Abstract:
A pump has a pump fluid end and a manifold that is detachable from the fluid end. A device is attachable to the pump, and has a manifold support beam portion adapted to affix to the pump fluid end at a location adjacent a manifold mating surface of the pump fluid end and extend outward from the pump fluid end. A support is provided on the manifold support beam portion that, when the manifold support beam portion is affixed to the fluid end of the pump, engages the manifold detached from the fluid end and supports the weight of the manifold.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to pumps used in oil and gas drilling and production operations. 
         [0002]    High pressure pumps are used in many aspects of drilling and production operations in the oil and gas industry. Some parts of the pumps are susceptible to wear especially when pumping abrasive or corrosive fluids used in well completions and stimulation work often referred to in the industry as “hydraulic fracturing” or “frac jobs” or recently “fracking”. “Fracturing” is an abbreviation for a stimulation treatment wherein fluid (with or without proppant) is pumped at high pressures into downhole geologic formations to enhance the production of hydrocarbons from the treated geologic formation. The pump parts undergo mechanical wear under extreme conditions of stress and need to be frequently changed. The frequent change of parts leads to loss in productivity due to equipment downtime. Changing the parts is hindered by the fact that, often, the work must be performed at the well site or otherwise outside of a well-equipped workshop. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    This disclosure relates to pumps used in oil and gas drilling and production operations, and describes a device and its use in servicing such pumps. 
         [0004]    The disclosure encompasses a device attachable to a pump. The pump is of a type having a pump fluid end and a manifold that is detachable from the fluid end. The device has a manifold support beam portion adapted to affix to the pump fluid end at a location adjacent a manifold mating surface of the pump fluid end and extend outward from the pump fluid end. A support is provided on the manifold support beam portion that, when the manifold support beam portion is affixed to the fluid end of the pump, engages the manifold detached from the fluid end. The support supports the weight of the manifold in a first position with a pump body mating surface of the manifold adjacent a manifold mating surface and guides the manifold, still supported, to slide to a second position, apart from the manifold mating surface. 
         [0005]    The disclosure encompasses a pump having a fluid end with a manifold mating surface surrounding a pump fluid port. A manifold is adapted to be affixed to the pump fluid end by a fastener and has a pump mating surface. The pump mating surface is adapted to abut and seal with the manifold mating surface to enable communication of fluid between the pump fluid end and the manifold via the pump fluid port. A manifold support extends outward from the pump fluid end. The manifold support is shaped to engage the manifold when detached from the fluid end. The manifold support supports the weight of the manifold in a first position with the manifold upright and the pump mating surface adjacent the manifold mating surface. The manifold support surface guides the manifold, still supported, to move to a second position with the manifold upright and the pump mating surface apart from the manifold mating surface. 
         [0006]    The disclosure encompasses a method of servicing a pump. In the method a manifold of the pump is disconnected from a remainder of the pump. The manifold is supported in an orientation adjacent a manifold mating surface on a manifold support of the pump. The manifold is displaced from the manifold mating surface while the manifold is supported in the same orientation on the manifold support. In certain instances, the orientation is upright. 
         [0007]    In certain instances, the manifold mating surface and the pump fluid end mating surface can be substantially planar and the pump fluid end mating surface can be supported oriented toward and substantially parallel to the manifold mating surface when in the first position. The pump fluid end mating surface can be substantially parallel to the manifold mating surface when in the second position. In certain instances, the manifold support can include a track for engaging both an upward facing and a downward facing surface of the manifold. The manifold can include a flange and the track can be configured to engage upward facing and downward facing surfaces of the flange. Certain configurations of the track include a plurality of support pins arranged in a line and positioned to enable the flange to rest on the support pins when the manifold is supported by the manifold support. The support pins can be rollers. In certain instances, the manifold support guides the manifold to move in a substantially straight path between the first and second position. In certain instances, the manifold support guides the manifold, still supported, to move to a third position apart from the manifold mating surface and on an opposite side of the manifold mating surface from the second position. In certain instances, the manifold support can include provisions to lock the manifold in the second position. 
         [0008]    The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic of a typical fracking operation. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a side cross-sectional view of an example reciprocating plunger type pump. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A-2B  are perspective views of an example reciprocating plunger type pump including a manifold support. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2C  is a detail end view of the manifold flange to manifold support interface of the pump of  FIGS. 2A-2B . 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3A-3B  are perspective views of an example manifold support. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are perspective views of another example manifold support. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring first to  FIG. 1A , a schematic of a typical fracking operation  6  is shown. In the schematic, frac gel  8 , water  14  and proppant  16  are mixed at a blender  18  and pumped into a well  19  by a high pressure pump  100 . The pump  100 , in many instances, is a reciprocating plunger type pump. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1B , by way of example but not by way of limitation, is a cross-sectional view of a high pressure, reciprocating plunger pump  100 . This particular embodiment is a pump manufactured by, Halliburton, but the concepts herein are applicable to many other different models and configurations of reciprocating plunger pumps, as well as to other configurations of pumps, compressors, mixers and other like devices. 
         [0018]    The pump  100  includes a power end section  12  and a fluid end section  10 . The power end section  12  includes a mechanical driver connected to one or more push rods  21  which, in turn, are connected to a corresponding number of plungers  22 . The fluid end section  10  includes one or more cylinders  20 , plungers  22  slidably disposed in the cylinders, and cylinder head covers  24 . An inlet bore  30  that receives fluid from a suction manifold  28  is fluidly connected to each cylinder  20 . The suction manifold  28  receives fluid and divides it among the inlet bores  30 . The suction manifold  28  has a flat flange  26  with a fluid end mating surface that abuts and seals (e.g., via a gasket, o-ring and/or other seal) with a corresponding manifold engaging surface of the fluid end section  10 . Fasteners  122  (e.g., bolts, studs and/or other fasteners) extend through the flange  26  into the fluid end section  10  and attach the suction manifold  28  to the fluid end section  10 . 
         [0019]    The inlet bore  30  has a suction valve  32  disposed in the inlet bore. The suction valve includes a suction valve closure member  34  and a suction valve seat  36 . The pump  100  further includes an outlet bore  40  fluidly connected to the cylinder  20 . The outlet bore has a discharge valve  42  disposed therein. The discharge valve includes a discharge valve closure member  44  and a discharge valve seat  46 . The pump includes at least one valve insert  38 ,  48  disposed on at least one valve closure member  34  and  44  respectively. 
         [0020]    In operation, the power end  12  moves the reciprocating plunger(s)  22 . As the plunger  22  is withdrawn from a cylinder bore(s)  20  in the fluid end section  10 , a partial suction is created. The suction valve closure member  34  is drawn up and away from its seat  36 , allowing fluid from the suction manifold  28  to enter a fluid chamber  50  in the fluid end  10 . At the same time, fluid already in the fluid chamber  50  moves in to fill the space where the plunger  22  was in the cylinder  20 . 
         [0021]    As the plunger re-enters the fluid end section  10 , the fluid is pressurized. Fluid would go out the way it entered the chamber  50 , but the suction valve closure member  34  moves into contact with the seat  36 . As pressure increases, the fluid pressure forces the discharge valve  42  to open. The discharge valve closure member  44  moves up off its seat  46  and the fluid is expelled from the chamber  50 . Loss of pressure inside the chamber and the discharge valve closure member  44  moves down to form a seal with its seat  46 , wherein the cycle begins again. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show an exterior perspective view of a plunger pump  100  with manifold supports  116  installed on both sides of the fluid end  110 . The manifold supports  116  are shaped to engage the manifold  114  when it is detached from the fluid end  110 . As seen in  FIG. 2A , the supports  116  support the weight of the manifold in a position with the manifold upright and the pump body mating surface of the manifold adjacent to the manifold mating surface of the fluid end  110 . This allows technician to release the fasteners holding the manifold  114  to the fluid end  110  and drop the manifold  114  just a small amount to be supported on the manifold supports  116 . In certain instances, the manifold supports  116  engage and support the weight of the manifold  114  before the fasteners are fully released from the fluid end  110 . For example, in the case of bolts, the technician would unscrew the bolts until the manifold supports  116  engage and fully support the weight of the manifold  114 , and then continue to unscrew the bolts until they are removed from the fluid end  110 . In such an instance, the technician would not need to lift or otherwise support the manifold, thus greatly reducing the risk of injury (i.e., is safer) and eliminating the inconvenience of needing a jack, hoist, come-along or similar device to manipulate the manifold. The manifold supports  116  can be configured to maintain the manifold  114  upright, as in  FIG. 2A , and with the pump fluid end mating surface of the manifold  114  oriented toward and substantially parallel to the manifold mating surface of the fluid end  110 . 
         [0023]    Once engaging the manifold  114 , the supports  116  guide the manifold  114 , still supported, as the technician moves the manifold  114  away from the fluid end  110  to a position where the pump body mating surface of the manifold  114  is apart from the manifold mating surface of the fluid end  110 . In  FIG. 2B , the manifold  114  is maintained upright and the pump fluid end mating surface of the manifold  114  is maintained substantially parallel to the manifold mating surface of the fluid end  110 . The manifold supports  116  are long enough that the manifold  114  can be moved to a position where the technician can have clear access the internals of the fluid end  110  through the inlet bore and to use tools, relatively unobstructed, in doing so. This enables the technician to service components such as the suction and discharge valves discussed above, for example to replace the sealing surfaces of the valve closure members and seats, and to use appropriate tools in doing so. When the service is complete, the technician moves the manifold  114  back, guided and supported by the manifold supports  116 . The supports  116  support the weight of the manifold in a position with the manifold upright and the pump body mating surface of the manifold adjacent to the manifold mating surface of the fluid end  110 . This allows the technician to easily engage the fasteners to the fluid end  110  without having to lift the manifold  114 . As above, because the technician would not need to lift or otherwise support the manifold, the risk of injury would be greatly reduced. 
         [0024]    As can be seen from  FIG. 2B , in some configurations, the supports  116  guide the manifold  114  to be moved to either side of the fluid end  110 . For example, the manifold  114  can be moved away from the power end section  112  and out from under the fluid end  110 , so that the fluid end mating surface of the manifold  114  is exposed from above and unobstructed by the fluid end  110 . This position would allow a technician ready access to clean the upward facing surface of the manifold  114  and replace the seals therein. Alternately, the manifold  114  can be moved in an opposite direction, toward the power end section  112 . This position may allow the technician more unobstructed access to the internals of the fluid end  110 . Some configurations of the manifold supports  116  only guide the manifold  114  to be moved to one side of the fluid end  110 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show, in more detail, a configuration of manifold support  116  that guides the manifold to be moved to either side of the fluid end.  FIGS. 4A and 4B  show, in more detail, a configuration of manifold support  116 ′ that only guides the manifold to be moved to one side of the fluid end. The manifold support  116 ′ can be installed either oriented toward the power end or away from the power end, depending on which direction it is desired to move the manifold. The manifold supports  116 ,  116 ′ can have a beam portion made of flat plate and a support that engages the manifold can be a number of pins  120 , for example roller pins, arranged along the length of the beam portion. Some of the pins  120  are arranged in a line near the bottom of the manifold support  116 ,  116 ′ and arranged to engage and support a downward facing surface of the flange on the manifold ( FIG. 2C ). The remainder of the pins  120  are near the top of the manifold support  116 ,  116 ′ to engage an upward facing surface of the flange on the manifold ( FIG. 2C ). In certain instances, the flange on the manifold may have an extension specifically to be engaged by the pins  120 . Together, the top and bottom pins  120  define a track that guide the manifold  114  in a straight line and maintain the manifold  114  upright when it is moved. In other instances, the track could be differently configured, for example, as a single side (e.g., with the upper pins omitted). Also, fixed pins or plates that define slides could be used in lieu of the roller pins, the track could be a groove cut into the plate, or the supports could be another configuration. In yet another configuration, the flange of the manifold could have pins (roller or fixed) that engage a plate on the manifold support. 
         [0026]    The manifold supports  116 ,  116 ′ can also have provisions to control the extent of movement of the manifold. For example, the figures show bolts  124  that can be threaded through the beam portion and into the path of the manifold. There are bolts  124  at both ends of the manifold support  116 ,  116 ′ that limit the range of motion of the manifold and keep the manifold from sliding off an end of the supports. There are bolts  124  intermediate the ends that are positioned to lock the manifold from moving when apart from the manifold mating surface of the fluid end. For example, when the manifold is being moved on the manifold supports  116 ,  116 ′, the bolts  124  intermediate the ends would be unscrewed so that they do not protrude into the path of the manifold. Once the manifold has been moved apart from the manifold mating surface of the fluid end, a bolt  124  can be threaded into the path of the manifold intermediate the ends to trap the manifold flange between the intermediate bolt  124  and the bolt  124  at the end of the manifold support. 
         [0027]    Referring back to  FIG. 2A and 2B , the manifold supports  116  are shown attached to the fluid end  110  with fasteners  122 . This allows the manifold supports  116  to be installed only when a service is to be performed on the pump  100 , and removed at other occasions. Alternately, the manifold supports  116  can left on the pump  100 . For example, in configurations such as that of  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the manifold supports  116 ′ can be installed oriented toward the power end section  112  so they do not protrude out from the fluid end  110  and thus are more appropriate for leaving on the pump  100 . Additionally, the manifold supports  116  can be retrofitted to pumps that were not originally provided with them. In other instances, the manifold supports  116  can be permanent, for example, welded or otherwise integral to the fluid end  110 . 
         [0028]    A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. According, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.