Patent Publication Number: US-2020278071-A1

Title: Frac manifold support system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a conversion of U.S. Provisional application having U.S. Ser. No. 62/811,965, filed Feb. 28, 2019, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to a frac manifold support system that permits more efficient maintenance of various parts of a frac manifold. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A frac manifold is an arrangement of flow fittings and valves installed downstream of the frac pump output header and upstream of each frac tree. In some instances, the frac tree is incorporated in the frac manifold and the frac manifold is located between the frac pump output and a relative well head. The flow fittings and valves are generally secured to a skid (or some type of support platform) via studded blocks and crosses. The studded blocks and crosses connected by spacer spools. Spacer spools are included for accessing the studded blocks and/or the studded crosses. The junctions of the studded blocks and crosses with the spacer spools requires sealing elements. These sealing elements can wear out and require replacement. To access the sealing elements, multiple blocks and crosses have to be unsecured from the skid. The time it takes to unsecure the multiple studded blocks and crosses can be significant and lead to long downtimes for oil and gas well operations. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a system that can facilitate access to the sealing elements and require less time to replace the sealing elements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to a frac manifold support system. The system including a platform having a slider plate disposed thereon. The system also including a secure container unit secured relative to the slider plate for supporting a studded cross or studded block. The system further includes a selectively secure container unit slidably disposed on the slider plate for supporting a studded cross or studded block and a driving device for moving the selectively secure container unit towards and away from the secure container unit 
     The present disclosure is also directed to a method for accessing various parts of a frac manifold via a frac manifold support system. The method includes the step of unsecuring a spacer spool from a studded block or studded cross to gain access to a desired area for maintenance. The method also includes the step of creating a first section of the frac manifold support system and a second section of the frac manifold support system. The first section of the frac manifold support system being the secure container unit, any spacer spools, and any studded blocks or crosses securely supported by the secure container unit. The second section of the frac manifold support system being the selectively secure container unit, any spacer spools, and any studded blocks or crosses securely supported by the selectively secure container unit. Further, the method includes the step of separating the second section of the frac manifold support system from the first section of the frac manifold support system to allow access to the desired area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a frac manifold support system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a portion of the frac manifold support system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of another view of the portion of the frac manifold support system shown in  FIG. 2A  constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a secure container unit of the frac manifold support system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a mobile container unit of the frac manifold support system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a selectively secure container unit of the frac manifold support system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the selectively secure container unit of the frac manifold support system shown in  FIG. 5A  constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5C  is a front elevation view of the selectively secure container unit of the frac manifold support system shown in  FIG. 5A  constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is close-up view of a portion of the frac manifold support system shown in  FIG. 2B  constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7A  is a side elevation view of the frac manifold support system in an operational setup constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7B  is a side elevation view of the frac manifold support system in a maintenance setup constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-2B , the present disclosure relates to a frac manifold support system  10  for permitting more efficient access to various parts of a frac manifold  12 . A typical frac manifold  12  can have one or more studded crosses  14  or studded blocks  14  that are connected by spacer spools  16 . Spacer spools  16  are securely attached on each end to the studded crosses  14  or studded blocks  14 . The junction between each end of the spacer spools  16  and the studded crosses  14  or studded blocks  14  typically requires various maintenance to be conducted thereon. 
     The frac manifold support system  10  includes a platform  18  for supporting and facilitating transportation of the frac manifold  12 . The frac manifold support system  10  includes a slider plate  20  disposed on the platform  18  for facilitating easy movement of the studded crosses  14  or studded blocks  14  of the frac manifold  12 . The frac manifold support system  10  includes at least one secure container unit  22  securely attachable to the slider plate  20  or some other part of the platform  18  for holding a studded cross  14  or a studded block  14  static with respect to the platform  18  or slider plate  20 . The frac manifold support system  10  further includes at least one mobile container unit  24  slidably disposed on the slider plate  20  of the frac manifold support system  10  for holding a studded cross  14  or studded block  14 . The frac manifold support system  10  can also include a selectively secure container unit  26  that can be securable relative to the slider plate  20  and slidable on the slider plate  20 . The selectively secure container unit  26  is also configured to hold a studded cross  14  or a studded block  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-6 , each container unit  22 ,  24  or  26  (secure, mobile and selectively secure) is configured to secure the studded cross  14  or the studded block  14  thereto by at least containing a portion of the studded cross  14  or studded block  14 . Each container unit  22 ,  24  or  26  can include a base portion  28  for supporting the studded blocks  14  or crosses  14  and securing portions  30  for securing the studded blocks  14  or crosses  14  to the container unit  22 ,  24  or  26 . In one embodiment, the securing portions  30  of the container unit  22 ,  24  or  26  can be opposing arched slats  32  that can be secured together around flanges  34  that extend from the studded crosses  14  or studded blocks  14 . 
     The secure container unit  22  can be secured to the slider plate  20  or the platform  18  via any means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Examples of securing means include, but are not limited to, bolted, welded, or the like. The selectively secure container unit  26  and the mobile container unit  24  further include a slide layer  36  disposed between the slider plate  20  of the frac manifold support system  10  and the base portion  28  to allow the selectively secure container unit  26  and the mobile container unit  24  to be able to slide on the slider plate  20 . 
     The slider plate  20  and the platform  18  of the frac manifold support system  10  include slider openings  38  or slots disposed therein to permit a driving device  40  to engage the selectively secure container unit  26  to be able to slide the selectively secure container unit  26  on the slider plate  20 . The driving device  40  can be secured to a bottom side  42  of the platform  18  of the frac manifold support system  10  and push or pull the selectively secure container unit  26 . The selectively secure container unit  26  is connected to the mobile container units  24  included in the frac manifold  12  via the appropriate number of spacer spools  16 , thus when the selectively secure container unit  26  is pushed or pulled by the driving device  40 , the mobile container units  24  can be pushed and pulled as well. The selectively secure container unit  26  can also include ring portions  44  attached thereto to be alignable with ring portions  46  disposed on the platform  18  or slider plate  20  of the frac manifold support system  10 . The ring portions  44  of the selectively secure container unit  26  and the ring portions  46  attached to the slider plate  20  or the platform  18  can be pinned together to prevent movement of the selectively secure container unit  26 . 
     The frac manifold support system  10  can be in an operational setup for when the frac manifold  12  is being used for fracturing operations and the frac manifold support system  10  can be in a maintenance setup when work needs to be performed on parts of the frac manifold  12 . When the frac manifold support system  10  is in the operational setup, the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container units  26  are immovable relative to the slider plate  20  and platform  18  in the direction the container units  24  or  26  run on the slider plate  20 , laterally to the direction the container units  24  or  26  run on the slider plate  20  and in a direction upward (or away) from the slider plate  20 . Preventing movement of the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container units  26  in the direction the container units  24  or  26  run on the slider plate  20  is done by securing the studded blocks  14  and studded crosses  14  in the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container unit  26  to the studded cross  14  or studded block  14  supported by the secure container unit  26  via secure connection to the appropriate number of spacer spools  16 . Additional securing in this direction is to pin the ring portions  44  attached to the selectively secure container unit  26  to the ring portions  46  attached to the slider plate  20  or the platform  18 . 
     Angled plates  48  can be used to prevent movement of the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container units  26  in the direction lateral to the direction the container units  24  or  26  run on the slider plate  20 . The angled plates  48  include a first slat portion  50  on one side of the angle and a second slat portion  52  on the other side of the angle. The first slat portion  50  of the angled plate  48  is disposed above the slide layer  36  or a connection plate  54  of the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container units  26  to prevent the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container units  26  from moving upward from the slider plate  20 . The connection plate  54  of the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container units  26  is disposed between the base portion  28  and the slide layer  36  of each of the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container units  26 . 
     The second slat portion  52  of the angled plate  48  can be attached to the platform  18  to secure the angled plate  48  in place. In one embodiment, the second slat portion  52  of the angled plate  48  can extend through slits  56  in the platform  18  and be secured to an under side portion  58  of the platform  18 . 
     In one embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the secure container unit  22  is the first container unit supporting the studded cross or block  14  in the series of studded crosses  14  and studded blocks  14  of the frac manifold  12  and the selectively secure container unit  26  that supports the last studded cross or block  14  in the frac manifold  12 . In this embodiment, the frac manifold  12  is put into the maintenance setup, bolts associated with a desired junction  62  between the studded blocks  14  or studded crosses  14  and the desired end  60  of the desired spacer spool  16  can be removed and the driving device  40  can engage the selectively secure container unit  26  to slide the selectively secure container unit  26  and the mobile container units  24  on the selectively secure container unit-side of the desired junction  62  to expose internal parts of the desired junction  62 . Once the internal parts, such as sealing elements, of the desired junction  62  are repaired or replaced, the driving device  40  forces the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container unit  26  back towards the secure container unit  22 , thus closing the desired junction  62 . The bolts can then be replaced, the selectively secure container unit  26  can be resecured relative to the platform  18  or slider plate  20 , and the frac manifold  12  can then be placed back into the operational setup. 
     In another embodiment, the frac manifold support system  10  can include two selectively secure container units  26  disposed on each end of the frac manifold  12 , multiple mobile container units  24  disposed between the selectively secure container units  26 , and a secure container unit  22  disposed between the selectively secure container units  26 . In this embodiment, the frac manifold support system  10  includes more than one driving device  40  to force the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container units  26  away from and toward the secure container unit  22 . One of the driving devices  40  is used to force the mobile container units  24  and the selectively secure container unit  26  on one side of the secure container unit  22  towards and away from the secure container unit  22 , depending on whether the frac manifold  12  is moving to or from the maintenance setup or the operational setup. Another driving device  40  is used to force the remaining mobile container units  24  and the other selectively secure container unit  26  positioned on the other side of the secure container unit  22  toward or away from the secure container unit  22 , depending on whether the frac manifold  12  is moving to or from the maintenance setup or the operational setup. 
     In yet another embodiment, the frac manifold support system  10  can have a selectively secure container unit  26  disposed on each end of the frac manifold  12 , multiple mobile container units  24  disposed between the two selectively secure container units  26 , and more than one driving device  40  for forcing one of the selectively secure container units  26  (and accompanying equipment) away from the other selectively secure container units  26 . In a further embodiment, every container unit in the frac manifold support system  10  can be a selectively secure container unit  26  and various driving forces  40  can be used to push or pull selected selectively secure container units  26  in whatever direction is desirable. 
     From the above description, it is clear that the present disclosure is well adapted to carry out the objectives and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the disclosure. While presently preferred embodiments have been described herein, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the disclosure and claims.