Abstract:
A technique enables improved performance of oilfield service operations. A protective shield is formed with a portable stand and at least one lightweight impact panel. The one or more lightweight impact panels enable easy movement of the safety shield from one location to another at a given well site or between different well sites, thus affording protection with a minimum of labor and set up time. The safety shield can be used to provide protection during individual operations and/or to segregate and protect independent operations from each other during multiple, simultaneous operations.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present document is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/889,072, filed Feb. 9, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In many well related operations, a variety of devices and systems are used in performing oilfield services. Some applications utilize the devices and systems in simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) at a given well site. The well site may have multiple wellheads with various operations being performed simultaneously. For example, well stimulation operations can be performed concurrently with perforation operations and drilling operations. 
     The multiple wellheads at which simultaneous operations are performed often are in close proximity to each other. Additionally, the simultaneous operations can be performed by several different service companies. Because of the concurrent service operations and the close proximity of wellheads, the simultaneous operations potentially can create hazards. For example, breakages, ruptures, or other failures at one wellhead can create detrimental effects at adjacent wellheads. Attempts have been made to create a barrier between operations by erecting panels of steel. However, such panels are heavy, difficult to move from one position or location to another, and the installation of such panels proves labor and time intensive. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, the present invention provides a system and method for use in performing oilfield service operations. A safety shield is formed with a portable stand and at least one lightweight impact panel. The stand and the at least one lightweight impact panel enable easy movement of the safety shield from one well site location to another as needed during well service operations, e.g. during multiple simultaneous operations. The safety shield can be used to provide protection during individual operations and/or to segregate and protect independent operations from each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Certain embodiments of the invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of one example of a safety shield having a plurality of lightweight impact panels, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of the safety shield, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an overhead schematic view of a well site undergoing simultaneous operations with a safety shield deployed in one example configuration, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an overhead schematic view of a well site undergoing simultaneous operations with a safety shield deployed in another example configuration, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is an overhead schematic view of a well site undergoing simultaneous operations with a safety shield deployed in another example configuration, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. 
     The present invention generally relates to a lightweight portable safety shield useful in oilfield service operations and very well suited for simultaneous operations. The safety shield comprises a portable stand, such as a fabricated stand, fitted with one or more impact panels. The impact panels are made of a lightweight material that is easy to move. In one embodiment, the lightweight impact panels can be hand carried to facilitate quick and easy movement of the safety shield from one well site location to another. Depending on the size of the safety shield, the impact panels can be moved while joined with the portable stand or separated from the portable stand. 
     The lightweight nature of the portable safety shield enables rapid and inexpensive set up and tear down to facilitate deployment and movement of the portable shield from one location to another. By way of example, the lightweight panels can be constructed from a non-metallic material that is substantially lighter than steel. In one embodiment, the lightweight panels are constructed from a Kevlar® fiber material, such as a sheeted Kevlar® fiber material, available from the DuPont™ corporation, or similar lightweight, impact resistant materials. 
     The lightweight portable safety shield provides short-term impact protection at the well site to provide well site workers with enough time to get out of harms way in the event of a problem at one of the wells. The safety shield can be used for an individual operation, e.g. a maintenance operation, or it can be used in a simultaneous operations field to segregate and protect the independent operations from each other. 
     Referring generally to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a lightweight, portable safety shield  20  is illustrated. In this embodiment, shield  20  comprises a stand or framework  22 , such as a fabricated stand. One or more lightweight impact panels  24  are mounted to the stand  22 . The impact panels  24  can be mounted to stand  22  via a plurality of fasteners  26  which may take a variety of forms depending on the construction of stand  22  and impact panels  24 . For example, fasteners  26  may comprise hooks, pins and corresponding recesses, bolts, and other suitable fasteners. The fasteners  26  can be selected to enable quick connection and disconnection of the impact panels  24  and stand  22  to further facilitate movement, transport, and/or storage. 
     Additionally, stand  22  can be constructed in sections  28  to enable selective changing or adjustment of the stand configuration and the relative orientation of the lightweight impact panels  24  to accommodate a variety of wellhead and space constraints. The individual sections  28  can be connected together by appropriate connectors  30 . By way of example, connectors  30  may comprise hinges that enable the sections  28  of stand  22  to be pivoted relative to one another. A variety of securing devices  32 , such as bolts, pins, or other fasteners, also can be used to secure stand  22  to a desired surface  34 , such as a surface of the earth or a platform. 
     The stand  22  can be fabricated in a variety of sizes and configurations depending on the environment and applications in which it is used to provide protection. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , for example, the stand  22  can be fabricated with a variety of vertical elements or legs  36  that are connected by transverse structural members  38 . The transverse structural members  38  may be arranged horizontally or at other angles selected to achieve a desired structural strength. 
     In  FIG. 3 , one embodiment of a well site at which safety shield  20  can be implemented is illustrated. In this embodiment, the safety shield  20  is deployed at a simultaneous operations field  40 . By way of example, field  40  has multiple wellheads  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50  at which various well related operations are being performed concurrently. For example, a well stimulation operation, e.g. a fracturing operation, can be conducted at wellhead  42  while wellhead  44  is in production. Additionally, a perforating operation can be performed at wellhead  46 , and a drilling operation can be conducted from a drilling platform  52  at wellhead  50 . 
     In this particular example, one embodiment of safety shield  20  is deployed in proximity to wellhead  42  where well stimulation operations are being performed. Safety shield  20  is deployed in a configuration that segregates wellhead  42  from the adjacent wellheads  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50  and provides protection for any workers/personnel that are active by these other wellheads. In the event of a problem, such as a failure in treating lines at wellhead  42 , safety shield  20  protects the surrounding area from potentially impacting materials. 
     It should be noted that the simultaneous operations field  40  is provided as one example. The number of wellheads, placement of the wellheads, type of operations, actual services being conducted simultaneously, and other well related factors can vary from one application to another. Additionally, the configuration and the size of safety shield  20  can vary according to environment, topography, wellhead and operations being conducted. Additional safety shields  20  also can be deployed around other wellheads, or the sequence of service operations can be selected to accommodate movement of one or more safety shields  20 . 
     Also, the geometry, orientation and number of safety shield sections  28  can be changed according to the environment, operations being performed, and orientation of the wellheads at a particular well site. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , for example, safety shield  20  can be installed around an entire wellhead, such as wellhead  42 . In the illustrated embodiment, safety shield  20  establishes a circumference around the wellhead undergoing fracturing operations. The safety shield also can be used to create a circumference around wellhead  46  undergoing perforation operations or around other wellheads as suited for a given application. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , safety shield  20  comprises four sections  28 , however other numbers of sections can be utilized to create the circumference or other shield configuration. 
     The use of safety shield  20  is not limited to simultaneous operations. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for example, an embodiment of safety shield  20  is deployed in an individual oilfield service operation. In the example illustrated, safety shield  20  is used in a well stimulation operation at a well stimulation site  54 . The equipment used at site  54  can vary from one service application to another. In this example, however, the well stimulation site may utilize frac tanks  56 , a PCM (precision continuous mixer)  58 , a blender  60 , a chemical tank or hopper  62 , a sand tank or hopper  64 , and multiple frac pumps  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 . The frac pumps are connected with high-pressure treating iron  78 . 
     The safety shield  20  can be set up and/or moved quickly and easily to provide desired protection at a variety of locations throughout well stimulation site  54 . If, for example, one of the frac pumps requires maintenance during the well stimulation operation, personnel generally service the subject frac pump, e.g. frac pump  70 , while well stimulation operations continue. The safety shield  20  provides impact protection for the personnel working on frac pump  70  by segregating them from the neighboring treating iron  78  and the surrounding frac pumps. The safety shield  20  provides protection that gives workers time to move away from potential harm. Additionally, the safety shield  20  is easy to move from one location to another to accommodate, for example, maintenance of other frac pumps. In many applications, the lightweight impact panels  24  and stand  22  enable the safety shield  20  or safety shield components to be hand carried from one location to another. This portability and ease of setup/tear down greatly reduces the cost and improves the efficiency of providing a safety shield at desired locations throughout a given well site. 
     One or more safety shields  20  can be deployed in a variety of configurations for use at many types of well sites. The actual size and configuration of each safety shield can be selected according to the parameters of a given well site environment or well site application. The one or more safety shields also can be integrated with individual or simultaneous operations and can be used in cooperation with many types of well equipment. 
     Accordingly, although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this invention. Such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims.