Method to reduce peak treatment constituents in simultaneous treatment of multiple wells

Abstract

A method of controlling a pumping sequence of a fracturing fleet at a wellsite with three or more wellbores comprising determining first, second, and third pumping sequences for a first, second, and third wellbore. The pumping sequences are comprised of a plurality of pump stages that are intervals based on time or volume. The intervals of the first, second, and third pumping sequences are overlapped into a combined pumping sequence. Each of the plurality of intervals of the modified combined pumping sequence is below an operating limit of at least one fracturing unit of the fracturing fleet. The method can include identifying at least one interval wherein the combined pumping sequence exceeds an operating limit of at least one fracturing unit of the fracturing fleet, wherein the at least one interval of the modified combined pumping sequence is below the operating limit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a pumping sequence of a fracturing fleet at a wellsite comprising: identifying an inventory of fracturing units for a pumping operation on two or more wellbores from a plurality of available fracturing units; comparing the inventory of fracturing units to a combined pumping sequence, wherein the combined pumping sequence includes a pumping sequence for each of the two or more wellbores, wherein each of the two or more wellbores receives the pumping sequence for the each of the two or more wellbores; assigning a plurality of fracturing units to a first pumping group, wherein the first pumping group comprises a blending unit fluidly connected to two or more manifolds, wherein at least one pump is connected to each of the two or more manifolds; connecting each wellbore of the two or more wellbores to one of the two or more manifolds; and offsetting a plurality of intervals from the pumping sequence for one or more of the two or more wellbores from a plurality of intervals of the pumping sequence for one or more other of the two or more wellbores to create a modified combined pumping sequence, wherein the operating limit of the first pumping group is not exceeded. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 identifying an inventory of fracturing units for a pumping operation on a first wellbore, and a second wellbore of the two or more wellbores from the plurality of available fracturing units; 
 comparing the inventory of fracturing units to the combined pumping sequence, wherein the combined pumping sequence includes a first pumping sequence, and a second pumping sequence, wherein the first wellbore receives the first pumping sequence, and wherein the second wellbore receives the second pumping sequence; 
 assigning a plurality of fracturing units to the first pumping group, wherein the first pumping group comprises the blending unit fluidly connected to a first manifold, and a second manifold, wherein at least one pump is connected to the first manifold, and wherein at least one pump is connected to the second manifold; 
 connecting the first wellbore to the first manifold; and connecting the second manifold to the second wellbore; and 
 offsetting a second plurality of intervals from the second pumping sequence from a first plurality of intervals of the first pumping sequence to create the modified combined pumping sequence, wherein the operating limit of the first pumping group is not exceeded. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of assigned fracturing units are assigned to the first fluid group sequentially based on the reliability score beginning with the highest reliability score. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 assigning a plurality of fracturing units to a second pumping group, wherein the second pumping group comprising a clean blender fluidly connected to a third manifold, and a fourth manifold, wherein at least one pump is connected to the third manifold, wherein at least one pump is connected to the fourth manifold, and wherein the clean blender is a mix blender or a boost pump; 
 connecting the first wellbore to the third manifold, wherein the first wellbore receives a portion of treatment fluid from the first manifold and a portion of treatment fluid from the third manifold; and connecting the second wellbore to the fourth manifold, wherein the second wellbore receives a portion of treatment fluid from the second manifold and a portion of treatment fluid from the fourth manifold. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first manifold and third manifold are low pressure side manifolds for a combination manifold, wherein the first wellbore receives the treatment fluid from the unitary combination manifold output; and/or the second manifold and fourth manifold are low pressure side manifolds for a combination manifold, wherein the second wellbore receives the treatment fluid from the unitary combination manifold output. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: assigning a reliability score to the inventory of fracturing units; and assigning fracturing equipment with a higher reliability score to the first pumping group, wherein the reliability score comprises i) age, ii) maintenance schedule, iii) time between rebuilds, or iv) combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising: modifying the modified pumping sequence based on the reliability score of the fracturing units assigned to the first pumping group. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing electronic communication between a managing application and a plurality of fracturing units located at the wellsite;   starting the modified combined pumping sequence, by the managing application; controlling, by the managing application, a group of fracturing units in accordance with each pumping sequence; and   pumping, into each of the two or more wellbores, a well treatment per the pumping sequence for the each of the two or more wellbores.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising: adjusting one or more pumping sequence on-the-fly, while maintaining the at least one interval of the modified combined pumping sequence below the operating limit, wherein adjusting the one or more pumping sequences on-the-fly, while maintaining the at least one interval of the modified combined pumping sequence below the operating limit further comprises increasing or decreasing the pumping rate to one of the two or more wellbores, and concomitantly decreasing or increasing, respectively, the pumping rate to one or more other of the two or more wellbores. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein offsetting the intervals from the pumping sequence of the one or more of the two or more wellbores from the intervals of the pumping sequence of the at least one other of the two or more wellbores to create the modified combined pumping sequence, wherein the at least one interval of the modified combined pumping sequence is below the operating limit further comprises offsetting the intervals from the pumping sequence of the one or more of the two or more wellbores from the intervals of the pumping sequence of the at least one other of the two or more wellbores such that the modified pumping sequence is less variable than the combined pumping sequence. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein offsetting the intervals from the pumping sequence of the one or more of the two or more wellbores from the intervals of the pumping sequence of the at least one other of the two or more wellbores to create the modified combined pumping sequence, wherein the at least one interval of the modified combined pumping sequence is below the operating limit further comprises introducing additional transition time between one or more interval and a subsequent interval of the pumping sequence of the at least one other of the two or more wellbores. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein each of the plurality of intervals of the modified combined pumping sequence minimizes an operating parameter of the at least one fracturing unit of the fracturing fleet, optionally wherein the operating parameter comprises a total flow rate; and/or   wherein the modified combined pumping sequence is below the operating limit for an entire duration of simultaneous treatment of the two or more wellbores.   
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling a pumping sequence of a fracturing fleet at a wellsite, comprising:
 determining a pumping sequence for each of two or more wellbores, wherein each pumping sequence comprises a plurality of intervals;   combining the pumping sequences for each of the two or more wellbores into a combined pumping sequence, wherein the plurality of intervals of the pumping sequence of each of the two or more wellbores overlap; and   temporally offsetting the intervals from the pumping sequence of one or more of the two or more wellbores from the intervals of the pumping sequence of at least one other of the two or more wellbores to create a modified combined pumping sequence,   wherein temporally offsetting the intervals from the pumping sequence of the one or more of the two or more wellbores from the intervals of the pumping sequence of the at least one other of the two or more wellbores to create the modified combined pumping sequence further comprises temporally offsetting the intervals from the pumping sequence of the one or more of the two or more wellbores from the intervals of the pumping sequence of the at least one other of the two or more wellbores such that the modified pumping sequence exhibits less variability in the operating parameter than the combined pumping sequence, wherein adjusting the one or more pumping sequences on-the-fly, while maintaining the at least one interval of the modified combined pumping sequence below the operating limit further comprises increasing or decreasing an operating parameter, and concomitantly decreasing or increasing, respectively, the operating parameter to one or more other of the two or more wellbores, and   wherein each of the plurality of intervals of the modified combined pumping sequence is below an operating limit of an operating parameter of at least one fracturing unit of the fracturing fleet, wherein the at least one fracturing unit comprises a fracturing pump, a manifold, a blending unit, a hydration blender, a proppant storage unit, a chemical unit, or a water supply unit.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein temporally offsetting the intervals from the pumping sequence of the one or more of the two or more wellbores from the intervals of the pumping sequence of the at least one other of the two or more wellbores to create the modified combined pumping sequence further comprises introducing additional transition time between one or more interval and a subsequent interval of the pumping sequence of the at least one other of the two or more wellbores. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein offsetting the intervals comprises starting a modified interval of a second pumping sequence after a portion of the first pumping sequence finishes, wherein the interval comprises a volume of fluid or a time property of the modified combined pumping sequence. 
     
     
         16 . A fracturing fleet system at a wellsite comprising:
 a first pumping group comprising a blender fluidly connected to a first manifold, and a second manifold, wherein at least one pump is connected to the first manifold, and wherein at least one pump is connected to the second manifold;   a first wellbore fluidly connected to the first manifold;   a second wellbore fluidly connected to the second manifold;   a managing application, executing on a computer system, controlling a plurality of fracturing units, wherein the managing application is communicatively connected to the fracturing units via a plurality of unit control modules, and wherein the plurality of unit control modules are configured to control the fracturing units;   wherein the managing application is configured to perform the following:
 loading a first pumping sequence for a first wellbore, wherein the first pumping sequence comprises a plurality of intervals; 
 loading a second pumping sequence for a second wellbore, wherein the second pumping sequence comprises a plurality of intervals; 
 combining the first pumping sequence, and the second pumping sequence into a combined pumping sequence, wherein the first plurality of intervals, and the second plurality of intervals at least partially overlap; and 
 temporally offsetting the intervals of the first pumping sequence, and the second pumping sequence to create a modified combined pumping sequence, wherein each of the plurality of intervals of the modified combined pumping sequence is below an operating limit of an operating parameter at least one fracturing unit of the fracturing fleet, wherein the at least one fracturing unit comprises a fracturing pump, a manifold, a blending unit, a hydration blender, a proppant storage unit, a chemical unit, or a water supply unit. 
   
     
     
         17 . The fracturing fleet system of  claim 16  further comprising: a second pumping group comprising a clean blender fluidly connected to a third manifold, and a fourth manifold, wherein at least one pump is connected to the third manifold, at least one pump is connected to the fourth manifold, and the clean blender is a mixing blender or a boost pump; the first wellbore fluidly connected to the third manifold; and the second wellbore fluidly connected to the fourth manifold. 
     
     
         18 . The fracturing fleet system of  claim 17 , wherein: the first wellbore receives a portion of treatment fluid from the first manifold and a portion of treatment fluid from the third manifold; and the second wellbore receives a portion of treatment fluid from the second manifold and a portion of treatment fluid from the fourth manifold. 
     
     
         19 . The fracturing fleet system of  claim 16 , wherein the first wellbore receives proppant slurry from the first manifold, and the second wellbore receives proppant slurry from the second manifold,. 
     
     
         20 . The fracturing fleet system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of intervals of the modified combined pumping sequence is below a preselected operating limit of the operating parameter at least one fracturing unit of the fracturing fleet, wherein the preselected operating limit is below an ultimate maximum capability of the at least one fracturing unit, or minimizes the operating parameter of at least one fracturing unit of the fracturing fleet.