Fracturing pump system

Abstract

A method and system according to which pressurized fluid is communicated to an oil and gas wellbore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 operating a first fracturing pump,
 wherein operating the first fracturing pump draws fluid from a suction manifold and discharges pressurized fluid to a discharge manifold; 
   during operating the first fracturing pump, operating a second fracturing pump,
 wherein operating the second fracturing pump discharges pressurized fluid to the discharge manifold; 
   and   during operating the second fracturing pump, bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair,
 wherein the second fracturing pump is continuously operated before, during, and after the step of bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair comprises ramping down the first fracturing pump. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair comprises closing a first valve to discontinue fluid communication between an outlet of the first fracturing pump and the discharge manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair further comprises opening a second valve to bleed off residual pressure from the outlet of the first fracturing pump. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair further comprises closing a second valve to discontinue fluid communication between the suction manifold and an inlet of the first hydraulic fracturing pump. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair further comprises opening a third valve to bleed off residual pressure from the inlet of the first fracturing pump. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair, replacing the first fracturing pump with a third fracturing pump.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein replacing the first fracturing pump with the third fracturing pump comprises operably decoupling a discharge flow component from a discharge fitting;
 wherein the discharge flow component is operably coupled to the discharge manifold via a discharge conduit; and   wherein the discharge fitting is operably coupled to an outlet of the first fracturing pump.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein operably decoupling the discharge flow component form the discharge fitting comprises effecting, using one or more actuators, relative movement between the discharge flow component and the discharge fitting to sealingly disengage the discharge flow component from the discharge fitting. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein replacing the first fracturing pump with the third fracturing pump further comprises operably coupling the discharge flow component to another discharge fitting; and
 wherein the another discharge fitting is operably coupled to an outlet of the third fracturing pump.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein operably coupling the discharge flow component to the another discharge fitting comprises effecting, using one or more actuators, relative movement between the discharge flow component and the another discharge fitting to sealingly engage the discharge flow component with the discharge fitting. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein replacing the first fracturing pump with the third fracturing pump further comprises operably decoupling a suction flow component from a suction fitting;
 wherein the suction flow component is operably coupled to the suction manifold via a suction conduit; and   wherein the suction fitting is operably coupled to an inlet of the first fracturing pump.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein both the suction flow component and the discharge flow component are mounted to a support frame of a station positioned in the vicinity of the suction and discharge manifolds. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the station is a swap station. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein both the suction fitting and the discharge fitting are part of an adapter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the adapter is a swap adapter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein replacing the first fracturing pump with the third fracturing pump further comprises operably coupling the suction flow component to another suction fitting; and
 wherein the another suction fitting is operably coupled to an inlet of the third fracturing pump.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 initiating operation of the third fracturing pump,
 wherein operating the third fracturing pump draws fluid from the suction manifold and discharges pressurized fluid to the discharge manifold, and 
 wherein the second fracturing pump is continuously operated before, during, and after initiating operation of the third fracturing pump. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein initiating operation of the third fracturing pump comprises
 opening a first valve to establish fluid communication between the suction manifold and an inlet of the third fracturing pump;   opening a second valve to establish fluid communication between an outlet of the third fracturing pump and the discharge manifold; and   ramping up the third fracturing pump.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein operating the second fracturing pump draws fluid from the suction manifold. 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a non-transitory storage media; and   instructions contained by the non-transitory storage media;   wherein the instructions contained by the non-transitory storage media cause one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:
 operating a first fracturing pump,
 wherein operating the first fracturing pump draws fluid from a suction manifold and discharges pressurized fluid to a discharge manifold; 
 
 during operating the first fracturing pump, operating a second fracturing pump,
 wherein operating the second fracturing pump discharges pressurized fluid to the discharge manifold; 
 
 and 
 during operating the second fracturing pump, bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair, 
 wherein the second fracturing pump is continuously operated before, during, and after the step of bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller, the controller comprising:
 the non-transitory storage media;   the instructions contained by the non-transitory storage media; and   the one or more processors.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller, the controller comprising one or more of the following:
 at least a portion of the non-transitory storage media;   at least a portion of the instructions contained by the at least a portion of the non-transitory storage media; and   at least one of the one or more processors.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller, the controller comprising two or more of the following:
 at least a portion of the non-transitory storage media;   at least a portion of the instructions contained by the at least a portion of the non-transitory storage media; and   at least one of the one or more processors.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller, the controller comprising:
 at least a portion of the non-transitory storage media;   at least a portion of the instructions contained by the at least a portion of the non-transitory storage media; and   at least one of the one or more processors.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair comprises ramping down the first fracturing pump. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair comprises closing a first valve to discontinue fluid communication between an outlet of the first fracturing pump and the discharge manifold. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair further comprises opening a second valve to bleed off residual pressure from the outlet of the first fracturing pump. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair further comprises closing a second valve to discontinue fluid communication between the suction manifold and an inlet of the first hydraulic fracturing pump. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein bringing the first fracturing pump off line for maintenance and/or repair further comprises opening a third valve to bleed off residual pressure from the inlet of the first fracturing pump.