Fluid supply system

Abstract

A fluid supply system having a plurality of tanks in fluid communication via one or more fluid paths with at least one pump, a ball and socket coupling disposed in at least one of the fluid paths, and a wellhead in fluid communication with the pump is disclosed. Placing a plurality of tanks at a well site and pumping a fluid from at least one of the tanks into the wellbore via a fluid path comprising at least one ball and socket coupling is disclosed. Positioning a plurality of tanks at a well site having a wellhead connected to a wellbore penetrating a shale formation, preparing a fracturing fluid by connecting at least one of the tanks to a blender via a fluid path comprising a ball and socket coupling, pumping the fracturing fluid into the wellbore and fracturing the shale formation, and recovering natural gas from the wellbore is disclosed.

1 . A fluid supply system for supplying fluid to a wellhead, comprising:
 a plurality of fluid storage tanks in fluid communication via one or more fluid communication paths with at least one pump;   a ball and socket coupling disposed in at least one of the fluid communication paths; and   a wellhead in fluid communication with the pump.   
   
   
       2 . The fluid supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fluid communication paths further comprises a tee joint. 
   
   
       3 . The fluid supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fluid communication paths further comprises a plurality of tee joints connected in fluid communication with at least one straight joint, and at least one of the tee joints and the at least one straight joint being connected using the ball and socket coupling. 
   
   
       4 . The fluid supply system according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the tee joints is located between at least one of the fluid storage tanks and a fluid conditioning unit. 
   
   
       5 . The fluid supply system according to  claim 4 , wherein the distance between the at least one of the fluid storage tanks and the fluid conditioning unit is less than about 21 ft. 
   
   
       6 . The fluid supply system according to  claim 4 , wherein the distance between the at least one of the fluid storage tanks and the fluid conditioning unit is less than or equal to about 15 ft. 
   
   
       7 . The fluid supply system according to  claim 4 , wherein the distance between the at least one of the fluid storage tanks and the fluid conditioning unit is less than or equal to about 10 ft. 
   
   
       8 . The fluid supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball and socket coupling provides a fluid-tight seal with adjacent piping components joined by the ball and socket coupling, even when the adjacent piping components are misaligned. 
   
   
       9 . A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:
 placing a plurality of fluid storage tanks at a well site; and   pumping a fluid from at least one of the fluid storage tanks into the wellbore via a fluid flow path comprising at least one ball and socket coupling.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising conditioning the fluid prior to pumping into the wellbore. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising blending the fluid with one or more components prior to pumping into the wellbore. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein blending the fluid forms a fracturing fluid that is pumped into the wellbore. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the pumping is carried out at a rate of at least about 100 barrels per minute. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the fracturing fluid comprises about two pounds of proppant per gallon of fluid. 
   
   
       15 . A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:
 positioning a plurality of fluid storage tanks at a well site having a wellhead connected to a wellbore penetrating a shale formation;   preparing a fracturing fluid by connecting at least one of the fluid storage tanks to a blender via a fluid flow path comprising at least one ball and socket coupling;   pumping the fracturing fluid into the wellbore and fracturing the shale formation; and   recovering natural gas from the wellbore.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fracturing fluid is a waterfrac mixture. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fracturing fluid comprises equal to or less than about two pounds of proppant per gallon of fluid. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the pumping is carried out at a rate of at least about 100 barrels per minute. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid storage tanks are positioned within about 21 feet of the blender. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one ball and socket coupling connects misaligned components within the fluid flow path.