Switch gear transport that distributes electric power for fracturing operations

Abstract

A system and a method for distributing electric power from a power source of electricity to power fracturing operations includes a plurality of circuit breakers, each circuit breaker including a first circuit breaker connector and a second circuit breaker connector, each of which outputs electric power to a corresponding transport at a first voltage level, a power source connector that receives electric power from a power source of electricity at the first voltage level, and a black start generator that generates electric power at a second voltage level and that supplies the generated electric power to start the power source of electricity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric fracturing system powered by a power source of electricity, the system comprising:
 a switch gear transport configured to: (i) electrically connect to the power source of electricity, (ii) receive first electric power from the power source of electricity at a first voltage level, and (iii) provide the first electric power at the first voltage level;   a first circuit breaker connector disposed on the switch gear transport and configured to supply the first electric power at the first voltage level;   an auxiliary power transport configured to generate second electric power at a second voltage level that is equal to the first voltage level;   an auxiliary connector disposed on the switch gear transport and configured to receive the second electric power at the second voltage level from the auxiliary power transport;   a first transport electrically connected to the first circuit breaker connector via a first electrical cable and configured to receive the first electric power at the first voltage level via the first electrical cable; and   a black start generator configured to electrically connect to the power source of electricity and being operable to supply second third electric power to start the power source of electricity,   wherein the first transport comprises at least one first transformer configured to step down the first electric power received at the first voltage level to at least one second third voltage level, the at least one second third voltage level being less than the first voltage level.   
     
     
         2 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first voltage level is within a range of 1000 V to 35 kilovolts, and wherein the at least one secondthird voltage level is less than 5 kilovolts. 
     
     
         3 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a circuit breaker that is disposed on the switch gear transport and that comprises the first circuit breaker connector, or comprises both the first circuit breaker connector and a second circuit breaker connector. 
     
     
         4 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the second circuit breaker connector of the circuit breaker is configured to supply the first electric power at the first voltage level to a second transport. 
     
     
         5 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second transports is a fracturing pump transport. 
     
     
         6 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second transports is a hydration-blender transport. 
     
     
         7 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the black start generator is disposed on the switch gear transport and is configured to generate a thirdfourth voltage level to start the power source of electricity. 
     
     
         8 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power source connector disposed on the switch gear transport and configured to connect to the power source of electricity; and.    an auxiliary power source connector disposed on the switch gear transport and configured to connect to an auxiliary power source of electricity.   
     
     
         9 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary power source of electricity is configured to generate third electric power at a fourth voltage level that is equal to the first voltage level. 
     
     
         10 . The electric fracturing system of claim  9   1 , wherein the switch gear transport further comprises a second transformer configured to step down the thirdsecond electric power received at the fourthsecond voltage level from the auxiliary power source of electricitytransport to a fifth voltage level, the fifth voltage level being less than the first voltage level. 
     
     
         11 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 10 , further comprising a low voltage connector disposed on the switch gear transport and configured to provide the thirdsecond electric power atstepped down by the second transformer to the fifth voltage level to the power source of electricity to start the power source of electricity. 
     
     
         12 . The electric fracturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first transformer comprises:
 two or more of the at least one first transformer configured to step down the first electric power received at the first voltage level to two or more of the at least one second third voltage level different from one another; or   one of the at least one first transformer configured to step down the first electric power received at the first voltage level to two or more of the at least one second third voltage level different from one another.   
     
     
         13 . A switch gear transport used with a power source of electricity and one or more power consumers, the power source of electricity providing first electric power at a first voltage level, the transport comprising:
 a power source connector configured to receive the first electric power from the power source of electricity at the first voltage level;   a plurality of circuit breakers electrically connected to the power source connector, each circuit breaker including at least one circuit breaker connector that is configured to output the first electric power to a corresponding one of the power consumers at the first voltage level;   a black start generator configured to electrically connect to the power source of electricity and being operable to generate second electric power at a second voltage level;   an auxiliary connector configured to receive third electric power at a third voltage level from an auxiliary power transport, the third voltage level being equal to the first voltage level; and   a first transformer configured to convert the third electric power from the auxiliary power transport at the third voltage level to a fourth voltage level to start the power source of electricity.   
     
     
         14 . The switch gear transport of  claim 13 , wherein the first voltage level is a target output voltage level of about 13.8 kilovolts, and wherein the switch gear transport further comprises another power source connector and wherein each of the power source connector and the other power source connector is configured to receive up to 40 megawatts of electric power. 
     
     
         15 . The switch gear transport of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one circuit breaker connector allows a single cable connection between the switch gear transport and the corresponding one of the power consumers on a separate second transport. 
     
     
         16 . The switch gear transport of  claim 13 , further comprising a low voltage connector configured to transmit the third electric power to the power source of electricity at the fourth voltage level. 
     
     
         17 . The switch gear transport of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of circuit breakers is rated to handle a maximum current that equals to or exceeds a total maximum current generated for operating the power consumers of two fracturing pump transports. 
     
     
         18 . The switch gear transport of  claim 13 , wherein the second voltage level generated by the black start generator exceeds the fourth voltage level to start the power source of electricity; and
 wherein the transport further comprises a second transformer configured to step down the second voltage level from the black start generator to the fourth voltage level to start the power source of electricity.   
     
     
         19 . The switch gear transport of  claim 13 , wherein the first transformer is further configured to step down the first electric power from the power source of electricity at the first voltage level to a fifth voltage level, the fifth voltage level being less than the first voltage level. 
     
     
         20 . A method for distributing electric power from a power source of electricity to power fracturing operations, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an auxiliary power source connector disposed on a switch gear transport, auxiliary electric power at a first voltage level;   converting, at a transformer disposed on the switch gear transport, the auxiliary electric power received at the first voltage level to a second voltage level to start the power source of electricity;   supplying, from the switch gear transport, the auxiliary electric power to the power source of electricity at the second voltage level;   receiving, at the switch gear transport, generated electric power from the power source of electricity at a third voltage level, wherein the third voltage level falls within a range of 1,000 V to 35 kilovolts;   supplying, from the switch gear transport, the generated electric power to a first power consumer transport at the third voltage level using only a first, single cable connection; and   supplying, from the switch gear transport, the generated electric power to a second power consumer transport at the third voltage level using only a second, single cable connection.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 supplying, from the switch gear transport, the generated electric power to the first power consumer transport comprises supplying the generated electric power at the third voltage level from the switch gear transport to the first power consumer transport via a irst circuit breaker connector of a circuit breaker disposed on the switch gear transport, and   supplying, from the switch gear transport, the generated electric power to the second power consumer transport comprises supplying the generated electric power at the third voltage level from the switch gear transport to the second power consumer transport via a second circuit breaker connector of the circuit breaker disposed on the switch gear transport.   
     
     
       22. An electric fracturing system powered by a power source of electricity, the system comprising:
 a switch gear transport configured to: (i) electrically connect to the power source of electricity, (ii) receive first electric power from the power source of electricity at a first voltage level, and (iii) provide the first electric power at the first voltage level;   an auxiliary power transport configured to generate second electric power at a second voltage level that is equal to the first voltage level;   a first circuit breaker connector disposed on the switch gear transport and configured to supply the first electric power at the first voltage level;   a first transformer configured to convert the second electric power received from the auxiliary power transport at the second voltage level to a third voltage level, and supply the second electric power at the third voltage level to start the power source of electricity;   a black start generator configured to electrically connect to the power source of electricity and being operable to supply electric power to start the power source of electricity;   a first transport electrically connected to the first circuit breaker connector via a first electrical cable and configured to receive the first electric power at the first voltage level via the first electrical cable; and   a data van configured to remotely control the switch gear transport via control signals, wherein the first electrical cable includes fiber optic wires to allow for communication of the control signals between the switch gear transport and the first transport.   
     
     
       23. The electric fracturing system of  claim 22 , wherein the fiber optic wires allow the switch gear transport to communicate, monitor and provide the control signals to the first transport. 
     
     
       24. The electric fracturing system of  claim 22 , wherein the switch gear transport provides data received from the first transport via the fiber optic wires of the first electrical cable to the data van. 
     
     
       25. The electric fracturing system of  claim 22 , wherein the switch gear transport is connected to the first transport via only the first electrical cable. 
     
     
       26. The electric fracturing system of  claim 22 , wherein the first voltage level is within a range of 1000 V to 35 kilovolts. 
     
     
       27. The electric fracturing system of  claim 22 , further comprising a circuit breaker that is disposed on the switch gear transport and that comprises the first circuit breaker connector, or comprises both the first circuit breaker connector and a second circuit breaker connector. 
     
     
       28. The electric fracturing system of  claim 27 , wherein the second circuit breaker connector of the circuit breaker is configured to supply the first electric power at the first voltage level to a second transport. 
     
     
       29. The electric fracturing system of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first and second transports is a fracturing pump transport. 
     
     
       30. The electric fracturing system of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first and second transports is a hydration-blender transport. 
     
     
       31. A switch gear transport used with a power source of electricity, the power source of electricity providing first electric power at a first voltage level, the switch gear transport comprising:
 a power source connector configured to receive the first electric power at the first voltage level from the power source of electricity;   a plurality of circuit breakers electrically connected to the power source connector, wherein each circuit breaker includes at least one circuit breaker connector, the at least one circuit breaker connector being configured to output electric power to a power consumer at the first voltage level via a first electrical cable, wherein the first electrical cable includes fiber optic wires for communication of control signals;   an auxiliary connector configured to receive second electric power at a second voltage level from an auxiliary power transport, the second voltage level being equal to the first voltage level;   a first transformer configured to convert the second electric power from the auxiliary power transport at the second voltage level to a third voltage level to start the power source of electricity;   a black start generator configured to electrically connect to the power source of electricity and being operable to supply electric power to start the power source of electricity; and   control and monitoring equipment configured to communicate the control signals with the power consumer via the fiber optic wires,   wherein the switch gear transport is remotely controlled from a separate data van and wherein the switch gear transport is configured to provide data received via the fiber optic wires from the power consumer to the separate data van.   
     
     
       32. The switch gear transport of  claim 31 , wherein the fiber optic wires allow the switch gear transport to communicate, monitor and provide the control signals to the power consumer. 
     
     
       33. The switch gear transport of  claim 31 , wherein the switch gear transport is connectable to the power consumer via only the first electrical cable. 
     
     
       34. The switch gear transport of  claim 31  wherein the first voltage level is within a range of 1000 V to 35 kilovolts. 
     
     
       35. A method for distributing electric power from a power source of electricity to power fracturing operations, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a switch gear transport, electric power from the power source of electricity at a first voltage level, wherein the first voltage level falls within a range of 1,000 V to 35 kilovolts;   supplying, from the switch gear transport, the electric power to a downstream transport at the first voltage level using only a single cable connection, wherein the single cable connection includes fiber optic wires for communication of control signals to the downstream transport;   receiving, from a data van, remote-control signals for remotely controlling the switch gear transport;   supplying, from the switch gear transport and based on the remote-control signals, the control signals to the downstream transport via the fiber optic wires of the single cable connection;   receiving, at an auxiliary power source connector disposed on a switch gear transport, auxiliary electric power at a second voltage level; and   converting, at a transformer disposed on the switch gear transport, the auxiliary electric power received at the second voltage level to a third voltage level to start the power source of electricity.   
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , further comprising providing to the data van data received from the downstream transport via the fiber optic wires of the single cable connection. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 35 , wherein the downstream transport is a fracturing pump transport. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 35 , wherein the downstream transport is a hydration-blender transport.