Abstract: A system that permits fracturing pumps such as, for example, at least first and second fracturing pumps, each carried on a truck, to be connected to, and disconnected from, respective connection points on a fracturing manifold while fracturing fluid in the fracturing manifold is at pressure, in certain instances at or near fracturing pressure, and/or while other(s) of the fracturing pumps are being operated to pump fracturing fluid.

Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing plan executable by a hydraulic fracturing system to hydraulically fracture at least first and second wells. In one or more embodiments, executing the hydraulic fracturing plan includes opening a first valve while hydraulic fracturing fluid is communicated to the second well via a second valve and a manifold, the first valve being associated with both the first well and the manifold, and the second valve being associated with both the second well and the manifold. In one or more embodiments, executing the hydraulic fracturing plan further includes closing the second valve, wherein the second valve is closed after opening the first valve, and while hydraulic fracturing fluid is communicated to the first well via the first valve and the manifold.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system according to which a discharge manifold is pressurized by at least a first fracturing pump, said discharge manifold being adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to an oil and gas wellbore.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for bleeding off a hydraulic fracturing manifold used in oil and gas extraction operations.

Abstract: System, apparatus, and method for delivering grease to process valve(s). The system generally includes a grease cylinder to which grease is delivered, a piston, an actuator, and a first process valve. The piston extends at least partially within the grease cylinder. The actuator strokes the piston within the grease cylinder to meter a first amount of the delivered grease to the first process valve. The actuator comprises a power cylinder within which the piston extends. The piston comprises a head portion slidably disposed in the power cylinder and dividing the power cylinder into first and second chambers. The head portion has a first cross-sectional area. The piston includes another portion contacting the grease in the grease cylinder and having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The actuator may also meter a second amount of the delivered grease to a second process valve.

Abstract: A system and methods according to which a controller communicates control signals to a first frac leg, which includes a wellhead operably associated with a first wellbore, a valve operably coupled to the wellhead, opposite the first wellbore, a frac line operably coupled to the wellhead, and a zipper module operably coupled to the frac line, opposite the wellhead. The first frac leg includes a first sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A grease system lubricates the first frac leg and the zipper module. The grease system includes a second sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A second frac leg is operably associated with a second wellbore. The second frac leg includes a third sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. The first, second, and/or third sub-controllers may receive control signals from the controller via a communication bus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to which a first valve is opened, or kept open, the first valve being part of a wellhead including a flow component above the first valve. The method may further include detecting a state of the first valve and, in response to detecting the state of the first valve, metering an amount of grease to the first valve. In addition, or instead, the method may further include opening, or keeping open, a second valve, the second valve being operably coupled to the wellhead and positioned above the flow component, and, after opening, or keeping open, each of the first and second valves, detecting whether the second valve is open or closed, in response to detecting that the second valve is open, preventing the first valve from being closed, and in response to detecting that the second valve is closed, allowing the first valve to be closed.

Abstract: A system that permits fracturing pumps such as, for example, at least first and second fracturing pumps, each carried on a truck, to be connected to, and disconnected from, respective connection points on a fracturing manifold while fracturing fluid in the fracturing manifold is at pressure, in certain instances at or near fracturing pressure, and/or while other(s) of the fracturing pumps are being operated to pump fracturing fluid.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system according to which a discharge manifold is pressurized by at least a first fracturing pump, said discharge manifold being adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to an oil and gas wellbore.

Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing plan executable by a hydraulic fracturing system to hydraulically fracture a plurality of oil and gas wells. In one or more embodiments, the execution of the hydraulic fracturing plan implements the following steps: communicating fluid to a first well via a manifold and a first valve, the first valve being associated with both the manifold and the first well; and, in response to determining that the fluid communicated via the manifold has satisfied one or more conditions: opening a second valve; communicating fluid to a second well via the second valve; and closing the first valve after opening the second valve.

Abstract: A system and methods according to which a controller communicates control signals to a first frac leg, which includes a wellhead operably associated with a first wellbore, a valve operably coupled to the wellhead, opposite the first wellbore, a frac line operably coupled to the wellhead, and a zipper module operably coupled to the frac line, opposite the wellhead. The first frac leg includes a first sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A grease system lubricates the first frac leg and the zipper module. The grease system includes a second sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A second frac leg is operably associated with a second wellbore. The second frac leg includes a third sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. The first, second, and/or third sub-controllers may receive control signals from the controller via a communication bus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to which a first valve is opened, or kept open, the first valve being part of a wellhead including a flow component above the first valve. The method may further include detecting a state of the first valve and, in response to detecting the state of the first valve, metering an amount of grease to the first valve. In addition, or instead, the method may further include opening, or keeping open, a second valve, the second valve being operably coupled to the wellhead and positioned above the flow component, and, after opening, or keeping open, each of the first and second valves, detecting whether the second valve is open or closed, in response to detecting that the second valve is open, preventing the first valve from being closed, and in response to detecting that the second valve is closed, allowing the first valve to be closed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to which a first valve is opened, or kept open, the first valve being part of a wellhead including a flow component above the first valve. The method may further include detecting a state of the first valve and, in response to detecting the state of the first valve, metering an amount of grease to the first valve. In addition, or instead, the method may further include opening, or keeping open, a second valve, the second valve being operably coupled to the wellhead and positioned above the flow component, and, after opening, or keeping open, each of the first and second valves, detecting whether the second valve is open or closed, in response to detecting that the second valve is open, preventing the first valve from being closed, and in response to detecting that the second valve is closed, allowing the first valve to be closed.

Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing plan executable by a hydraulic fracturing system to hydraulically fracture a plurality of oil and gas wells.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system according to which a swap adapter is connected to a swap station while a discharge manifold is pressurized by at least a first fracturing pump, said discharge manifold being adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to an oil and gas wellbore. The swap adapter is connected to a second fracturing pump via a first suction conduit and a first discharge conduit. The swap station is connected to a suction manifold via a second suction conduit. The swap station is connected to the discharge manifold via a second discharge conduit. After connecting the swap adapter to the swap station, and while the discharge manifold remains pressurized by at least the first fracturing pump: fluid is drawn from the suction manifold using the second fracturing pump; and pressurized fluid is discharged into the discharge manifold using the second fracturing pump.

Abstract: A pump connection point to a fracturing manifold includes a valve configured to isolate the fracturing manifold from an outside fluid source. A connector is attached to the valve opposite the well fracturing manifold. A guide is attached to the connector. The guide configured to align a fluid line to mate with the connector.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods according to which a launcher defines a central passageway and is adapted to launch an object into the central passageway so that the object enters an oil and gas wellbore. The launcher includes a cylinder rotatable about an axis between first and second angular positions, the cylinder defining a chamber into which the object is loadable when the cylinder is in the first angular position, and from which the loaded object is launchable when the cylinder is in the second angular position. A lubricator is extendable through, and retractable from, the central passageway of the launcher.

Abstract: A well stack connector has the following features. A drive ring is carried by a housing and is rotatable relative to the housing. A clamp is within the housing. The clamp is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the clamp engages the first well device to the second well device. In the disengaged position, the clamp allows the first well device to become unrestrained from the second well device. A linkage is coupled to the drive ring, the housing and the clamp. The linkage is moveable, by rotation of the drive ring, between a first position supporting the clamp in the engaged position and a second position supporting the clamp in the disengaged position.

Abstract: A valve apparatus that includes a first containment area having a fluid disposed therein at a first fluid pressure and a second containment area disposed below the first containment area having a fluid disposed therein at a selective fluid pressure where the selective fluid pressure can be increased and decreased, the second containment area in fluid communication with the first containment area. The valve apparatus also includes a valve disposed between the fluid in the second containment area at the selective fluid pressure and the fluid in the first containment area at the first fluid pressure. The valve apparatus includes a third containment area disposed below the second containment area having a fluid disposed therein at a third fluid pressure wherein the third fluid pressure is higher than the first fluid pressure, the second containment area in fluid communication with the third containment area.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for launching objects into a wellbore. The apparatus generally includes a first object container and a container actuator. The first object container includes first compartments. The container actuator is adapted to displace the first object container so that respective ones of the first compartments are sequentially aligned with an opening. When the respective ones of the first compartments are sequentially aligned with the opening, objects loaded into the respective ones of the first compartments are sequentially launchable through the opening and into the wellbore. In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a second object container including second compartments and being positionable above the first object container so that the respective second compartments are aligned with the respective first compartments.