Electric or Natural Gas Blending and Pumping for Oil Wells

This patent describes a compact, modular system for mixing and pumping fluids used in oil and gas wells, powered by electricity or natural gas, using gravity to feed materials into a main blender.

What it covers

This system integrates the storage and blending of materials, like those used in hydraulic fracturing, into a compact setup. It uses separate modules for main dry storage, liquid additives, and a pre-gel blender. A key design is that gravity pulls materials from these storage units down into a main blender (Claim 1). After blending, two powerful pumps move the mixed fluid "down hole" into a well. These pumps are specifically designed to run on natural gas or electricity (Claim 1), offering an alternative to traditional diesel power. For instance, a system could store gel powder, water, and other chemicals, blend them into a fracturing fluid, and then pump it into an oil well using an electric motor, with the pre-gel blender hydrating the gel powder in an annular space before mixing.

What it doesn't cover

• —Systems where materials are not gravity-fed from storage units into the main blender (Claim 1 explicitly states "gravity directs the contents").
• —Blending systems where the main pumps are exclusively powered by diesel or other combustion engines not fueled by natural gas (Claim 1 specifies "natural gas and electricity").
• —Systems that do not include a dedicated pre-gel blender with a central core and an annular space for hydrating materials (Claim 1).
• —Blending systems that are not modular, meaning they are not composed of distinct, separable storage and blending units (Claim 20).

The clever bit

The novelty lies in integrating multiple material storage and pre-blending units into a compact, modular system that uses gravity for efficient material flow to a main blender, and then powering the high-pressure pumps with natural gas or electricity, offering an alternative to traditional diesel engines.

Why it matters

This technology aims to make oilfield operations, especially hydraulic fracturing, more efficient and potentially less impactful environmentally by using cleaner or more readily available power sources like natural gas or electricity. By integrating storage and blending into a smaller, modular footprint, it can reduce setup time and transportation costs at remote well sites. This approach can help reduce emissions and noise compared to traditional diesel-powered equipment, which is a significant concern in the industry.

Real-world examples

• 1.Halliburton's electric fracturing fleets
• 2.Natural gas-powered well stimulation equipment
• 3.Modular blending units for hydraulic fracturing
• 4.Integrated fluid delivery systems for oil and gas