Integrated Arctic Fracking Apparatus and Methods

Abstract

An apparatus includes a frame structure and one or more fracking fluid tanks carried by the frame structure. The one or more fracking fluid tanks arranged to contain a fracking fluid usable during a fracking procedure. One or more fracking pumps may be carried by the frame structure, the one or more fracking pumps being configured to pump the fracking fluid to a wellhead of a wellbore at high pressure. An integrated piping system connects with the one or more fracking pumps to carry fracking fluid that was contained in the one or more fracking fluid tanks toward the one or more fracking pumps. Mobility-enabling structure supports the frame structure, the one or more fracking fluid tanks, the one or more fracking pumps, and the integrated piping system, the mobility enabling-structure being configured to enable conveyance of the apparatus to a fracking site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a frame structure;   one or more fracking fluid tanks carried by the frame structure and arranged to contain a fracking fluid usable during a fracking procedure;   one or more fracking pumps that are carried by the frame structure and are configured to pump the fracking fluid at high pressure to a wellhead of a wellbore;   an integrated piping system fluidically coupled with the one or more fracking pumps and the one or more fluid tanks to transfer fracking fluid therebetween; and   a mobility-enabling structure supporting and operably coupled to the frame structure, the one or more fracking fluid tanks, the one or more fracking pumps, and the integrated piping system, so as to enable conveyance of the apparatus to a fracking site.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated piping system comprises a first integrated piping system connected to the one or more fracking pumps to feed fluid thereto, and a second integrated piping system connected with the one or more fluid tanks to carry fracking fluid from the one or more tanks. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a blender unit configured to receive the fracking fluid from the second integrated piping system, with the blender unit in fluid communication with the first integrated piping system and configured to supply the fracking fluid therethrough to the one or more fracking pumps. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first integrated piping system comprises a first integrated manifold system connecting the one or more pumps in a parallel relationship with each other. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second integrated piping system comprises a second integrated manifold system connecting the one or more fluid tanks in a parallel relationship with each other. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame structure comprises a winterized outer wall structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , comprising an integrated heating system that maintains an environment above a freezing temperature inside the winterized wall structure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a proppant storage tank; and   a set of integrated proppant conveying and handling equipment configured to transport proppant from the proppant storage tank to a blender unit without leaving the apparatus,   wherein the mobility enabling structure further supports and is operably coupled to the proppant storage tank and the set of integrated proppant conveying and handling equipment.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tanks is disposed on a lower level of the apparatus and the one or more fracking pumps is disposed on an upper level of the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more fracking pumps comprises a trailer providing mobility to the one or more fracking pumps independent of the frame structure, the one or more fracking pumps being removable from the upper level to a location apart from the apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a closable aperture disposed adjacent an end of the integrated piping system, with the piping system being configured to connect to an adjacent piping system through the closable aperture when it is in an open state. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first level including one or more fracking fluid tanks arranged to contain a fracking fluid;   a second level vertically offset from the first level and including one or more fracking pumps configured to pump the fracking fluid from the tanks;   an integrated piping system connectable to the one or more fracking pumps at the second level to receive the fracking fluid from the one or more fracking fluid tanks; and   mobility-enabling structure adapted to carry the first level, the second level, and the piping system to and from a fracking site.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the integrated piping system comprises a first integrated piping system connected to the one or more fracking pumps to feed the fracking fluid thereto, and a second integrated piping system connected with the one or more fluid tanks to carry fracking fluid from the one or more tanks toward the first integrated piping system. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a blender unit configured to receive the fracking fluid from the second integrated piping system, with the blender unit in fluid communication with the first integrated piping system and configured to supply the fracking fluid to the one or more fracking pumps therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first integrated piping system comprises a first integrated manifold system connecting the one or more pumps in a parallel relationship with each other. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second integrated piping system comprises a second integrated manifold system connecting the one or more fluid tanks in a parallel relationship with each other. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the frame structure comprises a winterized outer wall structure. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the outer wall structure encloses the piping system and protects the piping system from extreme weather conditions. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first level is below the second level. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more fracking pumps comprises a trailer providing mobility to the one or more fracking pumps independent of the frame structure, the one or more fracking pumps being removable from the upper level to a location apart from the apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising an outer wall enclosing the first level and the second level to protect the one or more tanks and the one or more fracking pumps from arctic conditions. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a closable aperture disposed adjacent an end of the integrated piping system, with the piping system being configured to connect to an adjacent piping system through the closable aperture when it is in an open state. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a proppant storage tank; and   integrated proppant conveying and handling equipment configured to transport proppant from a proppant storage tank to a blender unit without leaving the winterized enclosure, the mobility enabling structure carrying the proppant storage tank and the integrated proppant conveying and handling equipment.   
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 providing a plurality of a high pressure fracking pumps on a first level of a mobile structure;   fluidly coupling the plurality of high-pressure fracking pumps to an integrated piping system provided on the mobile structure, the integrated piping system comprising a first integrated manifold system connecting the one or more pumps in a parallel relationship with each other, the integrated piping system being arranged to convey fracking fluid to the plurality of fracking pumps;   providing the mobile structure with a fracking fluid tank holding fracking fluid on a second level of the mobile structure; and   transporting the mobile structure to a fracking site.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising filling a proppant storage tank on the mobile structure with a proppant, the mobile structure having an integrated conveying system for moving the proppant to the blender unit. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , comprising:
 blending the proppant and the fracking fluid to create a fracking slurry;   conveying the fracking slurry to the high pressure fracking pump on the mobile structure; and   pressuring the fracking fluid with the fracking pump and introducing the solution to a wellbore to perform a fracking process.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising heating the mobile structure with an integrated heating system to maintain the fracking fluid and the integrated piping system in a controlled environment.