Hot swappable fracturing pump system

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system according to which a swap station is adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to an oil and gas wellbore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a swap station positionable in the vicinity of a hydraulic fracturing missile, the hydraulic fracturing missile comprising suction and discharge manifolds, the swap station comprising:
 a support frame; 
 suction and discharge flow components mounted on the support frame; and 
 suction and discharge conduits connected to, and extending from, the suction and discharge flow components, respectively; 
   and   suction and discharge fittings adapted to be mounted on a pump truck;   wherein, when the swap station is positioned in the vicinity of the hydraulic fracturing missile:
 the suction conduit is adapted to be operably coupled to the suction manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile so that the suction conduit is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of the suction manifold and the suction flow component; 
 the discharge conduit is adapted to be operably coupled to the discharge manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile so that the discharge conduit is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of the discharge manifold and the discharge flow component; and 
 a hydraulic fracturing pump mounted on the pump truck is positionable in the vicinity of the swap station, opposite the hydraulic fracturing missile; 
   and   wherein, when the suction and discharge conduits are operably coupled to the suction and discharge manifolds, respectively, of the hydraulic fracturing missile, the suction and discharge fittings are mounted on the pump truck, and the hydraulic fracturing pump mounted on the pump truck is positioned in the vicinity of the swap station, opposite the hydraulic fracturing missile:
 the suction flow component is detachably connectable to the suction fitting mounted on the pump truck so that the suction flow component is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of:
 the hydraulic fracturing pump via the suction fitting; and 
 the suction manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile via the suction conduit; 
 
 and 
 the discharge flow component is detachably connectable to the discharge fitting mounted on the pump truck so that the discharge flow component is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of:
 the hydraulic fracturing pump via the discharge fitting; and 
 the discharge manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile via the discharge conduit. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the swap station further comprises:
 one or more actuators adapted to effect relative movement between the suction flow component of the swap station and the suction fitting, when the suction fitting is mounted on the pump truck, to sealingly engage the suction fitting with the suction flow component; and   a lock assembly adapted to secure the suction fitting in sealing engagement with the suction flow component.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the one or more actuators is, or are, further adapted to effect relative movement between the discharge flow component of the swap station and the discharge fitting, when the discharge fitting is mounted on the pump truck, to sealingly engage the discharge fitting with the discharge flow component; and   wherein the lock assembly is further adapted to secure the discharge fitting in sealing engagement with the discharge flow component.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein both the suction fitting and the discharge fitting are part of a swap adapter. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the swap station further comprises:
 one or more actuators adapted to effect relative movement between the discharge flow component of the swap station and the discharge fitting, when the discharge fitting is mounted on the pump truck, to sealingly engage the discharge fitting with the discharge flow component; and   a lock assembly adapted to secure the discharge fitting in sealing engagement with the discharge flow component.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the hydraulic fracturing missile.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the hydraulic fracturing pump.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the pump truck.   
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 positioning a swap station in the vicinity of a hydraulic fracturing missile, the hydraulic fracturing missile comprising suction and discharge manifolds, the swap station comprising:
 a support frame; 
 suction and discharge flow components mounted on the support frame; and 
 suction and discharge conduits connected to, and extending from, the suction and discharge flow components, respectively; 
   operably coupling the suction conduit to the suction manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile so that the suction conduit is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of the suction manifold and the suction flow component; and   operably coupling the discharge conduit to the discharge manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile so that the discharge conduit is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of the discharge manifold and the discharge flow component.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 positioning a hydraulic fracturing pump mounted on a pump truck in the vicinity of the swap station, opposite the hydraulic fracturing missile;   detachably connecting the suction flow component to a suction fitting mounted on the pump truck so that the suction flow component is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of:
 the hydraulic fracturing pump via the suction fitting; and 
 the suction manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile via the suction conduit; 
   and   detachably connecting the discharge flow component to a discharge fitting mounted on the pump truck so that the discharge flow component is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of:
 the hydraulic fracturing pump via the discharge fitting; and 
 the discharge manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile via the discharge conduit. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein detachably connecting the suction flow component to the suction fitting mounted on the pump truck comprises:
 effecting, using one or more actuators, relative movement between the suction flow component of the swap station and the suction fitting mounted on the pump truck to sealingly engage the suction fitting with the suction flow component; and   securing, using a lock assembly, the suction fitting in sealing engagement with the suction flow component.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein detachably connecting the discharge flow component to the discharge fitting mounted on the pump truck comprises:
 effecting, using the one or more actuators, relative movement between the discharge flow component of the swap station and the discharge fitting mounted on the pump truck to sealingly engage the discharge fitting with the discharge flow component; and   securing, using the lock assembly, the discharge fitting in sealing engagement with the discharge flow component.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein both the suction fitting and the discharge fitting are part of a swap adapter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein detachably connecting the discharge flow component to the discharge fitting mounted on the pump truck comprises:
 effecting, using one or more actuators, relative movement between the discharge flow component of the swap station and the discharge fitting mounted on the pump truck to sealingly engage the discharge fitting with the discharge flow component; and   securing, using a lock assembly, the discharge fitting in sealing engagement with the discharge flow component.   
     
     
         15 . A swap station positionable in the vicinity of a hydraulic fracturing missile, the hydraulic fracturing missile comprising suction and discharge manifolds, the swap station comprising:
 a support frame;   suction and discharge flow components mounted on the support frame; and   suction and discharge conduits connected to, and extending from, the suction and discharge flow components, respectively;   wherein, when the swap station is positioned in the vicinity of the hydraulic fracturing missile:
 the suction conduit is adapted to be operably coupled to the suction manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile so that the suction conduit is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of the suction manifold and the suction flow component; 
 the discharge conduit is adapted to be operably coupled to the discharge manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile so that the discharge conduit is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of the discharge manifold and the discharge flow component; and 
 a hydraulic fracturing pump mounted on a pump truck is positionable in the vicinity of the swap station, opposite the hydraulic fracturing missile. 
   
     
     
         16 . The swap station of  claim 15 ,
 wherein, when the suction and discharge conduits are operably coupled to the suction and discharge manifolds, respectively, of the hydraulic fracturing missile, and the hydraulic fracturing pump mounted on the pump truck is positioned in the vicinity of the swap station, opposite the hydraulic fracturing missile:
 the suction flow component is detachably connectable to a suction fitting mounted on the pump truck so that the suction flow component is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of:
 the hydraulic fracturing pump via the suction fitting; and 
 the suction manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile via the suction conduit; 
 
 and 
 the discharge flow component is detachably connectable to a discharge fitting mounted on the pump truck so that the discharge flow component is, or is at least adapted to be, in fluid communication with each of:
 the hydraulic fracturing pump via the discharge fitting; and 
 the discharge manifold of the hydraulic fracturing missile via the discharge conduit. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The swap station of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 one or more actuators adapted to effect relative movement between the suction flow component of the swap station and the suction fitting mounted on the pump truck to sealingly engage the suction fitting with the suction flow component; and   a lock assembly adapted to secure the suction fitting in sealing engagement with the suction flow component.   
     
     
         18 . The swap station of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the one or more actuators is, or are, further adapted to effect relative movement between the discharge flow component of the swap station and the discharge fitting mounted on the pump truck to sealingly engage the discharge fitting with the discharge flow component; and   wherein the lock assembly is further adapted to secure the discharge fitting in sealing engagement with the discharge flow component.   
     
     
         19 . The swap station of  claim 18 , wherein both the suction fitting and the discharge fitting are part of a swap adapter. 
     
     
         20 . The swap station of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 one or more actuators adapted to effect relative movement between the discharge flow component of the swap station and the discharge fitting mounted on the pump truck to sealingly engage the discharge fitting with the discharge flow component; and   a lock assembly adapted to secure the discharge fitting in sealing engagement with the discharge flow component.