Hydraulic fracturing arrangement and blending system

Abstract

A hydraulic fracturing system for blending liquid and solid particulates together to prepare a fracturing fluid, the system can include a plurality of independently operable blender units. In some aspects the blender units can operate with different sand concentrations in a split stream operation. In further aspects, a pump can be operated with the blender units to provide multiple fluid sources for a fleet of fracturing pumpers.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:
 a blender having:
 a first blender unit that mixes and delivers a first fluid to a fleet of pumpers, 
 a second blender unit that mixes and delivers a second fluid to the fleet of pumpers; and 
   a pump that delivers a third fluid to the fleet of pumpers,   wherein at least one pumper of the fleet of pumpers is in fluid communication with at least two of: the first blender unit, the second blender unit, or the pump.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first blender unit includes a suction pump,   the second blender unit includes a tub, and   the suction pump is in fluid communication with the tub via a crossover line.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first fluid includes a greater amount of solid particulates than the second fluid and the third fluid.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a controller in communication with the first blender unit, the second blender unit, and the pump; and   wherein the controller is configured to operate the system in a state in which:
 the first blender unit delivers the first fluid to a first set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers; 
 the second blender unit delivers the second fluid to a second set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers; and 
 the pump delivers the third fluid to a third set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a controller in communication with the first blender unit, the second blender unit, and the pump; and   wherein, based on a failure, the controller is configured to operate the system in a state in which:
 the second blender unit delivers a fourth fluid having solid particulates to at least one of a first set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers; and 
 the pump delivers the third fluid to a third set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a fleet of second pumpers, wherein:
 the fleet of pumpers are fluidly connected to a first well,   the fleet of second pumpers are fluidly connected to a second well, and   the second blender unit and the pump are configured to be in communication with the fleet of second pumpers.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a controller in communication with the first blender unit, the second blender unit, and the pump;   wherein, the controller is configured to operate the system in a state in which:
 the first blender unit delivers the first fluid to a first set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers; 
 the pump delivers the third fluid to a second set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers; 
 the second blender unit delivers the second fluid to a first set of pumpers of the fleet of second pumpers; and 
 the pump delivers the third fluid to a second set of pumpers of the fleet of second pumpers. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a controller in communication with the first blender unit, the second blender unit, and the pump;   wherein, based on a failure, the controller is configured to operate the system in a state in which the second blender unit delivers the second fluid to the first set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers and the first set of pumpers of the fleet of second pumpers.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first fluid and the second fluid each include a greater amount of solid particulates than the third fluid.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pump includes one or more centrifugal pumps. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first blender unit and the second blender unit are disposed on a first trailer. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 mixing a first fluid using a first blender unit of a blender;   delivering, using the first blender unit, the first fluid to a fleet of pumpers;   mixing a second fluid using a second blender unit of the blender;   delivering, using the second blender unit, the second fluid to the fleet of pumpers; and   delivering, using a pump, a third fluid to the fleet of pumpers,   wherein at least one pumper of the fleet of pumpers is in fluid communication with at least two of: the first blender unit, the second blender unit, or the pump.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 in a first operation state of the blender:
 the first fluid is delivered to a first set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers, 
 the second fluid is delivered to a second set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers, and 
 the third fluid is delivered to a third set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers, and 
   in a second operation state of the blender:
 the first fluid is delivered to at least one pumper of the second set of pumpers or at least one pumper of the third set of pumpers, 
   the method further comprising switching an operation state of the blender from the first operation state to the second operation state.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first set of pumpers is connected to a first well and the second set of pumpers is connected to a second well.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first fluid includes a greater amount of solid particulates than the second fluid and the third fluid.   
     
     
         17 . A hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:
 a blender having:
 a first blender unit that mixes and discharges a first fluid, and 
 a second blender unit that mixes and discharges a second fluid; 
   a pump that pumps a third fluid; and   a pumper that injects fluid into a wellbore, the pumper having a first fluid end and a second fluid end;   wherein:
 the first fluid end is in fluid communication with the first blender unit; and 
 the second fluid end is in fluid communication with the second blender unit or the pump. 
   
     
     
         18 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 17 , further comprising a first set of plungers associated with the first fluid end and a second set of plungers associated with the second fluid end, wherein the first set of plungers have a stroke length less than a stroke length of the second set of plungers. 
     
     
         19 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 17 , wherein the pump includes one or more centrifugal pumps. 
     
     
         20 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first proppant transport system configured to deliver proppant to the first blending unit;   a second proppant transport system configured to deliver proppant to the second blending unit; and   one or more water tanks configured to deliver water to the pump.   
     
     
         21 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a controller in communication with the first blender unit, the second blender unit, and the pump,   wherein, in the absence of a failure, the controller is configured to operate the system in a first state in which:
 the first blender unit delivers the first fluid to a first set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers, 
 the second blender unit delivers the second fluid to a second set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers, and 
 the pump delivers the third fluid to a third set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers, and 
   wherein, based on the failure, the controller is configured to operate the system in a second state in which:
 the second blender unit delivers a fourth fluid having solid particulates to at least one of a first set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers; and 
 the pump delivers the third fluid to a third set of pumpers of the fleet of pumpers.