Methods of performing fracturing operations using an on-site electric power supply

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 for a fracturing operation comprising:
 having or using a system comprising:
 a blender for preparing a fracturing fluid comprising a component, wherein the component is transferred from a storage unit to the blender; and 
 at least one pump, 
 wherein the fracturing fluid is pumped down hole using the at least one pump to perform the fracturing operation, 
 wherein only electricity powers the at least one pump that pumps the fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation, and 
 wherein the electricity is provided by an on-site electric power supply that produced the electricity using natural gas. 
   
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the on-site electric power supply is an on-site generator. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the natural gas is compressed or liquified. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the natural gas is conditioned. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 27 , wherein water has been removed from the natural gas. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the natural gas is field gas. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the field gas is from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the component comprises a solid material. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the component comprises a liquid additive. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fracturing fluid is pumped into a plurality of wells from a common pad. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the electricity is sufficient to provide at least two thirds of a total horsepower for the fracturing operation. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one pump comprises a plurality of pumps. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the system further comprises a transfer pump. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the on-site electric power supply produced the electricity using only natural gas. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the electricity is provided by only the on-site electric power supply. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 41 , wherein the on-site electric power supply produced the electricity using only natural gas. 
     
     
       43. A method for a fracturing operation comprising:
 having or using a system comprising:
 a blender for preparing a fracturing fluid comprising a solid material, wherein the solid material is transferred from a storage unit to the blender; and 
 at least one pump, 
 wherein the fracturing fluid is pumped down hole using the at least one pump to perform the fracturing operation, 
 wherein only electricity powers the at least one pump that pumps the fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation, and 
 wherein the electricity is provided by an on-site electric power supply that produced the electricity using natural gas. 
   
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 43 , wherein the solid material comprises sand or proppant. 
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 43 , wherein the solid material is directed from the storage unit to the blender without a powered conveyor system. 
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 43 , wherein the on-site electric power supply is an on-site generator. 
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 43 , wherein the natural gas is field gas. 
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 43 , wherein the on-site electric power supply produced the electricity using only natural gas. 
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 43 , wherein the electricity is provided by only the on-site electric power supply. 
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 49 , wherein the on-site electric power supply produced the electricity using only natural gas. 
     
     
       51. A method for a fracturing operation comprising:
 having or using a system comprising:
 a blender for preparing a fracturing fluid comprising a component, wherein the component is transferred from a storage unit to the blender; and 
 at least one pump, 
 wherein the fracturing fluid is pumped down hole using the at least one pump to perform the fracturing operation, 
 wherein only electricity powers the at least one pump that pumps the fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation, and 
 wherein the electricity is provided by an on-site electric power supply that produced the electricity using field gas. 
   
     
     
       52. The method of  claim 51 , wherein the field gas is compressed or liquified. 
     
     
       53. The method of  claim 51  wherein the field gas is conditioned. 
     
     
       54. The method of  claim 51 , wherein water has been removed from the field gas. 
     
     
       55. The method of  claim 51 , wherein the on-site electric power supply is an on-site generator. 
     
     
       56. The method of  claim 51 , wherein the electricity is provided by only the on-site electric power supply. 
     
     
       57. The method of  claim 56 , wherein the on-site electric power supply produced the electricity using only field gas. 
     
     
       58. A method for a fracturing operation comprising:
 having or using a system comprising:
 a blender for preparing a fracturing fluid comprising a component, wherein the component is transferred from a storage unit to the blender; and 
 at least one pump, 
 wherein the fracturing fluid is pumped down hole using the at least one pump to perform the fracturing operation, 
 wherein only electricity powers the blender that prepares the fracturing fluid and the at least one pump that pumps the fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation, and 
 wherein the electricity is provided by an on-site electric power supply that produced the electricity using natural gas. 
   
     
     
       59. The method of  claim 58 , wherein the on-site electric power supply produced the electricity using only natural gas. 
     
     
       60. The method of  claim 58 , wherein the on-site electric power supply produced the electricity using only field gas. 
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 58 , wherein the natural gas is field gas.