Modular remote power generation and transmission for hydraulic fracturing system

Abstract

A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation includes a power generation system, a transmission section, and an equipment load section. The power generation system includes a turbine generator that generates electricity that is used to power equipment in the equipment load section. The equipment in the equipment load section conditions and pressurizes fluid that is injected into a wellbore for fracturing the formation. The power generation and equipment load sections are distal from one another are separated by a long distance. The transmission section connects the power generation and equipment load sections, and thus spans the long distance between these sections.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
 an electric motor;   a pump coupled to the motor, and that has a discharge in fluid communication with a wellbore that intersects the formation, so that when the motor is activated and drives the pump, pressurized fluid from the pump pressurizes the wellbore to fracture the formation;   a source of electricity that is disposed a long distance from the electric motor; and   transmission lines that connect the source of electricity to the electric motor and that span the long distance between the source of electricity and the electric motor.   
     
     
         3 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 2 , further comprising a transformer between the transmission line and the source of electricity. 
     
     
         4 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 2 , further comprising a transformer between the transmission line and the electric motor. 
     
     
         5 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 2 , wherein the source of electricity is selected from the group consisting of a utility outlet, a turbine generator, and a reciprocating engine generator. 
     
     
         6 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 5 , further comprising an electric equipment room in communication with the turbine generator and which controls operation of the turbine generator. 
     
     
         7 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 2 , further comprising a switch gear between the transmission line and the source of electricity, and another switch gear between the transmission line and the electric motor. 
     
     
         8 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 7 , further comprising a transformer between the switch gear and the electric motor. 
     
     
         9 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 2 , wherein the electric motor comprises a first electric motor, the system further comprising a multiplicity of electric motors, and wherein the transmission lines are selectively moveable at different times to provide electrical communication between the source of electricity and the multiplicity of motors. 
     
     
         10 . A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
 a power generation section;   an equipment load section that is a long distance from the power generation section, and that comprises,
 an electric motor, and 
 a pump driven by the electric motor and that has a discharge in communication with a wellbore that intersects the formation; and 
   a transmission section that extends between the power generation section and the equipment load section, and through which the power generation section and equipment load section are in electrical communication.   
     
     
         11 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 10 , further comprising a variable frequency drive in communication with the electric motor, and that controls the speed of the motor, and performs electric motor diagnostics to prevent damage to the electric motor. 
     
     
         12 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 10 , further comprising lines that provide electrical communication from the transmission section to electrically powered equipment disposed in the equipment load section, and wherein the lines comprise a micro grid. 
     
     
         13 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 10 , wherein the power generation section comprises a turbine that is powered by natural gas and that is coupled to a generator. 
     
     
         14 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 10 , the transmission section comprising a set of transmission lines, wherein at least one of the transmission lines is a neutral line, and wherein electricity at different phases is transmitted along the other transmission lines. 
     
     
         15 . A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
 driving a pump with an electric motor;   transmitting electricity to the electric motor from a power source that is a long distance from the electric motor;   pressurizing a fluid with the pump to form a pressurized fluid; and   fracturing the subterranean formation by directing the pressurized fluid to a wellbore that intersects the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising controlling a speed of the motor with a variable frequency drive. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising performing diagnostics on the electric motor with the variable frequency drive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising increasing a voltage of the electricity proximate the power source with a transformer, and decreasing the voltage of the electricity proximate the electric motor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising suspending electrical communication between the power source and the electric motor with one of a cutout or a switch gear. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the electric motor comprises a first electric motor, the pump comprises a first pump, the wellbore comprises a first wellbore, and the subterranean formation comprises a first subterranean formation, and wherein the step of transmitting electricity to the electric motor comprises transmitting electricity across a transmission section that has an end in electrical communication with the power source, and another end that is in electrical communication with the first electric motor, the method further comprising,
 disconnecting the end of the transmission section that is in communication with the first electric motor and reconnecting that end to a second electric motor is a long distance from the power supply and that is connected to a second pump, and   pressurizing fluid with the second pump and directing the pressurized fluid to a second wellbore for fracturing a second subterranean formation.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the power source comprises a power generation section that includes devices selected from the group consisting of a utility outlet, a turbine generator, and an electrical equipment room.