Well fracture systems and methods

Abstract

A method for performing simultaneous operations at a wellsite comprising two or more adjacent wellheads, each respectively connected to a well, may include the following steps: providing a fluid supply via upstream equipment to an intermediate supply point; fluidly connecting the intermediate supply point to a single wellhead, the fluidly connecting comprising connecting a first end of a flexible pipe to the intermediate supply point and a second end of the flexible pipe to a first wellhead; performing a wellbore operation on a first well using the fluid supply from the upstream equipment supplied to the first wellhead; disconnecting the second end of the flexible pipe from the first wellhead; and connecting the second end of the flexible pipe to a second wellhead.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing simultaneous operations at a wellsite comprising two or more adjacent wellheads, each respectively connected to a well, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid supply via upstream equipment to an intermediate supply point;   fluidly connecting the intermediate supply point to a single wellhead, the fluidly connecting comprising connecting a first end of a flexible pipe to the intermediate supply point and a second end of the flexible pipe to a first wellhead;   performing a wellbore operation on a first well using the fluid supply from the upstream equipment supplied to the first wellhead;   disconnecting the second end of the flexible pipe from the first wellhead; and   connecting the second end of the flexible pipe to a second wellhead.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pipe is capable of retaining a fluid supply having a pressure in the range of 5000 psia to 15000 psia. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising concurrently performing (i) the wellbore operation on the first well and (ii) a wellbore operation on a second of the two or more wells, wherein the fluid supply is incapable of being provided to the second wellhead. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the wellbore operation on the first well comprises a fracturing operation and the fluid supply comprises a fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the wellbore operation on the second of the two or more wells comprises a wireline operation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a wellbore operation on the second well using the fluid supply from the upstream equipment supplied to the second wellhead. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising concurrently performing (iii) the wellbore operation on the second well and (iv) a wellbore operation on another of the two or more wells, wherein the fluid supply is incapable of being provided to the another of the two or more wells. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the wellbore operation on the second well comprises a fracturing operation and the fluid supply comprises a fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the wellbore operation on the another of the two or more wells comprises a wireline operation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, following the disconnecting the second end of the flexible pipe from the first wellhead and prior to connecting the second end of the flexible pipe to the second wellhead, moving the second end of the flexible pipe from a position proximate the first wellhead to a position proximate the second wellhead. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the moving comprises:
 connecting a crane to a connection point proximate the second end of the flexible pipe;   translating the second end from the position proximate the first wellhead to the position proximate the second wellhead via the crane.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising lifting the second end of the flexible pipe and contacting the second end with a guide system configured to align the second end of the flexible pipe with a second wellhead connection point. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the moving comprises:
 withdrawing the second end of the flexible pipe from a cradle proximate a first wellhead connection point;   disposing the second end of the flexible pipe in a cradle proximate a second wellhead connection point;   wherein each cradle comprises a guide for alignment of the second end of the flexible pipe with the respective wellhead connection point.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disposing a portion of the flexible pipe on a movable cart. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the moving comprises moving the movable cart from a position proximate the first wellhead to a position proximate the second wellhead. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upstream equipment comprises pump trucks, the method further comprising increasing a pressure of a fracturing fluid to a pressure in the range of 5000 psia to 15000 psia and providing a flow of the fracturing fluid to the intermediate supply point. 
     
     
         17 . A system for performing operations on adjacent wells, comprising:
 two or more pump trucks;   a pump manifold consolidating a flow of fluid from the two or more pump trucks;   two or more wellheads; and   one or both of:   a flexible pipe fluidly connecting the pump manifold to a single one of the two or more wellheads;   a flexible pipe fluidly connecting, respectively, a high pressure outlet of each of the two or more pump trucks to the pump manifold.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the pump manifold is not fluidly connected to a second of the two or more wellheads. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein an isolation valve is disposed between an outlet of the pump manifold and the flexible pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein an isolation valve is disposed between an end of the flexible pipe and the wellhead. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a cradle proximate a connection point of each of the two or more wellheads, wherein the cradles are configured to guide an end of the flexible pipe into alignment with the connection point of a respective wellhead. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible pipes connecting the high pressure outlet of the pump trucks to the pump manifold each comprise a section disposed in an S-shape. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible pipe connecting the pump manifold to the single one of the two or more wellheads comprises a section disposed in an S-shape. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a wireline operation system connected to a second of the two or more wellheads. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a goat head or Christmas tree disposed on the wellhead for facilitating a fluid connection between an end of the flexible pipe and the wellhead. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the goat head or Christmas tree comprises a fluid connection terminating in a downward facing wellhead connection point configured to connect to an end of the flexible pipe. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the downward facing connection point is at an angle from 0 to 50 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the downward facing connection point is at an elevation of less than 7 feet from ground level. 
     
     
         29 . A system for performing concurrent operations on adjacent wells, comprising:
 a first wellbore operation system for performing an operation on a first of the adjacent wells; and   a wellbore fracture operation system for performing a fracturing operation on a second of the adjacent wells, the wellbore fracture operation system comprising:   two or more pump trucks;   a pump manifold consolidating a flow of fluid from the two or more pump trucks;   a flexible pipe fluidly connecting the pump manifold to a single one of the adjacent wells.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a cart having a portion of the flexible pipe disposed thereon. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the cart further comprises a (hydraulic) system for moving an end of the flexible pipe toward and away from a well connection point to facilitate alignment and make-up of the connection. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a track, wherein the cart may translate along the track. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein a path of the track is similar to an arrangement of the adjacent wells. 
     
     
         34 . A system for performing operations on adjacent wells, comprising:
 two or more pump trucks;   a pump manifold consolidating a flow of fluid from the two or more pump trucks;   two or more wellheads;   a skid positioned between the pump manifold and the two or more wellheads, the skid comprising
 a movable structure coupled to the skid and movable in a pre-defined pathway; 
 two or more valves coupled to the skid and positioned to mimic the predefined pathway, each valve comprising an upstream connector point coupled to a different one of the two or more wellheads and a downstream connector point; 
   a flexible connection line coupled at a first end to the pump manifold or to an isolation valve coupled to the pump manifold and coupled proximate a second end to the movable structure;   wherein, when the movable structure is moved in the pre-defined pathway, the second end of the flexible connection line is positioned proximate only one of the two or more valves at a time.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , further comprising two or more flexible lines connecting the upstream connector of the two or more valves to a different one of the two or more wellheads. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the skid further comprises a hydraulic or mechanical apparatus connector to the movable structure to place the second end of the flexible connection line into sealing engagement with one of the downstream connector points and to retract the second end of the flexible connection line from one of the downstream connector points to facilitate movement of the second end of the flexible connection line proximate a different one of the downstream connector points. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising a cradle proximate a connection point of each of the two or more wellheads, wherein the cradles are configured to guide an end of the two or more flexible lines into alignment with the connection point of a respective wellhead. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible connection line comprises a section disposed in an S-shape. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 34 , further comprising a goat head or Christmas tree disposed on the wellhead for facilitating a fluid connection between an end of the flexible pipe and the wellhead. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the goat head or Christmas tree comprises a fluid connection terminating in a downward facing wellhead connection point configured to connect to an end of the two or more flexible lines. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the downward facing connection point is at an angle from 0 to 50 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the downward facing connection point is at an elevation of less than 7 feet from ground level. 
     
     
         43 . A method for performing simultaneous operations at a wellsite comprising two or more adjacent wellheads, each respectively connected to a well, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid supply via upstream equipment;   connecting a first end of a flexible pipe to the upstream equipment;   positioning a portion of the flexible pipe on a movable structure with a predefined pathway;   moving the movable structure along the predefined pathway to align a second end of the flexible pipe with and sealingly secure to an end of a first fluid conduit in fluid communication with only a first wellhead, thereby establishing fluid communication between the fluid supply and only the first wellhead;   disconnecting the second end from the end of the first fluid conduit;   moving the movable structure along the predefined pathway to align the second end of the flexible pipe with and sealingly secure to an end of a second fluid conduit in fluid communication with only a second wellhead, thereby establishing fluid communication between the fluid supply and only the second wellhead.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the flexible pipe is capable of retaining a fluid supply having a pressure in the range of 5000 psia to 15000 psia. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein
 the first fluid conduit in fluid communication with only the first wellhead comprises a first flexible pipe coupled to the wellhead at a first end and a first valve at a second end, and
 the second end of the flexible pipe is sealingly secured to the valve. 
   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising the step of connecting the first end of the first flexible pipe to the first wellhead. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein connecting the first end of the first flexible pipe to the first wellhead comprising lifting the first end of the flexible pipe and contacting the first end with a guide system configured to align the first end of the flexible pipe with a wellhead connection point.