ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. 17910/219001
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`CLIENT REF. NO. 15315
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`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION
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`FOR
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`UNITED STATES LETTERS PATENT
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`TITLE: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN AUTOMATED AND
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`INTELLIGENT FRAC PUMPING
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`INVENTORS: Andrew KRUPA
`Corey MASSEY
`James COOK
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`I
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`PATENT APPLICATION
`ATTORNEY DOCKETNO. 17910/219001
`CLIENT REF. NO. 15315
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`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN AUTOMATED AND
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`INTELLIGENT FRAC PUMPING
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`BACKGROUND
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`[0001]
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`Hydraulic fracturing is a stimulation treatment routinely performed on oil and gas
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`wells in low-permeability reservoirs. Specially engineered fluids are pumped at high
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`pressure and rate into the reservoir interval to be treated, causing a vertical fracture to
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`open. The wings of the fracture extend away from the wellbore in opposing directions
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`according to the natural stresses within the formation. Proppant, such as grains of sand
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`of a particular size, is mixed with the treatment fluid to keep the fracture open when the
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`treatment is complete. Hydraulic fracturing creates high-conductivity communication
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`with a large area of a formation and bypasses any damage that mayexist in the near-
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`wellbore area. Furthermore, hydraulic fracturing is used to increase the rate at which
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`fluids, such as petroleum, water, or natural gas, can be recovered from subterrancan
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`natural reservoirs. Reservoirs are typically porous sandstones, limestones or dolomite
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`rocks, but also include “unconventional reservoirs” such as shale rock or coal beds.
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`Hydraulic fracturing enables the extraction of natural gas and oil from rock formations
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`deep below the earth's surface (e.g., generally 2,000-6,000 m (5,000-20,000 ft)), which
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`is greatly below typical groundwater reservoir levels. At such depth,
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`there may be
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`insufficient permeability or reservoir pressure to allow natural gas and oil to flow from
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`the rock into the wellbore at high economic return. Thus, creating conductive fractures
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`in the rock is instrumental in extraction from naturally impermeable reservoirs.
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`[0002]
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`A wide variety of hydraulic fracturing equipment is used in oil and natural gas
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`fields, such as a slurry blender, one or more high-pressure, high-volume fracturing
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`pumps and a monitoring unit. Additionally, associated equipment includes fracturing
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`tanks, one or more units for storage and handling of proppant, high-pressure treating
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`iron, a chemical additive unit (used to accurately monitor chemical addition),
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`low-
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`pressure flexible hoses, and many gauges and meters for flow rate, fluid density, and
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`treating pressure. Fracturing equipment operates over a range of pressures and injection
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`rates, and can reach up to 100 megapascals (15,000 psi) and 265 litres per second (9.4
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`cu ft/s) (100 barrels per minute).
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`[0003]
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`With the wide variety of hydraulic fracturing equipment at a well site,
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`the
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`hydraulic fracturing operation may be conducted. A hydraulic fracturing operation
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`requires planning, coordination, and cooperation of all parties. Safety is always the
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`primary concern in the ficld, and it begins with a thorough understanding byall partics
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`of their duties. Conventional hydraulic fracturing operations are dependent on workers
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`being present to oversee and conduct said operation over the full lifetime to complete
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`said operation.
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`SUMMARYOF DISCLOSURE
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`[0004]
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`This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further
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`described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify
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`keyor essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an
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`aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
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`[0005]
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`In one aspect,
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`this disclosure relates to a method. The method may include
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`pumping fluids into a first well via at least one pump manifold by opening a first set of
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`valves. The method may also include pumping the fluids into a second well via the at
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`least one pump manifold while continuously pumping the fluids into the first well by
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`opening a second set of valves. The method further includes closing the first set of
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`valves to stop pumping the fluids into the first well and isolating and continuously
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`pumping the fluids into the second well.
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`[0006]
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`In another aspect, this disclosure relates to a method for providing a fracturing
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`pumping plan on a software application. The fracturing plan may include pre-made
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`instructions to perform at least one continuous pumping operations for one or more
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`wells. The method mayalso include executing the fracturing pumping plan to perform
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`the at least one continuous pumping operations in a built hydraulic fracturing system
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`coupled to the one or more wells.
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`[0007]
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`In one aspect, this disclosure relates to a system with a built hydraulic fracturing
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`system having a plurality of devices connected together and in fluid communication
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`with one or more wells. The system may also include at least one continuous pumping
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`operations for one or more wells and a fracturing pumping plan provided on a software
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`application. The fracturing plan may include instructions to perform at
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`least one
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`continuous pumping operations for the one or more wells. The instructions may include
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`a sequence ofvalve operations to direct fluid flowthrough a selected path into the one
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`or more wells.
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`[0008]
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`Other aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and
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`the appended claims.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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`[0009]
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`Figure | illustrates a view of a hydraulic fracturing system at a well site according
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`to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
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`[0010]
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`Figures 2A-2G illustrate views of a human machine interface (“HMI”) of the
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`hydraulic fracturing system of Figure 1 according to one or more embodiments of the
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`present disclosure.
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`[0011]
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`Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart of automating a hydraulic fracturing system at a
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`well site according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`[0012]
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`Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below in detail with
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`reference to the accompanying figures. Wherever possible, like or identical reference
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`numerals are used in the figures to identify common or the same clements. The figures
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`are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be
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`shown exaggerated in scale for purposes of clarification. Further,
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`in the following
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`detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough
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`understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, it will be apparent to one having
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`ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described may be practiced without these
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`specific details.
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`In other instances, well-known features have not been described in
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`detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description. As used herein, the term
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`“coupled” or “coupled to” or “connected” or “connected to” may indicate establishing
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`either a direct or indirect connection, and is not limited to either unless expressly
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`referenced as such.
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`[0013]
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`Further, embodiments disclosed herein are described with terms designating a rig
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`site in reference to a land rig, but any terms designating rig type should not be deemed
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`to limit the scope of the disclosure. For example, embodiments of the disclosure may
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`be used on an offshore rig and various rig sites, such as land/drilling rig and drilling
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`vessel. It is to be further understood that the various embodiments described herein may
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`be used in various stages of a well, such as rig site preparation, drilling, completion,
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`abandonment etc., and in other environments,
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`such as work-over rigs,
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`fracking
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`installation, well-testing installation, and oil and gas production installation, without
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`departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The embodiments are described
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`merely as examples of useful applications, which are not limited to any specific details
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`of the embodiments herein.
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`[0014]
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`In a fracturing operation, a plurality of equipment(i.e., fracturing equipment) is
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`disposed around a rig site to perform a wide variety of fracturing operations during a
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`life of the fracturing process (1e., rig site preparation to fracturing to removal of
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`fracturing equipment) and form a built hydraulic fracturing system. At thesite, there is a
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`wide variety of fracturing equipment for operating the fracturing, such as a slurry
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`blender, one or more high-pressure, high-volume fracturing pumps, a monitoring unit,
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`fracturing tanks, one or more units for storage and handling of proppant, high-pressure
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`treating iron, a chemical additive unit (used to accurately monitor chemical addition),
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`low-pressure [flexible hoses, and many gauges and meters for flow rate, [uid density,
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`treating pressure, etc. The fracturing equipment encompass any number of components
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`that are durable, sensitive, complex, simple components, or any combination thereof.
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`Furthermore, it is also understood that one or more of the fracturing equipment may be
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`interdependent upon other components. Once the fracturing cquipment
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`is sct up,
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`typically, the fracturing operation may be capable of operating 24 hours a day.
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`[0015]
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`Conventional hydraulic fracturing systems in the oil and gas industry typically
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`require an entire team of workers to ensure proper sequencing. For example, a valve
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`team may meet, plan, and agree on a valve sequence to then actuate the valves. As a
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`result, conventional hydraulic fracturing systems are prone to human etrors resulting in
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`improperactuation of valves and expensive damage and non-productive time (NPT).
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`[0016]
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`One or more embodiments in the present disclosure may be used to overcome
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`such challenges as well as provide additional advantages over conventional hydraulic
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`fracturing systems. For example,
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`in some embodiments, an automated hydraulic
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`fracturing system including a computing system described herein andaplurality of
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`sensors working in conjunction with built hydraulic fracturing system may streamline
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`and improve efficiency as compared with conventional hydraulic fracturing systems
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`due, in part, to reducing or eliminating human interaction with the hydraulic fracturing
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`systems by automating fracturing operations for continuous pumping in one or more
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`wells.
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`[0017]
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`In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to automating a hydraulic
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`fracturing system that may perform continuous pumping processes in a hydraulic
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`fracturing operation.
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`In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to
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`automatic hydraulic fracturing pumping. Automatic hydraulic fracturing pumping may
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`be used, for example, to plan and execute hydraulic fracturing pumping operations from
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`one well to another well. Further, automatic hydraulic fracturing pumping may be used
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`for continuous non-stop pumping for one or more wells.
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`[0018]
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`Automatic hydraulic fracturing pumping system may utilize a pumping plan
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`provided on a software application, which may include pre-made instructions to
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`perform multiple pumping processes carried out by the hydraulic fracturing system.
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`Such fracturing plans may include automating valves within the hydraulic [racturing
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`system to have a valve sequencing (e.g., opening and closing) to direct fluids (e.g., frac
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`fluid) in a selected path and/or control pressure and pumprates within the system. As
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`used herein, a valve may be interchangeably referred to as a gate valve in the present
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`disclosure. Further, fluids may refer to slurries, liquids, gases, and/or mixtures thercof.
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`In some embodiments, solids may be present in the fluids. Automating a hydraulic
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`fracturing pumping system according to one or more embodiments described herein
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`may provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional hydraulic fracturing systems.
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`The embodiments are described merely as examples of useful applications, which are
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`not limited to any specific details of the embodiments herein.
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`[0019]
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`Figure 1 shows an automated hydraulic fracturing pumping system according to
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`embodiments of the present disclosure. The automated hydraulic fracturing pumping
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`system includes a built hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100 having a plurality of
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`connected together fracturing equipment at a rig site 1. The built hydraulic fracturing
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`pumping system 100 may include at least one wellhead assembly 101 (e.g., a Christmas
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`tree) coupled to at least one time and efficiency (TE) or zipper manifold 102 through
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`one or more flowlines (not shown). The hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100 may
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`further include at least one pump manifold 103 in fluid communication with the zipper
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`manifold 102.
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`In use, the at least one pump manifold 103 may be fluidly connected to
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`and receive pressurized [racking fluid from one or more high pressure pumps (nol
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`shown), and direct that pressurized fracking fluid to the zipper manifold 102, which
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`may include one or more valves that may be closed to isolate the wellhead assembly
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`101 from the flow of pressurized fluid within the zipper manifold 102 and pump
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`manifold 103. Additionally, the at least one wellhead assembly 101 may comprise one
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`or more valves fluidly connected to a wellhead that are adapted to control the flow of
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`fluid into and out of the wellhead. Typical valves associated with a wellhead assembly
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`include, but are not limited to, upper and lower master valves, wing valves, and swab
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`valves, each named according to a respective functionality on the wellhead assembly
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`101.
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`[0020]
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`Additionally, the valves of the at least one wellhead assembly 101 and zipper
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`manifold 102 may be gate valves that may be actuated, but not limited to, electrically,
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`hydraulically, pneumatically, or mechanically.
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`In some embodiments,
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`the built
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`hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100 may include a system 150 that may provide
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`powerto actuate the valves of the built hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100. Ina
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`non-limiting example, when the valves are hydraulically actuated, the system 150 may
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`include a hydraulic skid with accumulators to provide the hydraulic pressure required to
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`open and close the valves, when needed. The system 150 may also be interchangeably
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`referred to as a valve control system in the present disclosure.
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`[0021]
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`Further, the built hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100 includes a plurality of
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`additional rig equipment for fracturing operations. In a non-limiting example, the built
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`hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100 mayinclude at Icast one auxiliary manifold
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`104, at least one pop-off/bleed-off tank manifold 105, at least one isolation manifold
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`106, and/or a spacer manifold 107. The at least one pump manifold 103 may be used to
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`inject a slurry into the wellbore to fracture the hydrocarbon bearing formation, and
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`thereby produce channels through whichthe oil or gas may flow, by providing a fluid
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`connection between pump discharge and the hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100.
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`The auxiliary manifold 104 may provide a universal power and control unit, including a
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`power unit and a primary controller of the hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100.
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`Theat least one pop-off/bleed-off tank manifold 105 may allow discharge pressure from
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`bleed off/pop olf operations to be immediately relieved and controlled. The at least one
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`isolation manifold 106 may be used to allow pump-side equipment and well-side
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`equipment to be isolated from each other. The spacer manifold 107 may provide
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`spacing between adjacent equipment, which may include equipment to connect between
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`the equipmentin the adjacent manifolds.
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`[0022]
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`In one or more embodiments, the manifolds 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 may
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`each include a primary manifold connection 110 with a single primaryinlet and a single
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`primary outlet and one or more primary flow paths extending therebetween mounted on
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`same-sized A-frames 108. Additionally, the built hydraulic fracturing pumping system
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`100 may be modular to allow for easytransportation and installation on the rig site. In a
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`non-limiting example, the built hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100 in accordance
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`with the present disclosure may utilize the modularfracturing pad structure systems and
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`methods, according to the systems and methodsas described in U.S. Patent Application
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`No. 15/943,306, which the entire teachings of are incorporated herein by reference.
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`While not shown by Figure 1, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the built
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`hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100 mayinclude further equipment, such as a
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`blowout preventer (BOP), completions equipment, topdrive, automated pipe handling
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`equipment, ctc. Further, the built hydraulic fracturing pumping system 100 may include
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`a wide variety of equipmentfor different uses; and thus, for the purposes of simplicity,
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`the terms “plurality of devices” or “rig equipment” are used hereinafter to encompass
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`the wide variety equipment used to form a built hydraulic fracturing system comprising
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`a plurality of devices connected together.
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`[0023]
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`Still referring to Figure 1, the automated hydraulic fracturing system may further
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`include a plurality of sensors 111 provided at the rig site 1. The plurality of sensors 111
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`may be associated with some or all of the plurality of devices of the built hydraulic
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`fracturing pumping system 100,
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`including components and subcomponents of the
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`devices. In a non-limiting example, some of the plurality of sensors 111 may be
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`associated with each of the valves of the wellhead assembly 101 and zipper manifold
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`102. The plurality of sensors 111 may be a microphone, ultrasonic, ultrasound, sound
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`navigation and ranging (SONAR), radio detection and ranging (RADAR), acoustic,
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`piezoelectric, accelerometers, temperature, pressure, weight, position, or any sensor in
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`the art to detect and monitorthe plurality of devices. The plurality of sensors 111 may
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`be disposed on the plurality of devices at the rig site 1 and/or during the manufacturing
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`of said devices. It is further envisioned that the plurality of sensors 111 may be provided
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`inside a componentofthe plurality of devices. Additionally, the plurality of sensors 111
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`may be any sensor or device capable of wireline monitoring, valve monitoring, pump
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`monitoring, flow line monitoring, accumulators and energy harvesting, and equipment
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`performance and damage.
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`[0024]
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`The plurality of sensors 111 may be used to collect data on status, process
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`conditions, performance, and overall quality of the device that said sensors are
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`monitoring, for example, on/olf status of equipment, open/closed status of valves,
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`pressure readings,
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`temperature readings, and others. One skilled in the art will
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`appreciate the plurality of sensors 111 may aid in detecting possible failure mechanisms
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`in individual components, approaching maintenance or service, and/or compliance
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`issucs. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors 111 may transmit and reccive
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`information/instructions wirelessly and/or through wires attached to the plurality of
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`sensors 111. In a non-limiting example, each sensorof the plurality of sensors 111 may
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`have an antenna (not shown) to be in communication with a master antenna 112 on any
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`housing 113 at the rig site 1. The housing 113 may be understood to one of ordinary
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`skill to be any housing typically required at the rig site 1, such as a control room where
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`an operator 114 may be within to operate and view the rig site 1 from a window 115 of
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`the housing 113. It is further envisioned that the plurality of sensors 111 may transmit
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`and receive information/instructions to a remote location awayfrom rig site 1. In a non-
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`limiting example,the plurality of sensors 111 may collect signature data on the plurality
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`of devices and deliver a real-time health analysis of the plurality of devices.
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`[0025]
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`In one aspect, a plurality of sensors 111 may be used to record and monitor the
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`hydraulic fracturing equipment to aid in carrying out the fracturing plan. Additionally,
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`data collected from the plurality of sensors 111 may be logged to create real-time
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`logging of operational metrics, such as duration between various stages and determining
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`field efficiency. In a non-limiting example, the plurality of sensors 111 may aid in
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`monitoring a valve position to determine current job state and provides choices for
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`possible stages. In some examples, the plurality of sensors may provide information
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`such that a current state of the hydraulic fracturing operation, possible failures of
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`hydraulic fracturing equipment, maintenance or service requirements, and compliance
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`issues that may arise is obtained. By obtaining such information,
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`the automated
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`hydraulic fracturing systems may form a closed loop valve control system, valve control
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`and monitoring without visual inspection, and reduce or eliminate human interaction
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`with the hydraulic fracturing equipment.
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`[0026]
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`An automated hydraulic fracturing system may include a computing system for
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`implementing methods disclosed herein. The computing system may include a human
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`machine interface (‘HMI’) using a software application and may be provided to aid in
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`the automation of a built hydraulic fracturing system. In some embodiments, an HMI
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`116, such as a computer, control panel, and/or other hardware components may allow
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`the operator 114 to interact through the HMI 116 with the built hydraulic fracturing
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`pumping system 100 in an automated hydraulic fracturing system. The HMI 116 may
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`include a screen, such as a touch screen, used as an input (e.g., for a person to input
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`commands) and output
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`(e.g.,
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`for display) of the computing system.
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`In some
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`embodiments, the HMI 116 may also include switches, knobs, joysticks and/or other
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`hardware components which may allow an operator to interact through the HMI 116
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`with the automated hydraulic fracturing systems.
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`[0027]
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`An automated hydraulic fracturing pumping system, according to embodiments
`
`herein, may include the plurality of sensors 111, valve control system 150, and data
`
`acquisition hardware disposed on or around the hydraulic fracturing equipment, such as
`
`on valves, pumps and pipelines. In some embodiments, the data acquisition hardware is
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`incorporated into the plurality of sensors 111. In a non-limiting example, hardware in
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`the automated hydraulic fracturing systems, such as sensors, wireline monitoring
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`devices, valve monitoring devices, pump monitoring devices, flow line monitoring
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`devices, hydraulic skids including accumulators and energy harvesting devices, may be
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`aggregated into single software architecture.
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`[0028]
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`In one or more embodiments, a single software architecture according to
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`embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in one or more computing
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`systems having the HMI 116 built therein or connected thereto. The single software
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`architecture may be any combination of mobile, desktop, server,
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`router,
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`switch,
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`embedded device, or other types of hardware may be used. For example, a computing
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`system may include one or more computer processors, non-persistent storage (e.g.,
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`volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM), cache memory), persistent
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`storage (e.g., a hard disk, an optical drive such as a compact disk (CD) drive or digital
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`versatile disk (DVD) drive, a flash memory, etc.), a communication interface (e.g.,
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`Bluetooth interface, infrared interface, network interface, optical interface, etc.), and
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`numerous other elements and functionalities.
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`[0029]
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`A computer processor(s) may be an integrated circuit for processing instructions.
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`For example, the computer processor(s) may be one or more cores or micro-cores of a
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`processor. Fracturing pumping plans according to embodiments of the present
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`disclosure may be executed on a computer processor. The computing system may also
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`include one or more inpul devices,
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`such as a touchscreen, keyboard, mouse,
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`microphone, touchpad, electronic pen, or any other type of input device. Additionally,
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`it is also understood that the computing system may reccive data from the sensors
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`described herein as an input.
`
`[0030]
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`A communication interface may include an integrated circuit for connecting the
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`computing system to a network (not shown) (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide
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`area network (WAN) such as the Internet, mobile network, or any other type of
`
`network) and/or to another device, such as another computing device. Further,
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`the
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`computing system may include one or more output devices, such as a screen (e.g., a
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`liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, touchscreen, cathode ray tube (CRT)
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`monitor, projector, or other display device), a printer, external storage, or any other
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`output device. One or more of the output devices may be the sameor different from the
`
`input device(s). The input and output device(s) may be locally or remotely connected to
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`the computer processor(s), non-persistent storage, and/or persistent storage. Many
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`different types of computing systems exist, and the aforementioned input and output
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`device(s) may take other forms.
`
`[0031]
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`Software instructions in the form of computer readable program code to perform
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`embodiments of the disclosure may be stored,
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`in whole or in part,
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`temporarily or
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`permanently, on a non-transitory computer readable medium such as a CD, DVD,
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`storage device, a diskette, a tape, flash memory, physical memory, or any other
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`computer
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`readable storage medium. Specifically,
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`the software instructions may
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`correspond to computer readable program code that, when executed by a processor(s), is
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`configured to perform one or more embodiments of the disclosure. More specifically,
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`the software instructions may correspond to computer readable program code, that when
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`executed by a processor(s), may perform one or any of the automated hydraulic
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`fracturing systems features described herein,
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`including that associated with data
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`interpretation and automated hydraulic fracturing pumping systems.
`
`[0032]
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`The computing system may implement and/or be connected to a data repository,
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`such as a database, which maybe used to store data collected from an automated
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`hydraulic fracturing system according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure. Such
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`IWS EXHIBIT 1023
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`EX_1023_012
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`PATENT APPLICATION
`ATTORNEY DOCKETNO. 17910/219001
`CLIENT REF. NO. 15315
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`data may include, for example, valve data, such as identification of which valves in the
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`system are open or closed, time recordings of when valves in the system open or close,
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`time periods for how long valves in the system are open or closed, and valve pressure
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`data. A database is a collection of information configured for ease of data retrieval,
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`modification,
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`re-organization, and deletion. The computing system may include
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`functionality to present raw and/or processed data, such as results of comparisons and
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`other processing performed by an automation planner. For example, data may be
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`presented through the HMI 116. The HMI 116 mayinclude a graphical user interface
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`(GUD) that displays information on a display device of the HMI 116. The GUI may
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`include various GUI widgets that organize what data is shown as well as how data is
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`presented to a user (e.g., dala presented as actual data values through text, or rendered
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`by the computing device into a visual representation of the data, such as through
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`visualizing a data model).
`
`[0033]
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`The above description of functions presents only a few examples of functions
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`performed bythe computing system of automated hydraulic [racturing pumping systems
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`herein. Other functions may be performed using one or more embodiments of the
`
`disclosure.
`
`[0034]
`
`The plurality of sensors 111 work in conjunction with the computing system to
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`display information on the HMI 116. Having the automated hydraulic fracturing
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`pumping system may significantly improve overall performanceof the rig, rig safety,
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`reduced risk of NPT and many other advantages. Embodiments of the present disclosure
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`describe control systems, measurements, and strategies to automating rig operation
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`(e.g., fracturing operations).
`
`It
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`is further envisioned that
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`the automated hydraulic
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`fracturing pumping system maylocally collect, analyze, and transmit data to a cloud in
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`real-time to provide information, such as equipment health, performance metrics, alerts,
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`and general monitoring, to third parties remotely or through the HMI 116.
`
`[0035]
`
`In some embodiments, a fracturing pumping plan may be provided on the
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`software application such that the fracturing pumping plan maybe displayed on the
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`HMI 116. The fracturing pumping plan may bea set of instructions to perform multiple
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`PATENT APPLICATION
`ATTORNEY DOCKETNO. 17910/219001
`CLIENT REF. NO. 15315
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`processes in a hydraulic fracturing pumping operation. In a non-limiting example, the
`
`instructions may include a scquence of valve opcrations to direct fluid flow through a
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`selected path in one or more of the wellhead assemblies and manifolds on the frac pad,
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`with the sequence of valve operations being automatically controlled by the software
`
`through a valve control system associated with the valves. Further, the HMI 116 may
`
`have an emulate mode that can visually show the path through whichfluid can flow by
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`monitoring the valve positions to determine current job state and provides choices for
`
`possible stages. The emulate mode may allow the operator 114 to simulate a next stage
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`of the fracturing operation prior to making changes to the fracturing pumpingplan. It is
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`further envisioned that the software application may include a simulation system such
`
`that the fracturing pumping plan may be simulated and said results may be displayed on
`
`the HMI 116. Based on the simulated results, the fracturing pumping plan may be
`
`modified to create a customized fracturing pumping plan to be executed on the plurality
`
`of devices of the automated hydraulic fracturing pumping system 10. One skilled in the
`
`art will appreciate how the HMI 116 may allowthe operator 114 to monitor, change, or
`
`shut down fracturing operation. In a non-limiting example, the HMI 116 may send
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`permission requests to the operator 114 to perform various instructions from the
`
`fracturing pumping plan and/or the customized fracturing pumping plan. Additionally,
`
`the HMI 116 may include visual cues to allow for the monitoring and detection of a
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`wireline stage, send alerts of a valve leak, and/or any erosion/corrosion caused by the
`
`flowof fluids in the plurality of deviccs.
`
`[0036]
`
`In one or more embodiments, the plurality of sensors 111 may communicate with
`
`the software application on the computer system of the HMI 116 to automate the
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`plurality of devices, such as a valve. In a non-limiting example, the fracturing pumping
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`plan may include an automated valve sequencing (c.g., when to open and close) during
`
`completion stage based on pre-approved sequence as shown in Figures 2A-2G.
`
`[0037]
`
`With reference to Figures 2A-2G, Figures 2A-2G show a non-limiting example of
`
`a fracturing pump plan of a hydraulic fracturing pumping system displayed on the HMI
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`116. A hydraulic fracturing pumping system 200 mayincludea first wellhcad assembly
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`201a ofa first well, a second wellhead assembly 201b of a second well, a third wellhead
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