Methods of powering blenders and pumps in fracturing operations using electricity

Abstract

Methods and systems for integral storage and blending of the materials used in oilfield operations are disclosed. A modular integrated material blending and storage system includes a first module comprising a storage unit, a second module comprising a liquid additive storage unit and a pump for maintaining pressure at an outlet of the liquid additive storage unit. The system further includes a third module comprising a pre-gel blender. An output of each of the first module, the second module and the third module is located above a blender and gravity directs the contents of the first module, the second module and the third module to the blender. The system also includes a pump that directs the output of the blender to a desired down hole location. The pump may be powered by natural gas or electricity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An integrated material blending and storage system comprising:
 a storage unit;   a blender located under the storage unit;   wherein the blender is operable to receive a first input from the storage unit through a hopper;   a liquid additive storage module having a first pump to maintain constant pressure at an outlet of the liquid additive storage module;   wherein the blender is operable to receive a second input from the liquid additive storage module; and   a pre-gel blender, wherein the pre-gel blender comprises at least a pre-gel storage unit resting on a leg, further wherein the pre-gel storage unit comprises a central core and an annular space, wherein the annular space hydrates the contents of the pre-gel blender;   wherein the blender is operable to receive a third input from the pre-gel blender;   wherein gravity directs the contents of the storage unit, the liquid additive storage module and the pre-gel blender to the blender;   a second pump; and   a third pump;   wherein the second pump directs the contents of the blender to the third pump; and   wherein the third pump directs the contents of the blender down hole;   wherein at least one of the second pump and the third pump is powered by one of natural gas and electricity.   
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage unit comprises a load sensor. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-gel blender comprises:
 a feeder coupling the pre-gel storage unit to a first input of a mixer;
 a fourth pump coupled to a second input of the mixer; 
   wherein the pre-gel storage unit contains a solid component of a well treatment fluid;   wherein the feeder supplies the solid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer;   wherein the fourth pump supplies a fluid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer; and
 wherein the mixer outputs a well treatment fluid. 
   
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the well treatment fluid is a gelled fracturing fluid. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the solid component is a gel powder. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the fluid component is water. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the central core contains the solid component of the well treatment fluid. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the well treatment fluid is directed to the annular space. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the annular space comprises a tubular hydration loop. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the well treatment fluid is directed from the mixer to the tubular hydration loop. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the well treatment fluid is selected from the group consisting of a fracturing fluid and a sand control fluid. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a power source to power at least one of the feeder, the mixer and the pump. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a combustion engine, an electric power supply and a hydraulic power supply. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein one of the combustion engine, the electric power supply and the hydraulic power supply is powered by natural gas. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a load sensor coupled to one of the storage unit, the liquid additive storage module or the pre-gel blender. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an information handling system communicatively coupled to the load sensor. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the load sensor is a load cell. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein a reading of the load sensor is used for quality control. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electricity is derived from one of a power grid and a natural gas generator set. 
     
     
       20. A modular integrated material blending and storage system comprising:
 a first module comprising a storage unit;   a second module comprising a liquid additive storage unit and a first pump for maintaining pressure at an outlet of the liquid additive storage unit; and   a third module comprising a pre-gel blender, wherein the pre-gel blender comprises at least a pre-gel storage unit resting on a leg, further wherein the pre-gel storage unit comprises a central core and an annular space, wherein the annular space hydrates the contents of the pre-gel blender;   wherein an output of each of the first module, the second module and the third module is located above a blender; and   wherein gravity directs the contents of the first module through a hopper, the second module and the third module to the blender;   a second pump;   wherein the second pump directs the output of the blender to a desired down hole location; and   wherein the second pump is powered by one of natural gas and electricity.   
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , wherein each of the first module, the second module and the third module is a self erecting module. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the third module comprises:
 a feeder coupling the pre-gel storage unit to a first input of a mixer;   a third pump coupled to a second input of the mixer;   wherein the pre-gel storage unit contains a solid component of a well treatment fluid;   wherein the feeder supplies the solid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer;   wherein the third pump supplies a fluid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer; and   wherein the mixer outputs a well treatment fluid.   
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the well treatment fluid is directed to the blender. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the blender mixes the output of the first module, the second module and the third module. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a fourth pump for pumping an output of the blender down hole. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 25 , wherein the fourth pump is selected from the group consisting of a centrifugal pump, a progressive cavity pump, a gear pump and a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
       27. A method of performing a fracturing operation comprising:
 having an amount of electricity sufficient to power one or more pumps that are capable of pumping a fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation, wherein the amount of electricity is produced on-site using conditioned field gas; and   pumping the fracturing fluid down hole using the amount of electricity to perform the fracturing operation.    
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises a liquid and a solid component.  
     
     
       29. The method of claim 27, wherein the conditioned field gas is liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, wherein the liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, or a combination thereof is derived from natural gas obtained from a field where the fracturing operation is being performed.  
     
     
       31. The method of claim 27, wherein the pumping the fracturing fluid down hole further comprises using an engine powered by liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
       32. The method of claim 27, wherein the conditioned field gas is used to power one or more generators that produces the amount of electricity to power the one or more pumps.  
     
     
       33. The method of claim 27, wherein the conditioned field gas is derived from natural gas obtained from a field where the fracturing operation is being performed.  
     
     
       34. The method of claim 27, wherein the amount of electricity used to power the one or more pumps powers at least two thirds of total horsepower for the fracturing operation.  
     
     
       35. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
 having a liquid additive in a storage unit; and   transferring the liquid additive from the storage unit to a blender using at least gravity.    
     
     
       36. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
 having a solid component in a storage unit; and   transferring the solid component from the storage unit to a blender using gravity and without a powered conveyor.    
     
     
       37. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
 having a solid component in a storage unit;   transferring the solid component from the storage unit to a blender; and   determining a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid component in the storage unit.    
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:
 using at least one load sensor wirelessly coupled to an information handling system to determine the change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid component in the storage unit.    
     
     
       39. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
 having a solid component in a storage unit;   transferring the solid component from the storage unit to a blender; and   providing a real-time visual depiction of an amount of the solid component contained in the storage unit.    
     
     
       40. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
 having a solid component in a storage unit;   transferring the solid component from the storage unit to a blender; and   using an information handling system to monitor an amount of the solid component in the storage unit.    
     
     
       41. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
 having a solid component in a storage unit;   transferring the solid component from the storage unit to a blender; and   providing an alert when the amount of the solid component in the storage unit reaches a threshold level.    
     
     
       42. A method of performing a fracturing operation comprising:
 using at least one blender to prepare a fracturing fluid and a plurality of pumps to pump the fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation,
 wherein the at least one blender and the plurality of pumps are powered using only electricity, and 
 wherein the electricity powering the plurality of pumps is produced using only conditioned field gas obtained from a field where the fracturing operation is being performed.  
   
     
     
       43. The method of claim 42, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises sand or proppant delivered to the blender from a storage unit using gravity and without a powered conveyor.  
     
     
       44. The method of claim 42, wherein the fracturing fluid is blended and pumped down hole without using diesel.  
     
     
       45. The method of claim 42, wherein the electricity used to power the plurality of pumps powers at least two thirds of total horsepower for the fracturing operation.  
     
     
       46. The method of claim 42, further comprising monitoring and controlling consumption of a material used in the fracturing operation using an information handling system.  
     
     
       47. The method of claim 46, wherein the information handling system is wirelessly coupled to a sensor.  
     
     
       48. The method of claim 42, further comprising real-time monitoring of material consumption to determine expenses associated with the fracturing operation.  
     
     
       49. A method of performing a fracturing operation comprising:
 having an amount of electricity sufficient to power a blender that is capable of preparing a fracturing fluid and one or more pumps that are capable of pumping the fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation, wherein the amount of electricity is produced on-site using conditioned field gas;   preparing the fracturing fluid using the blender, wherein the blender is powered using the amount of electricity; and   pumping the fracturing fluid down hole using the one or more pumps, wherein the one or more pumps are powered using the amount of electricity.    
     
     
       50. The method of claim 49, further comprising using the amount of electricity to power a transfer pump.  
     
     
       51. The method of claim 49, further comprising powering the one or more pumps using electricity from a power grid.  
     
     
       52. The method of claim 49, wherein the amount of electricity is produced using liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
       53. The method of claim 49, wherein the conditioned field gas is derived from natural gas obtained from a field where the fracturing operation is being performed.