Hydraulic fracturing pump system

Abstract

A system for fracturing a subsurface formation may comprise a transport unit with hydraulic legs, an electric motor mounted on the transport unit, a fracking pump mounted on the transport unit and configured to be powered by the electric motor, and an oil tank mounted on the transport unit such that the motor and the fracking pump are above the oil tank. The oil tank may have a first tank height under the pump and a second tank height under the motor and the first tank height may be greater than the second tank height. The oil tank, motor support beam, and pump support beam may form a single structural unit. The system may also include an oil pump for pumping lubricating oil through the fracking pump, an electric motor configured to drive the oil pump, a variable frequency drive configured to control the electric motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for fracturing a subsurface formation, comprising:
 a transport unit;   an electric motor mounted on the transport unit;   a fracking pump mounted on the transport unit and configured to be powered by the electric motor; and   an oil tank mounted on the transport unit such that the motor and the pump are above the oil tank, the oil tank including a tank floor;   wherein the oil tank has a first tank height under the pump and a second tank height under the motor and wherein the first tank height is greater than the second tank height.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further including at least one motor support beam supporting the motor and at least one pump support beam supporting the pump, and wherein the oil tank is formed integrally with or permanently secured to the motor support beam and the pump support beam. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the transport unit includes a frame, wherein the motor support beam includes a motor mounting surface that engages the frame and a motor support surface that engages the motor, wherein each pump support beam includes a pump mounting surface that engages the frame and a pump support surface that engages the fracking pump, wherein the motor mounting surface and the pump mounting surface define a mounting plane P M ; and wherein the tank floor lies below the mounting plane P M . 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one motor support beam has an upper surface that defines a motor support plane P MS , wherein the at least one pump support beam has an upper surface that defines a pump support plane P PS , and wherein the pump support plane P PS  is above motor support plane P MS  such that the bottom of the fracking pump is higher than the bottom of the motor. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein the oil tank, the motor support beam, and the pump support beam are rigidly mechanically connected so as to form a single structural unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the oil tank is formed integrally with the beams. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the oil tank is permanently secured to the beams. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the system includes multiple motors and pumps, wherein each pump is configured to be powered by an associated motor and each pump is associated with a fluid tank that extends under the pump and its associated motor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the system includes multiple motors and pumps, wherein each pump is configured to be powered by an associated motor and a single fluid tank provides fluid to all of the pumps. 
     
     
         10 . A system for lubricating hydraulic fracturing equipment, comprising:
 an oil pump for pumping lubricating oil;   an electric motor configured to drive the oil pump;   a variable frequency drive configured to control the electric motor;   an oil tank; and   a lubricating circuit in fluid communication with the oil pump and the oil tank, the lubricating circuit passing through the hydraulic fracturing equipment.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , further including at least one motor support beam supporting the motor and at least one pump support beam supporting the pump, and wherein the oil tank is formed integrally with or permanently secured to the motor support beam and the pump support beam. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the variable frequency drive varies the oil pump speed based on an input comprising at least one of oil pressure and oil temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further including at least one of a filter, a thermostatic valve, an oil cooler, a check valve, or a pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the hydraulic fracturing equipment includes a fracking pump and wherein the oil tank is positioned beneath the hydraulic fracturing equipment. 
     
     
         15 . A transportable system for fracturing a subsurface formation, comprising:
 a transport unit including wheels and a frame;   a hydraulic fracturing pump unit mounted on the frame; and   at least one pair of hydraulic landing legs positioned on opposite sides of the transport unit and adapted to, in conjunction with the wheels, support the transport unit.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the hydraulic landing legs are adjustable using hydraulic pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further including a DC-powered hydraulic fluid pump in fluid communication with the hydraulic landing legs. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the hydraulic landing legs are independently adjustable, further including a valve system with a switch for controlling each hydraulic landing leg. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further including an integrated safety valve to prevent hydraulic collapse. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further including a DC battery to provide power to the hydraulic fluid pump and valve system. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 21 , further including an in-transit battery charging system or a standby AC-powered battery charging system.