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.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods disclosed provide a hydraulic fracturing unit that includes a reciprocating plunger pump configured to pump a fracturing fluid and a powertrain configured to power the reciprocating plunger pump. The powertrain includes a prime mover and a drivetrain, the prime mover including a gas turbine engine. The hydraulic fracturing unit also includes auxiliary equipment configured to support operation of the hydraulic fracturing unit including the reciprocating plunger pump and the powertrain. A power system is configured to power the auxiliary equipment. The power system includes a power source and a power network. The power source is configured to generate power for the auxiliary equipment. The power network is coupled to the power source and the auxiliary equipment, and configured to deliver the power generated by the power source to the auxiliary equipment. Associated systems including a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units are also provided.

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: Methods, systems, and devices to enhance fracturing fluid delivery to subsurface formations to enhance hydrocarbon production from the subsurface formations may include providing a manifold coupling having a manifold coupling passage with a manifold coupling axis. The manifold coupling may include a first inlet passage positioned to provide fluid flow between a first fracturing fluid output and the manifold coupling passage, and a second inlet passage positioned opposite the first inlet passage to provide fluid flow between a second fracturing fluid output and the manifold coupling passage. The first inlet passage may have a first inlet passage cross-section at least partially defining a first inlet axis extending transverse relative to the manifold coupling axis. The second inlet passage may have a second inlet passage cross-section at least partially defining a second inlet axis extending transverse relative to the manifold coupling axis and not being co-linear with the first inlet axis.

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: An apparatus for locking air hose couplings together, such apparatus including flexible inserts wherein the apparatus is configured for holding and locking air hose couplings of different sizes. A method of locking air hose couplings together using an apparatus for locking air hose couplings together, such apparatus including flexible inserts wherein the apparatus is configured for holding and locking air hose couplings of different sizes.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for air recovery are disclosed. The diverted pressurized air may be used to supply a hydrostatic purge to the unutilized portion of a turbine engine fuel manifold circuit to ensure that exhaust gases from the utilized side of the fuel manifold circuit do not enter the portion of the alternative fuel manifold circuit rack. The assembly used to remove compressor section pressurized air may include a flow control orifice, line pressure measuring instrumentation, non-return valves, isolation valves and hard stainless-steel tubing assemblies. In some embodiments, a turbine compressor section diverter system may include a small air receiver used to increase the volume of air supplying the manifold to aid in potential pressure and flow disruptions from a turbine engine compressor section.

Abstract: Systems and methods to enhance the flow of fracturing fluid into a wellhead during a high-pressure fracturing operation may include providing a pump frame and a crankshaft. A plurality of first plungers may be connected to the crankshaft and may reciprocate in a first plane. The hydraulic fracturing pump also may include a plurality of second plungers connected to the crankshaft and positioned to reciprocate in a second plane. The first plane and the second plane may define a non-zero offset angle between the first plane and the second plane. The crankshaft may include a plurality of crankpins, and each of the crankpins may be connected to one of the first plungers and one of the second plungers. The first plungers may pump a first fracturing fluid and the second plungers may pump a second fracturing fluid different from the first fracturing fluid.

Abstract: Aqueous well treatment fluids especially suited for use in far field diversion in low viscosity carrier fluids comprise water, a friction reducer, and a diverter. The diverter comprises dissolvable particulates and proppants. The dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity of from about 0.9 to about 1.6 and a particle size of about 50 mesh or less. The proppants have a specific gravity of from about 0.9 to about 1.4 and a particle size of from about 20 to about 100 mesh. The dissolvable particulates have a higher specific gravity and a smaller particle size than the proppant.

Abstract: Systems and methods to increase intake air flow to a gas turbine engine of a hydraulic fracturing unit when positioned in an enclosure may include providing an intake expansion assembly to enhance intake air flow to the gas turbine engine. The intake expansion assembly may include an intake expansion wall defining a plurality of intake ports positioned to supply intake air to the gas turbine engine. The intake expansion assembly also may include one or more actuators connected to a main housing of the enclosure and the intake expansion assembly. The one or more actuators may be positioned to cause the intake expansion wall to move relative to the main housing between a first position preventing air flow through the plurality of intake ports and a second position providing air flow through the plurality of intake ports to an interior of the enclosure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying primary fuel and secondary fuel to an internal combustion engine may include supplying a first amount of the primary fuel and a second amount of the secondary fuel to the internal combustion engine. The system may include a first manifold to provide primary fuel to the internal combustion engine, and a primary valve associated with the first manifold to provide fluid flow between a primary fuel source and the internal combustion engine. A second manifold may provide secondary fuel to the internal combustion engine, and a fuel pump and/or a secondary valve may provide fluid flow between a secondary fuel source and the internal combustion engine. A controller may determine a total power load, the first amount of primary fuel, and the second amount of secondary fuel to supply to the internal combustion engine to meet the total power load.

Abstract: Implementations are directed to achieving a real-time and distributed control solution that can at least selectively achieve a deterministic flow of power at a virtual point of interconnection (vPOI) of a virtual microgrid, where there is limited or no power measurement data available at the vPOI. Some of those implementations are directed to automatically generating virtual microgrids for a power network, optionally including generating additional and/or alternative virtual microgrids in response to transient and/or persistent changes to the power network. Some of those implementations are additionally or alternatively directed to dynamic control of a virtual microgrid to achieve the deterministic flow of power at the vPOI thereof.

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: A sand removal system configured to remove sand from a casing installed within a producing wellbore. The system utilizes a bottom hole assembly comprising a check valve sub and at least one sand removal tool. A swab cup installed within a vertical section the casing is used to create a pressure differential around the bottom hole assembly, causing fluid and sand to flow at a high velocity into the sand removal tool. The sand is caused to flow upstream where is later removed from the wellbore.

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.

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: Systems and methods to enhance the flow of fracturing fluid into a wellhead during a high-pressure fracturing operation may include providing a pump frame and a crankshaft. A plurality of first plungers may be connected to the crankshaft and may reciprocate in a first plane. The hydraulic fracturing pump also may include a plurality of second plungers connected to the crankshaft and positioned to reciprocate in a second plane. The first plane and the second plane may define a non-zero offset angle between the first plane and the second plane. The crankshaft may include a plurality of crankpins, and each of the crankpins may be connected to one of the first plungers and one of the second plungers. The first plungers may pump a first fracturing fluid and the second plungers may pump a second fracturing fluid different from the first fracturing fluid.

Abstract: A tool for cleaning out the lower end of a cased wellbore having an installed production string. The tool is lowered down the production string until it projects from an end of the production string and into the wellbore. High pressure fluid is then sprayed from the tool's fluid openings into nearby portions of the wellbore. Once cleaning operations are complete, the tool is carried back to the ground surface using subterranean fluid pressure.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods disclosed provide a hydraulic fracturing unit that includes a reciprocating plunger pump configured to pump a fracturing fluid and a powertrain configured to power the reciprocating plunger pump. The powertrain includes a prime mover and a drivetrain, the prime mover including a gas turbine engine. The hydraulic fracturing unit also includes auxiliary equipment configured to support operation of the hydraulic fracturing unit including the reciprocating plunger pump and the powertrain. A power system is configured to power the auxiliary equipment. The power system includes a power source and a power network. The power source is configured to generate power for the auxiliary equipment. The power network is coupled to the power source and the auxiliary equipment, and configured to deliver the power generated by the power source to the auxiliary equipment. Associated systems including a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units are also provided.