Flexible Manifold for Reciprocating Pump

Abstract

A pump comprising a pump fluid end having a reciprocating element bore; a reciprocating element having a front end opposite a fluid intake end and comprising a peripheral wall defining a hollow cylindrical body; a movable manifold comprising a reciprocating element end fluidly connected with the fluid intake end of the reciprocating element, whereby the reciprocating element end of the movable manifold moves in a same axial direction as the reciprocating element during reciprocation of the reciprocating element within the pump fluid end, and a fluid intake end configured for fluid coupling with a stationary fluid manifold such that fluid can be introduced into the movable manifold via the stationary fluid manifold and the fluid intake end of the movable manifold; and a power end operatively connected to the reciprocating element and operable to reciprocate the reciprocating element in the pump fluid end.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pump comprising:
 a bore pump fluid end having a reciprocating element bore;   a reciprocating element having a front end opposite a fluid intake end and comprising a peripheral wall defining a hollow cylindrical body;   a movable manifold comprising a reciprocating element end and a fluid intake end, wherein the reciprocating element end of the movable manifold is fluidly connected with the fluid intake end of the reciprocating element, whereby the reciprocating element end of the movable manifold moves in a same axial direction as the reciprocating element during reciprocation of the reciprocating element in alternating directions along a path within the reciprocating element bore of the bore pump fluid end, and wherein the fluid intake end of the movable manifold is configured for fluid coupling with a stationary fluid manifold such that fluid can be introduced into the movable manifold via the stationary fluid manifold and the fluid intake end of the movable manifold; and   a power end operatively connected to the reciprocating element and operable to reciprocate the reciprocating element in the reciprocating element bore of the bore pump fluid end.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a high-pressure pump configured to operate at a pressure greater than or equal to about 3,000, 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, or 50,000 psi and/or in a well servicing operation and environment. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the movable manifold comprises a flexible hose. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein the flexible hose provides that, when the fluid intake end thereof is connected with the stationary manifold, the hose maintains a curvature between the fluid intake end thereof and the reciprocating element end thereof during the reciprocation of the reciprocating element. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the movable manifold comprises a plurality of swivel and seal elements, each of the plurality of swivel and seal elements comprising a hollow rigid element fluidly connected with a hollow rigid element of at least one other of the plurality of swivel and seal elements via a swivel and a seal, with one of the plurality of swivel and seal elements comprising the reciprocating element end of the movable manifold and another of the plurality of swivel and seal elements comprising the fluid intake end of the movable manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5 , comprising four swivel and seal elements, wherein a first of the swivel and seal elements comprises a first hollow rigid element comprising a first end comprising the reciprocating element end of the movable manifold and a second end rotatably connected with a second hollow rigid element of a second swivel and seal element via a first swivel and a first seal, wherein the second hollow rigid element of the second swivel and seal element comprises a first end rotatably connected with the first hollow rigid element and a second end rotatably connected with a third hollow rigid element of a third swivel and seal element via a second swivel and a second seal, wherein the third hollow rigid element of the third swivel and seal element comprises a first end rotatably connected with the second swivel and seal element and a second end rotatably connected with a fourth hollow rigid element of a fourth swivel and seal element via a third swivel and a third seal, and wherein the fourth hollow rigid element of the fourth swivel and seal element comprises a first end rotatably connected with the third swivel and seal element and a second end comprising the fluid intake end of the movable manifold. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the movable manifold comprises a first hollow rigid portion, a second hollow rigid portion, and a sealing element wherein the first hollow rigid portion comprises the reciprocating element end of the movable manifold and is fluidly connected with the second rigid hollow portion via an elbow, whereby the second hollow rigid portion is substantially parallel with the reciprocating element bore, and wherein the sealing element surrounds at least a portion of the second hollow rigid portion and allows for reciprocation of the second hollow rigid portion along a path within the sealing element substantially concurrently with the reciprocation of the reciprocating element in the reciprocating element bore. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing element comprises a third hollow rigid element, wherein the third hollow rigid element has an inside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the second hollow rigid element. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 7 , wherein the movable manifold comprises a unitary body including the first hollow rigid portion, the second hollow rigid portion, and the elbow. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 7 , wherein the elbow defines a 90 degree angle between the first hollow rigid portion and the second hollow rigid portion. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the movable manifold comprises a bellows. 
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a reciprocating element packing within the bore pump fluid end, wherein the reciprocating element packing seals a space between a wall of the reciprocating element bore and an outside of the peripheral wall of the reciprocating element, providing a high pressure chamber extending in an axial direction toward the front end of the reciprocating element from the reciprocating element packing, and wherein, during operation of the pump, an outside of the peripheral wall of a portion of the reciprocating element outside the high pressure chamber does not contact a fluid being pumped by the pump. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 1  further comprising a suction valve assembly located at least partially within the front end of the reciprocating element and a discharge valve assembly located at an end of the reciprocating element bore distal the power end, and wherein the pump is a multiplex pump comprising a plurality of reciprocating elements, and a corresponding plurality of reciprocating element bores, suction valve assemblies, discharge valve assemblies, and movable manifolds. 
     
     
         14 . A method of servicing the bore pump of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 accessing a reciprocating element packing associated with the reciprocating element and located within the pump fluid end, wherein the reciprocating element packing seals a space between a wall of the reciprocating element bore and an outside of the peripheral wall of the reciprocating element, providing a high pressure chamber extending in an axial direction toward the front end of the reciprocating element from the reciprocating element packing, and wherein, during operation of the pump, an outside of the peripheral wall of a portion of the reciprocating element outside the high pressure chamber does not contact a fluid being pumped by the pump.   
     
     
         15 . A method of servicing a wellbore, the method comprising:
 fluidly coupling a pump to a source of a wellbore servicing fluid and to the wellbore, wherein the pump comprises:
 a pump fluid end comprising a reciprocating element bore; 
 a reciprocatable reciprocating element having a front end opposite a fluid intake end and comprising a peripheral wall defining a hollow cylindrical body; 
 a movable manifold comprising a reciprocating element end and a fluid intake end, 
   
       wherein the reciprocating element end of the movable manifold is fluidly connected with the fluid intake end of the reciprocating element, whereby the reciprocating element end of the movable manifold moves in a same axial direction as the reciprocating element during reciprocation of the reciprocating element in alternating directions along a path within the reciprocating element bore of the pump fluid end, and wherein the fluid intake end of the movable manifold is configured for fluid coupling with a stationary fluid manifold such that fluid can be introduced into the movable manifold via the stationary fluid manifold and the fluid intake end of the movable manifold; and
   a power end operatively connected to the reciprocating element and operable to reciprocate the reciprocating element in the reciprocating element bore of the pump fluid end; and   
 communicating wellbore servicing fluid into the wellbore via the pump. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 discontinuing the communicating of the wellbore servicing fluid into the wellbore via the pump; and 
 subjecting the pump to maintenance to provide a maintained pump, wherein subjecting the pump to maintenance comprises accessing a reciprocating element packing associated with the reciprocating element and located within the pump fluid end, wherein the reciprocating element packing seals a space between a wall of the reciprocating element bore and an outside of the peripheral wall of the reciprocating element, providing a high pressure chamber extending in an axial direction toward the front end of the reciprocating element from the reciprocating element packing, such that, during operation of the pump, an outside of the peripheral wall of a portion of the reciprocating element outside the high pressure chamber does not contact a fluid being pumped by the pump; and 
 communicating the or another wellbore servicing fluid into the wellbore via the maintained pump. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pump comprises an integration section located in a space between the pump fluid end and the power end, wherein the movable manifold is located in the integration section, and wherein accessing the reciprocating element packing comprises accessing the reciprocating element packing via the integration section. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the wellbore servicing fluid, the another wellbore servicing fluid, or both the wellbore servicing fluid and the another wellbore servicing fluid comprise a fracturing fluid, a cementitious fluid, a remedial fluid, a perforating fluid, a sealant, a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a completion fluid, a gravel pack fluid, a gelation fluid, a polymeric fluid, an aqueous fluid, an oleaginous fluid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pump or the maintained pump operates during the pumping of the wellbore servicing fluid or the another wellbore servicing fluid at a pressure of greater than or equal to about 3,000 psi, 5,000 psi, 10,000 psi, 20,000 psi, 30,000 psi, 40,000 psi, or 50,000 psi. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pump or the maintained pump operates during the pumping of the wellbore servicing fluid or the another wellbore servicing fluid at a volumetric flow rate of flow rate of greater than or equal to about 3, 10, 20, or 30 barrels per minute (BPM), or in a range of from about 3 to about 30, from about 3 to about 20, from about 10 to about 20, or from about 5 to about 20 BPM.