Abstract: Crankshaft and connecting rod assemblies for hydraulic fracturing pumps and related methods may enhance the flow of fracturing fluid into a wellhead during a high-pressure fracturing operation. The assemblies and methods may include a crankshaft having a crankpin between first and second journals. The crankpin may include first and second longitudinally spaced ridges at least partially extending circumferentially around the crankpin. The assemblies and methods further may include first and second connecting rods connected to the crankpin. The first connecting rod may include first and second crankpin connectors connected to the crankpin and at least partially defining therebetween a connecting rod clearance between and positioned to at least partially receive therein an end of a second connecting rod. The assemblies and methods also may include first and second rod clamps connected to the first crankpin connector, thereby to rotatably connect the first and second connecting rods to the crankpin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for exchanging fracturing components of a hydraulic fracturing unit and may include an exchangeable fracturing component section to facilitate quickly exchanging a fracturing component of a hydraulic fracturing unit. The fracturing component section may include a section frame including a base, and a fracturing component connected to the base. The fracturing component section also may include a component electrical assembly and a component fluid assembly connected to the section frame. The fracturing component section further may include a coupling plate connected to the section frame. The fracturing component section also may include one or more of a plurality of quick-connect electrical couplers or a plurality of quick-connect fluid couplers connected to a coupling plate.

Abstract: A pump system may include a pump, a driveshaft, driving equipment, and a vibration dampening assembly configured to reduce pump-imposed high frequency/low amplitude and low frequency/high amplitude torsional vibrations. The pump may have an input shaft connected to the driveshaft. The driving equipment may include an output shaft having an output flange connected to the driveshaft. The driving equipment may be configured to rotate the driveshaft to rotate the input shaft of the pump therewith. The vibration dampening assembly may include one or more flywheels operably connected to the input shaft and configured to rotate therewith.

Abstract: Systems and methods to pump fracturing fluid into a wellhead may include a gas turbine engine including a compressor turbine shaft connected to a compressor, and a power turbine output shaft connected to a power turbine. The compressor turbine shaft and the power turbine output shaft may be rotatable at different rotational speeds. The systems may also include a transmission including a transmission input shaft connected to the power turbine output shaft and a transmission output shaft connected to a hydraulic fracturing pump. The systems may also include a fracturing unit controller configured to control one or more of the rotational speeds of the compressor turbine shaft, the power turbine output shaft, or the transmission output shaft based at least in part on target signals and fluid flow signals indicative of one or more of pressure or flow rate associated with fracturing fluid pumped into the wellhead.

Abstract: A safety plug for a female welding lead connector configured to remain tethered to the female welding lead connector and including a male head configured in the shape of a male end of a male welding lead connector so that the male head of the safety plug can be inserted into a female welding lead connector, rotated, and secured in place inside a female welding lead connector in the same manner as a male welding lead connector.

Abstract: An exhaust energy recovery system (EERS) and associated methods for an engine are disclosed. An embodiment of an EERS, for example, includes an inlet duct that is configured to divert exhaust gas from an exhaust duct of the engine into the recovery system and an outlet duct configured to return the exhaust gas to the exhaust duct downstream of the inlet duct. The recovery system is configured to heat components or fluids associated with engine to operating temperatures. The recovery system may be part of a mobile power system that is mounted to a single trailer and includes an engine and a power unit such as a high pressure pump or generator mounted to the trailer. Methods of operating and purging recovery systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, assemblies, and methods to enhance the efficiency of operation of a gas turbine engine may include a turbine housing positioned to at least partially enclose the gas turbine engine, and a filtration assembly connected to the turbine housing to supply at least partially filtered intake air to an air inlet assembly associated with the gas turbine engine. The filtration assembly may include one or more inertial separators configured to separate a first portion of particles, liquids, and/or combinations thereof from ambient air supplied to the gas turbine engine, thereby to provide at least partially filtered intake air, and one or more filters positioned downstream of the one or more inertial separators to separate a second portion of the particles, liquids, and/or combinations thereof from the at least partially filtered intake air.

Abstract: A screw lock kit and apparatus including three hollow members for securing welding lead connectors together wherein a first hollow member is held against a second hollow member by engagement of a third hollow member with the second hollow member. A method for securing welding lead connectors together using the screw lock apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method of enhancing operation of hydraulic fracturing equipment at a hydraulic fracturing wellsite may include determining if a hydraulic fracturing stage profiles are available for use for hydraulic fracturing equipment at a wellsite. The method may include prompting an acceptance or amendment of one of the hydraulic fracturing stage profiles for a hydraulic fracturing pumping stage. The method may include, in response to an amendment of one of the hydraulic fracturing stage profiles, prompting acceptance of the amended hydraulic fracturing stage profile as the current hydraulic fracturing stage profile for use in association with the controller. The method may include, when a hydraulic fracturing stage profile is not available, prompting configuration of hydraulic fracturing pumping stage parameters for the current hydraulic fracturing stage profile.

Abstract: A low-pressure natural gas harvesting system that injects motive fluid into a first well by a compressor, which flows into a motive manifold that utilizes the Coand? effect to introduce a reduced pressure effect. The reduced pressure effect draws natural gas into the system from natural gas reservoirs through one or more inflow ports that are part of inflow manifolds, which may connect to a motive manifold. The natural gas and motive fluid mix after the motive fluid flows over a Coand? effect surface and the mixture is subsequently directed to flow to a production well.

Abstract: An apparatus for locking electrical connectors together and for protecting such electrical connectors. A method of locking electrical connectors together.

Abstract: Aqueous treatment compositions for crude oil and/or petroleum distillates to remove sulfur compounds therefrom and treatment methods using such compositions are disclosed. The composition has less than 0.5% wt/wt di- or tri-benzohydroxy compound, a strong base, less than 1% wt/wt divalent metal gluconate, a balance of water, and a pH that is 9 or greater. The treatment method includes adding said treatment composition to crude oil or a petroleum distillate to form a mixture having 0.001% to 0.02% wt di- or tri-benzohydroxy compound/wt oil and 0.001% to 0.03% wt divalent metal gluconate/wt oil and mixing the same together.

Abstract: An expandable reel for a well system includes a support frame configured to receive a torque from a motor a plurality of circumferentially spaced spokes each extending radially away from a central axis of the expandable reel, a core assembly configured to couple to the support frame and receive a tubular of the well system about an outer surface of the core assembly, wherein the core assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced panel assemblies each extending longitudinally between opposed ends thereof that are in sliding engagement with the plurality of spokes, and a linear actuator coupled between the support frame and the core assembly and configured to actuate the core assembly, including the plurality of panel assemblies, between a first configuration providing a first outer diameter and a second configuration providing a second outer diameter that is different from the first outer diameter.

Abstract: A fluid flow turbine blade assembly for a turbine rotor includes a blade and a deflector extending spanwise along at least a portion of the blade. At least a portion of an upstream surface of the deflector, along at least a portion of a span of the deflector, has a concave shape in a chordwise direction such that at least a portion of a chord line between leading and trailing edges of the deflector is disposed outside a profile defined between the upstream surface and a downstream surface of the deflector. The deflector has a substantially uniform thickness or a chord-wise varying thickness between the upstream surface and the downstream surface. The deflector alters fluid flow over the blade so as to increase the blade's contribution to global torque generated by the assembly so that, with the deflector's torque contribution, the global torque of the assembly is greater than the global torque that would be generated by the blade alone without the benefit of the deflector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating hydraulic fracturing units to pump fracturing fluid into a wellhead may include receiving a target flow rate and/or a target pressure for fracturing fluid supplied to the wellhead. The systems and methods may increase a flow rate from the hydraulic fracturing units according to a controlled increasing flow rate schedule toward the target flow rate and/or target pressure. When it has been determined the target flow rate and/or target pressure has been achieved, the systems and methods also may include operating the hydraulic fracturing units to maintain the target flow rate and/or target pressure. When the target flow rate has not been achieved, the systems and methods also may include generating notification signals, and/or when the target pressure has not been achieved, the systems and methods further may include operating the hydraulic fracturing units to maintain a maximum flow rate.

Abstract: A methods and system to operate hydraulic fracturing units may include utilizing hydraulic fracturing unit profiles. The system may include hydraulic fracturing units may include various components. The components may include an engine and associated local controller and sensors, a transmission connected to the engine, transmission sensors, and a pump connected to the transmission and powered by the engine via the transmission and associated local controller and sensors. A supervisory controller may control the hydraulic fracturing units. The supervisory controller may be in communication with components of each hydraulic fracturing unit. The supervisory controller may include instructions to, for each hydraulic fracturing units, obtain hydraulic fracturing unit parameters, determine a hydraulic fracturing unit health assessment, and build a hydraulic unit profile including the health assessment and parameters.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and controllers for detecting and mitigating well screen outs may include a controller configured to operate a fracturing pump to supply fluid at a discharge rate to a wellhead at a fracturing well site. The controller may also operate a blender positioned to deliver a blend of proppant and fluid to the fracturing pump. The controller may compare a fluid pressure increase rate to a preselected increase rate indicative of a potential well screen out. The controller may incrementally decrease the discharge rate of the fracturing pump and a flow rate of a blender when the fluid pressure increase rate of the wellhead exceeds the preselected increase rate and the fluid pressure is within a preselected percentage of a maximum wellhead pressure until the fluid pressure of the fluid supplied to the wellhead is stabilized.

Abstract: Methods and systems for supply of fuel for a turbine-driven fracturing pump system used in hydraulic fracturing may be configured to identify when the supply pressure of primary fuel to a plurality of gas turbine engines of a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units falls below a set point, identify a gas turbine engine of the fleet of hydraulic fracturing units operating on primary fuel with highest amount of secondary fuel available, and to selectively transfer the gas turbine engine operating on primary fuel with the highest amount of secondary fuel from primary fuel operation to secondary fuel operation. Some methods and systems may be configured to transfer all gas turbine engines to secondary fuel operation and individually and/or sequentially restore operation to primary fuel operation and/or to manage primary fuel operation and/or secondary fuel operation for portions of the plurality of gas turbine engines.