Oil and gas zipper manifold

Abstract

A fluid conduit communicates fluid between a zipper leg and an oil and gas wellhead. The fluid conduit may be completely flexible, completely rigid, or partially flexible and partially rigid. The fluid conduit is coupled to the wellhead via a first flow block. The first flow block may include a first downwardly angled surface through which a first downwardly angled flow passage extends and to which a first end portion of the fluid conduit is connected. Similarly, the fluid conduit is coupled to the zipper leg via a second flow block. The second flow block may include a second downwardly angled surface through which a second downwardly angled flow passage extends and to which the fluid conduit is connected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 one or more zipper legs, each including a first flow block;   one or more wellheads, each including a second flow block; and   one or more first fluid conduits, each connecting the first flow block of one the zipper leg(s) to the second flow block of one of the wellhead(s);   wherein:   (i) at least one of the zipper leg(s) includes a first swivel assembly; and
 at least a portion of the first fluid conduit connected to the first flow block of the at least one of the zipper leg(s) is flexible; 
   (ii) at least one of the wellhead(s) includes a second swivel assembly; and
 at least a portion of the first fluid conduit connected to the second flow block of the at least one of the wellhead(s) is flexible; 
   or   (iii) both (i) and (ii).   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein (iii). 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein (ii). 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein (i). 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the zipper leg(s) is supported by a skid including legs each having an adjustable length. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more zipper legs comprise first and second zipper legs;
 wherein a second fluid conduit is connected between the first and second zipper legs; and   wherein the second fluid conduit is supported by a stand including legs each having an adjustable length and/or having an adjustable angle therebetween.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow block of at least one of the zipper leg(s) comprises:
 a side surface;   a first flow passage via which the first flow block is in fluid communication with the at least one of the zipper leg(s), the first flow passage extending through the side surface;   an angled surface that is angled relative to the side surface; and   a second flow passage via which the first fluid conduit connected to the first flow block of the at least one of the zipper leg(s) is in fluid communication with the at least one of the zipper leg(s), the second flow passage extending through the angled surface.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second flow block of at least one of the wellhead(s) comprises:
 a side surface;   a first flow passage via which the second flow block is in fluid communication with the at least one of the wellhead(s), the first flow passage extending through the side surface;   an angled surface that is angled relative to the side surface; and   a second flow passage via which the first fluid conduit connected to the second flow block of the at least one of the wellhead(s) is in fluid communication with the at least one of the wellhead(s), the second flow passage extending through the angled surface.   
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 one or more zipper legs, each including a first flow block;   one or more wellheads, each including a second flow block; and   one or more first fluid conduits, each connecting the first flow block of one the zipper leg(s) to the second flow block of one of the wellhead(s);   wherein:   (i) the first flow block of at least one of the zipper leg(s) comprises:
 a first side surface; 
 a first flow passage via which the first flow block is in fluid communication with the at least one of the zipper leg(s), the first flow passage extending through the first side surface; 
 a first angled surface that is angled relative to the first side surface; and 
 a second flow passage via which the first fluid conduit connected to the first flow block of the at least one of the zipper leg(s) is in fluid communication with the at least one of the zipper leg(s), the second flow passage extending through the first angled surface; 
   (ii) the second flow block of at least one of the wellhead(s) comprises:
 a second side surface; 
 a first flow passage via which the second flow block is in fluid communication with the at least one of the wellhead(s), the first flow passage extending through the second side surface; 
 a second angled surface that is angled relative to the second side surface; and 
 a second flow passage via which the first fluid conduit connected to the second flow block of the at least one of the wellhead(s) is in fluid communication with the at least one of the wellhead(s), the second flow passage extending through the second angled surface; 
   or   (iii) both (i) and (ii).   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein (iii). 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein (i); and
 wherein at least a portion of the first fluid conduit connected to the first flow block of the at least one of the zipper leg(s) is flexible.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the zipper leg(s) is supported by a skid including legs each having an adjustable length. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the zipper leg(s) includes a swivel assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second flow passage angles downwardly from the first flow passage. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein (ii); and
 wherein at least a portion of the first fluid conduit connected to the second flow block of the at least one of the wellhead(s) is flexible.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the wellhead(s) includes a swivel assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the fourth flow passage angles downwardly from the third flow passage. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more zipper legs comprise first and second zipper legs;
 wherein a second fluid conduit is connected between the first and second zipper legs; and   wherein the second fluid conduit is supported by a stand including legs each having an adjustable length and/or having an adjustable angle therebetween.   
     
     
         19 . A zipper leg adapted to be connected to a wellhead via a fluid conduit, the zipper leg comprising:
 a flow block, the flow block comprising:
 a side surface; 
 a first flow passage via which the flow block is adapted to be in fluid communication with the zipper leg, the first flow passage extending through the side surface; 
 an angled surface to which the fluid conduit is adapted to be connected, the angled surface being angled relative to the side surface; and 
 a second flow passage via which the zipper leg is adapted to be in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, the second flow passage extending through the angled surface. 
   
     
     
         20 . The zipper leg of  claim 19 , wherein the zipper leg is supported by a skid including legs each having an adjustable length. 
     
     
         21 . The zipper leg of  claim 19 , further comprising a swivel assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The zipper leg of  claim 19 , wherein the second flow passage of the flow block angles downwardly from the first flow passage.