System and method for an automated and intelligent frac pad

Abstract

A system may include a built hydraulic fracturing system with a plurality of devices connected together and a simulation of the built hydraulic fracturing system on a software application. Additionally, a fracturing plan may be provided on the software application to include pre-made instructions to perform multiple processes in a hydraulic fracturing operation such as a sequence of valve operations to direct fluid flow through a selected path. Further, the fracturing plan may be modified to create a customized fracturing plan including the pre-made instructions and at least one modified instruction. Furthermore, the customized fracturing plan may be executed to perform at least one of the processes in the built hydraulic fracturing system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method of operating a fracturing system, the method comprising:
 automatically controlling at least one valve of the fracturing system according to a valve sequencing plan to thereby direct fluids in a selected path within the fracturing system, the at least one valve in communication with a manifold;   receiving at least one signal from one or more sensors, the at least one signal comprising information indicative of a state of the at least one valve;   receiving electrical power from a control panel at a first power level; and   outputting the electrical power to the manifold at a second power level lower than the first power level.   
     
     
         2 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 mapping a plurality of devices in the fracturing system into a simulated hydraulic fracturing system;   adding a new device to the fracturing system, the new device comprising new device firmware;   mapping the new device into the simulated hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:
 casting a search for signals within a radius encompassing the fracturing system; 
 detecting at least one signal from the new device firmware; and 
 communicating the new device firmware. 
   
     
     
         3 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying a template fracturing plan for the fracturing system, the template fracturing plan comprising one or more instructions for operating the fracturing system; and   modifying the template fracturing plan to produce a modified fracturing plan, the modified fracturing plan comprising one or more modified instructions for operating the fracturing system.   
     
     
         4 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises:
 simulating a next stage of the template fracturing plan prior to modifying the template fracturing plan.   
     
     
         5 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 3 , wherein the template fracturing plan comprises:
 one or more permission-based instructions that are performed responsive to operator approval; and   one or more automatic instructions that are performed automatically, independent of operator approval.   
     
     
         6 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 5 , the method further comprising:
 generating a log of information associated with the fracturing system.   
     
     
         7 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 6 , wherein the log comprises:
 user sign-in information;   time usage of the template fracturing plan and the modified fracturing plan;   amount of times the template fracturing plan is modified; and   amount of times the template fracturing plan is overridden.   
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a fracturing system, the method comprising:
 identifying a red zone around the fracturing system that includes at least one valve, the at least one valve in fluid communication with a manifold positioned in the red zone;   automatically controlling the at least one valve according to a valve sequencing plan to thereby direct fluids in a selected path within the fracturing system; and   receiving at least one signal from one or more sensors, the at least one signal comprising information indicative of a state of the at least one valve.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining a valve utilization parameter based at least in part on the state of the at least one valve; and   automatically determining when to grease the at least one valve based on the valve utilization parameter.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing an instruction to grease the at least one valve to one or more grease valves of a grease manifold disposed in the red zone.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving electrical power from a control panel at a first power level; and   outputting the electrical power to the grease manifold at a second power level lower than the first power level.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 identifying a fracturing plan for the fracturing system, the fracturing plan comprising a plurality of instructions for operating the fracturing system.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 transmitting one or more permission requests to an operator, the one or more permission requests requesting permission to perform one or more respective instructions from the plurality of instructions of the fracturing plan.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 responsive to receiving approval from the operator, allowing the one or more respective instructions from the plurality of instructions of the fracturing plan to proceed,   wherein one or more other instructions of the plurality of instructions proceed automatically without approval from the operator.   
     
     
         15 . A method operating a fracturing system, the method comprising:
 identifying a red zone around a fracturing system that includes at least one valve, the at least one valve in fluid communication with a manifold positioned in the red zone;   automatically controlling the at least one valve according to a valve sequencing plan to thereby direct fluids in a selected path within the fracturing system; and   receiving at least one signal from one or more sensors, the at least one signal comprising information indicative of a state of the at least one valve;   receiving electrical power from a control panel at a first power level; and   outputting the electrical power to the manifold at a second power level lower than the first power level.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 identifying a template fracturing plan for the fracturing system, the template fracturing plan comprising one or more instructions for operating the fracturing system; and   modifying the template fracturing plan to produce a modified fracturing plan, the modified fracturing plan comprising one or more modified instructions for operating the fracturing system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving an operator input through a human machine interface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 generating a log of activities and users associated with the fracturing system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the log comprises:
 user sign-in information;   a time usage of the template fracturing plan and the modified fracturing plan;   an amount of times the template fracturing plan is modified; and   an amount of times the template fracturing plan is overridden.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the log further comprises:
 device maintenance information;   information indicative of online and offline sensors;   information indicative of each modification added to the template fracturing plan; and   information indicative of one or more operations performed on site of the fracturing system.