Electric Pumps for Fracking: How They Break Rocks Underground
This patent describes a system for breaking underground rocks using high-pressure fluid from electric pumps, replacing traditional diesel-powered fracturing equipment.
Original patent title: “Hydraulic fracturing equipment with non-hydraulic power”
This patent describes a system for breaking underground rocks using high-pressure fluid from electric pumps, replacing traditional diesel-powered fracturing equipment. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a hydraulic fracturing system that uses electricity to power all its main components. It includes an electric pump that pushes fluid at high pressure into a wellbore to fracture a subterranean formation, as stated in the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more →. A first electric motor operates this main pump. Additionally, one or more second electric motors are connected to and operate any supporting equipment, referred to as 'ancillary units,' that are part of the fluid pumping process. For example, instead of a loud diesel engine powering the main pump that injects water and sand down an oil well, this system uses a quieter, cleaner electric motor, with other electric motors handling tasks like mixing chemicals or moving equipment.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover hydraulic fracturing systems where the main pump is powered by internal combustion engines, such as diesel or natural gas engines.
- Does not cover systems where the 'ancillary units' (supporting equipment) are powered by non-electric means, like separate diesel generators.
- Does not cover fracturing methods that do not involve pumping fluid into a wellbore at high pressure to break the formation.
- Does not cover general well operations like drilling or simple fluid circulation that do not aim to fracture the subterranean formation.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is fully electrifying the entire hydraulic fracturing operation, including both the main high-pressure pump and all supporting equipment, with dedicated electric motors. This moves beyond simply using electric grid power for some components to a fully integrated electric power system for the whole site.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Electric fracturing fleets
Next-generation oil and gas well sites
Integrated electric well stimulation systems
Battery-powered mobile fracking units
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a key method for extracting oil and gas, but it traditionally relies on large, noisy, and polluting diesel engines. This patent is significant because it describes a shift towards using electric power for all parts of the fracking process, which can reduce emissions, operational costs, and noise pollution at well sites. This move aligns with broader industry goals for sustainability and efficiency in energy production.
Filed
May 2, 2024
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major oilfield service companies like Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes are actively developing and deploying electric fracturing fleets to reduce emissions and operating costs. Specialized energy technology companies are also building advanced power systems and controls for these electrified operations, including grid connections, battery storage, and mobile power generation units.
Market impact
This technology contributes to the ongoing shift in the oil and gas industry away from diesel-intensive operations towards more sustainable and efficient electric power. It helps enable significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution at well sites, while also potentially lowering fuel costs and maintenance for operators. This trend is creating a new market for electric power infrastructure and equipment within the oilfield services sector.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a hydraulic fracturing system that uses electricity to power all its main components. It includes an electric pump that pushes fluid at high pressure into a wellbore to fracture a subterranean formation, as stated in the abstract. A first electric motor operates this main pump. Additionally, one or more second electric motors are connected to and operate any supporting equipment, referred to as 'ancillary units,' that are part of the fluid pumping process. For example, instead of a loud diesel engine powering the main pump that injects water and sand down an oil well, this system uses a quieter, cleaner electric motor, with other electric motors handling tasks like mixing chemicals or moving equipment.
The clever bit
The clever bit is fully electrifying the entire hydraulic fracturing operation, including both the main high-pressure pump and all supporting equipment, with dedicated electric motors. This moves beyond simply using electric grid power for some components to a fully integrated electric power system for the whole site.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover hydraulic fracturing systems where the main pump is powered by internal combustion engines, such as diesel or natural gas engines.
- Does not cover systems where the 'ancillary units' (supporting equipment) are powered by non-electric means, like separate diesel generators.
- Does not cover fracturing methods that do not involve pumping fluid into a wellbore at high pressure to break the formation.
- Does not cover general well operations like drilling or simple fluid circulation that do not aim to fracture the subterranean formation.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$12K – $38K
Midpoint $24K · 17.6 yr remaining · industry baseline
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Electric Pumps for Fracking: How They Break Rocks Underground (U.S. Patent No. 12,735,968). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12735968/hydraulic-fracturing-equipment-with-non-hydraulic-power
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Electric Pumps for Fracking: How They Break Rocks Underground cover?
This patent describes a system for breaking underground rocks using high-pressure fluid from electric pumps, replacing traditional diesel-powered fracturing equipment.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a key method for extracting oil and gas, but it traditionally relies on large, noisy, and polluting diesel engines. This patent is significant because it describes a shift towards using electric power for all parts of the fracking process, which can reduce emissions, operational costs, and noise pollution at well sites. This move aligns with broader industry goals for sustainability and efficiency in energy production.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover hydraulic fracturing systems where the main pump is powered by internal combustion engines, such as diesel or natural gas engines.
Patent monitoring