System and method for the use of pressure exchange in hydraulic fracturing

Abstract

A pressure exchange system for use in hydraulic fracturing includes a closed-loop clean fluid circuit; an energizing system comprising a first pump; a high-pressure clean manifold system; a pressure exchange system; a low-pressure supply system; and a high-pressure dirty manifold system. The closed-loop clean fluid circuit delivers clean fluid to the energizing system, and the energizing system energizes the clean fluid to supply pressurized clean fluid. The high-pressure clean manifold system delivers the pressurized clean fluid to the pressure exchange system. Meanwhile, the low-pressure supply system delivers a low-pressure dirty stream to the pressure exchange system. The pressure exchange system transfers the energy from the pressurized clean fluid to the low-pressure dirty stream thereby supplying a pressurized dirty-stream, whereby the high-pressure dirty manifold system delivers the pressurized dirty-stream to a well-head.

1 . A pressure exchange system for use in hydraulic fracturing, comprising:
 a closed-loop clean fluid circuit;   an energizing system comprising a first pump;   a high-pressure clean manifold system;   a pressure exchange system;   a low-pressure supply system; and   a high-pressure dirty manifold system;   wherein:
 the closed-loop clean fluid circuit delivers clean fluid to the energizing system; 
 the energizing system energizes the clean fluid to supply pressurized clean fluid; 
 the high-pressure clean manifold system delivers the pressurized clean fluid to the pressure exchange system; 
 the low-pressure supply system delivers a low-pressure dirty stream to the pressure exchange system; 
 the pressure exchange system transfers the energy from the pressurized clean fluid to the low-pressure dirty stream thereby supplying a pressurized dirty-stream; and 
 the high-pressure dirty manifold system delivers the pressurized dirty-stream to a well-head. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the clean fluid is stored in one or more reservoirs, and is pumped from the reservoir to the energizing system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressurized clean fluid being delivered to the pressure exchange system is optionally instantly depressurized and redirected into the reservoir, thereby stopping the process while remaining contained within the closed loop clean fluid circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressurized clean fluid is returned to the reservoir subsequent to processing by the pressure exchange system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the clean fluid is glycol-based. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the clean fluid is oil-based. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured to pressurize the clean fluid to an operating pressure of at least 10,000 PSI. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure exchange system comprises a pressure exchange unit configured to operate at clean fluid operating pressures of at least 10,000 PSI. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure exchange system comprises a plurality of pressure exchange units configured to transfer energy from the clean fluid to the low-pressure dirty stream at an operating pressure of at least 10,000 PSI. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energizing system comprises a first stage comprising the first pump, the first pump being configured to partially pressurize the clean fluid; and a second stage comprising a second pump configured to partially pressure the clean fluid, wherein the first and second pumps are together configured to pressurize the clean fluid to an operating pressure of at least 10,000 PSI. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are not the same. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first pump is a centrifugal pump, and the second pump is a reciprocating pump. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump of the energizing system comprises two pumps, and wherein the high-pressure manifold system aggregates the pressurized clean fluid from the pumps and delivers the pressurized clean fluid to the pressure exchange system. 
     
     
         14 . A method for pressurizing a fluid for delivery to a well bore, comprising:
 pumping a low-pressure clean fluid from a clean fluid reservoir to an energizing system;   energizing the low-pressure clean fluid resulting in a high-pressure clean fluid;   delivering the high-pressure clean fluid from the energizing system to a pressure exchange system;   delivering a low-pressure fracking fluid to the pressure exchange system;   transferring, via the pressure exchange system, energy from the high-pressure clean fluid to the low-pressure fracking fluid resulting in a high-pressure fracking fluid and a reduced-pressure clean fluid; and   delivering the high-pressure fracking fluid to the well bore.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the high-pressure clean fluid interfaces with the low-pressure fracking fluid in the pressure exchange system creating a volume of contaminated clean fluid; and wherein a volume of the high-pressure clean fluid delivered to the pressure exchange system is greater than a volume of the low-pressure fracking fluid delivered to the pressure exchange system such that the volume of contaminated clean fluid is delivered to the well bore with the high-pressure fracking fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising delivering at least a portion of the reduced-pressure clean fluid back to the clean fluid reservoir for reuse. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure exchange system comprises an energy recovery device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pressure exchange unit comprises a plurality of energy recovery devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pressure exchange unit is a dual work exchange energy recovery device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pressure exchange unit is configured to transfer energy from the clean fluid to the low-pressure dirty stream at an operating pressure of at least 10,000 PSI.