Fracturing systems and methods for a wellbore

Abstract

The disclosure contained herein describes systems, units, and methods usable to stimulate a formation including a pump usable to pressurize fluid, an electric-powered driver in communication with and actuating the pump, and an electrical power source in communication with and powering the electric-powered driver. The electrical power source can include on-site generators and/or grid power sources, and transformers can be used to alter the voltage received to a voltage suitable for powering the electric-powered driver. Air moving devices associated with the electric-powered driver can be used to provide air proximate to the pump to disperse gasses. In combination with fluid supply and/or proppant addition subsystems, the pump can be used to fracture a formation.

1 . An electrical power system for providing fracturing materials to a formation at a pressure sufficient to stimulate the formation, the power system comprising:
 a pump for pressurizing the fracturing material;   an electric motor coupled to the pump, together defining a pump/motor combination, the electric motor configured to provide mechanical energy to the pump for the purposes of actuating the pump; and   a variable frequency drive coupled to the electric motor and to a power source, wherein the variable frequency drive receives electricity from the power source, and wherein the variable frequency drive provides an electrical signal to the electric motor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the variable frequency drive is coupled to a single pump/motor combination. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the variable frequency drive is coupled to a plurality of pump/motor combinations. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the variable frequency drive is remote from physical proximity with the pump/motor combination. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fracturing material comprises a volatile material. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fracturing material comprises a non-volatile material. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the variable frequency drive is located in physical proximity with a pump/motor combination. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the variable frequency drive is located in physical proximity with a pump/motor combination. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is fire resistant. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is explosion resistant. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mobile platform, wherein the pump, the electric motor, the variable frequency drive, or combinations thereof are positioned on the mobile platform. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a proppant addition subsystem adapted to enable a proppant to be added to the fracturing material. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a transformer coupled between the power source and the VFD, the transformer being configured to convert electricity received from the power source from a first voltage to a second voltage, wherein the second voltage is a voltage within a range useable by the VFD. 
     
     
         14 . A method of electrically powering a system for providing a fracturing material to a formation at a pressure sufficient to stimulate the formation, the method comprising:
 receiving into a variable frequency drive electricity from a power source;
 outputting an electrical signal from the variable frequency drive; 
 inputting the electrical signal into an electrical-powered driver; 
   converting the electrical signal into mechanical energy through the use of the electrical-powered driver;   transferring the mechanical energy from the electrical-powered driver into a pump;   using the mechanical energy to actuate the pump in order to pressurize a volume of the fracturing material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising converting the electricity from a first voltage to a second voltage prior to inputting the electricity into the variable frequency drive. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the conversion of the electricity from the first voltage to the second voltage is achieved through the use of a transformer coupled between the power source and the variable frequency drive. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the electrical signal is inputted into a plurality of electrical-powered drivers, and wherein each of the plurality of electrical-powered drivers outputs the second electrical signal to a pump.