Partitioning High Pressure Pumps At A Well Site

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing pumps at a well pad comprising multiple wells can be separated into brine pumps and slurry pumps. A split stream barrier separates the brine pumps from the slurry pumps. At least one slurry barrier separates a first slurry pump and a second slurry pump. The split stream barrier and the slurry barrier allow maintenance to be performed on the first slurry pump while the second slurry pump and the brine pumps continue to operate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for operating a well site, the system comprising:
 a plurality of brine pumps configured to pump brine into at least one wellhead at the well site;   a plurality of slurry pumps configured to pump slurry into at least one wellhead at the well site;   a split stream barrier separating the plurality of brine pumps from the plurality of slurry pumps; and   at least one slurry barrier, wherein the at least one slurry barrier separates a first slurry pump from a second slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps is separated from other slurry pumps of the plurality of slurry pumps by a slurry barrier. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the split stream barrier and the at least one slurry barrier comprise one or more of composites, metals, alloys, or polymers. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps comprises a remotely operated actuator for controlling operation of each slurry pump. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the split stream barrier and the at least one slurry barrier allow maintenance on a selected slurry pump or a selected brine pump while other slurry pumps and other brine pumps continue to operate. 
     
     
         6 . A method of operating a well site, the method comprising:
 positioning a plurality of brine pumps at the well site, wherein the plurality of brine pumps are configured to pump brine into at least one wellhead at the well site;   positioning a plurality of slurry pumps at the well site, wherein the plurality of slurry pumps are configured to pump slurry into the at least one wellhead at the well site;   separating the plurality of brine pumps from the plurality of slurry pumps by installing a split stream barrier between the plurality of brine pumps and the plurality of slurry pumps;   separating each slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps by placing a slurry barrier between each adjacent slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps;   identifying a selected slurry pump for maintenance, wherein a remainder of the slurry pumps are not selected for maintenance;   remotely turning off and depressurizing the selected slurry pump with a remotely operated actuator; and   performing the maintenance on the selected slurry pump while continuing operation of the plurality of brine pumps.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising continuing operation of the remainder of the slurry pumps while performing the maintenance on the selected slurry pump. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps comprises a remotely operated actuator for controlling operation of each slurry pump. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 after completion of the maintenance on the selected slurry pump, remotely turning on and pressurizing the selected slurry pump with the remotely operated actuator.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: priming one or more of the plurality of slurry pumps and the plurality of brine pumps while pumping. 
     
     
         11 . A system for operating a well site, the system comprising:
 a brine pump area comprising a plurality of brine pumps configured to pump brine into at least one wellhead at the well site;   a slurry pump area comprising a plurality of slurry pumps configured to pump slurry into the at least one wellhead at the well site;   a split stream barrier separating the brine pump area from the slurry pump area; and   at least one slurry barrier separating a first slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps from a second slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps is separated from other slurry pumps of the plurality of slurry pumps by a slurry barrier. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , the split stream barrier and the at least one slurry barrier comprise one or more of composites, metals, alloys, or polymers. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps comprises a remotely operated actuator for controlling operation of each slurry pump. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the split stream barrier and the at least one slurry barrier allow maintenance on a selected slurry pump or a selected brine pump while other slurry pumps and other brine pumps continue to operate. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a well site, the method comprising:
 positioning a plurality of brine pumps in a brine pump area at the well site, wherein the plurality of brine pumps are configured to pump brine into at least one wellhead at the well site;   positioning a plurality of slurry pumps in a slurry pump area at the well site, wherein the plurality of slurry pumps are configured to pump slurry into the at least one wellhead at the well site;   separating the brine pump area from the slurry pump area by installing a split stream barrier between the brine pump area and the slurry pump area;   separating a first slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps from a second slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps by installing a slurry barrier between the first slurry pump and the second slurry pump;   identifying the first slurry pump for maintenance;   remotely turning off and depressurizing the first slurry pump with a remotely operated actuator; and   performing the maintenance on the first slurry pump while continuing operation of the second slurry pump and the plurality of brine pumps.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising installing a slurry barrier between each slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each slurry pump of the plurality of slurry pumps comprises a remotely operated actuator for controlling operation of each slurry pump. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 after completion of the maintenance on the first slurry pump, remotely turning on and pressurizing the first slurry pump with the remotely operated actuator.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: priming one or more of the plurality of slurry pumps and the plurality of brine pumps while pumping.