Modular manifold of a wellsite fluid system and method of using same

Abstract

A mobile manifold assembly of a fluid system for providing fluid to a wellsite during well construction. The fluid system includes auxiliary components including at least one fluid source, mixer and high pressure pump. The manifold assembly includes a modular manifold and a mobile frame. The modular manifold includes manifold pumps, valves and pipes integrated together for transport. Connector portions of the pipes extend from the modular manifold in an arrangement corresponding to an arrangement of the auxiliary components to define a plug-in configuration therebetween such that the connector portions of the pipes are positionable in alignment with the auxiliary components for direct and removable connection therewith. The manifold pumps and valves are positioned about the pipes to selectively pump the fluid. The modular manifold is securable to a base of the mobile frame whereby the modular manifold is transportable to the auxiliary components for operable connection therewith.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile manifold assembly of a fluid system for providing fluid to a wellsite during well construction, the wellsite having a rig positionable about a wellbore, the fluid system comprising auxiliary components comprising at least one fluid source, at least one mixer and at least one high pressure pump, the mobile manifold assembly comprising:
 a modular manifold comprising a plurality of manifold pumps, a plurality of valves and a plurality of pipes integrated together for transport, connector portions of the plurality of pipes extending from the modular manifold in an arrangement corresponding to an arrangement of the auxiliary components to define a plug-in configuration therebetween such that the connector portions of the plurality of pipes are positionable in alignment with the auxiliary components for direct and removable connection therewith, the plurality of manifold pumps and valves positioned about the plurality of pipes to selectively pump the fluid about the modular manifold and at least one of the auxiliary components; and   a mobile frame comprising a base portion and a carrier portion, the modular manifold securable to the base portion and the carrier portion of the mobile frame, the modular manifold liftable via the mobile frame whereby the modular manifold is transportable to the auxiliary components for operable connection therewith.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one knock off cap. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one drain. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of valves comprises a butterfly valve. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the butterfly valve is one of automatically and manually activated. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of manifold pumps selectively adjust fluid flow through the plurality of pipes. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pipes define a plurality of horizontal pipe portions and a plurality of vertical pipe portion, the plurality of vertical pipe portions extending between the plurality of horizontal pipe portions. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of valves are positionable about the plurality of pipes and provide selective fluid communication between the plurality of pipes and the auxiliary components. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of manifold pumps are positionable about the plurality of horizontal pipe portions. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of manifold pumps are positionable about the plurality of vertical pipe portions. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising knock off caps positioned at opposite ends of one of the horizontal portions. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising inlets positioned between opposite ends of one of the horizontal portions. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 8 , wherein one of the plurality of horizontal portions extends between a pair of the plurality of manifold pumps. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 14 , wherein two of the plurality of vertical portions extends between the one of the plurality of horizontal portion with the plurality of manifold pumps and another of the plurality of horizontal portions. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 15 , wherein another of the plurality of vertical portions extends between the another of the plurality of horizontal portions and yet another of the plurality of horizontal portions. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the connector portions extend from one of the plurality of horizontal portions of the modular manifold. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the connector portions extend horizontally from the modular manifold and a portion of the connector portions extend vertically from the modular manifold. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile manifold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connector portions of the plurality of pipe are connectable to at least one fluid source, at least one mixer, and at least one high pressure pump. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier portion extends vertically above the base portion. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier portion has one of a handle and a grip for lifting the frame. 
     
     
         22 . A well construction fluid system for providing fluid to a wellsite during well construction, the wellsite having a rig positionable about a wellbore, the fluid system comprising:
 auxiliary components comprising at least one fluid source, at least one mixer and at least one high pressure pump; and   a mobile manifold assembly, comprising:
 a modular manifold comprising a plurality of manifold pumps, a plurality of valves and a plurality of pipes integrated together for transport, connector portions of the plurality of pipes extending from the modular manifold in an arrangement corresponding to an arrangement of the auxiliary components to define a plug-in configuration therebetween such that the connector portions of the plurality of pipes are positionable in alignment with the auxiliary components for direct and removable connection therewith, the plurality of manifold pumps and valves positioned about the plurality of pipes to selectively pump the fluid about the modular manifold and at least one of the auxiliary components; and 
 a mobile frame comprising a base portion and a carrier portion, the modular manifold securable to the base portion and the carrier portion of the mobile frame, the modular manifold liftable via the mobile frame whereby the modular manifold is transportable to the auxiliary components for operable connection therewith. 
   
     
     
         23 . The fluid system of  claim 22 , wherein the auxiliary components comprise a mixing portion, and a delivery portion. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid system of  claim 23 , wherein the delivery portion comprises the at least one high pressure pump, a motor, at least one drive shaft, and at least one slurry tank. 
     
     
         25 . The fluid system of  claim 23 , wherein the mixing portion comprises the at least one mixer, at least one mixing tank and at least one fluid source. 
     
     
         26 . The fluid system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one fluid source comprises an averaging tank, a water/chemical supply, and a mixing water supply. 
     
     
         27 . The fluid system of  claim 22 , wherein the auxiliary components further comprise a supply portion, a pumping portion, a transfer portion, and a batch mixer portion. 
     
     
         28 . The fluid system of  claim 27 , wherein the batch mixer portion comprises a batch mixer tank. 
     
     
         29 . The fluid system of  claim 22 , wherein the auxiliary components comprise a mixing portion and wherein the mobile manifold assembly is integrated with the mixing portion. 
     
     
         30 . The fluid system of  claim 29 , wherein the mobile manifold assembly and the mixing portion are positionable on a skid and transportable thereon. 
     
     
         31 . The fluid system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one mixer comprises one of a single mixer and a dual mixer. 
     
     
         32 . A method for providing fluid to a wellsite during well construction, the wellsite having a rig positionable about a wellbore, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid system about a wellsite, the fluid system comprising:
 auxiliary components comprising at least one fluid source, at least one mixer and at least one high pressure pump; and 
   a mobile manifold assembly, comprising:
 a modular manifold comprising a plurality of manifold pumps, a plurality of valves and a plurality of pipes integrated together for transport, connector portions of the plurality of pipes extending from the modular manifold in an arrangement corresponding to an arrangement of the auxiliary components to define a plug-in configuration therebetween such that the connector portions of the plurality of pipes are positionable in alignment with the auxiliary components for direct and removable connection therewith, the plurality of manifold pumps and valves positioned about the plurality of pipes to selectively pump the fluid about the modular manifold and at least one of the auxiliary components; and 
 a mobile frame comprising a base portion and a carrier portion, the modular manifold securable to the base portion and the carrier portion of the mobile frame; 
   transporting the modular manifold to the auxiliary components using the mobile frame;   operatively connecting the modular manifold to the auxiliary components; and   pumping fluid to the wellbore using the modular manifold.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising mixing the fluid with the at least one mixer. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising recirculating fluid between the auxiliary components and the modular manifold. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising selectively diverting fluid from the modular manifold to one of a mixing portion, a batch portion and a delivery portion of the fluid system. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising cementing the wellbore using the fluid pumped to the wellbore. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the pumping further comprises pumping the fluid to the wellbore using the auxiliary components. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising transporting the auxiliary components and the mobile manifold assembly on a skid.