-of-change (ROCA) for the one or more loads such that the system ROCL is not exceeded; and (3) control the hydraulic fracturing operation based on the ROCA for the one or more loads.