Patent Description:
Implementing fracturing operations at well sites requires extensive investment in equipment, labor, and fuel. A typical fracturing operation uses fracturing equipment, personnel to operate and maintain the fracturing equipment, large amounts of fuel to power the fracturing operations, and relatively large volumes of fracturing fluids. As such, planning for fracturing operations is complex and encompasses a variety of logistical challenges that include minimizing the on-site area or "footprint" of the fracturing operations, providing adequate power and/or fuel to continuously power the fracturing operations, increasing the efficiency of the hydraulic fracturing equipment, and reducing the environmental impact resulting from fracturing operations. Thus, numerous innovations and improvements of existing fracturing technology are needed to address the variety of complex and logistical challenges faced in today's fracturing operations. <CIT> teaches providing mobile electric power comprising a power generation transport configured to convert hydrocarbon fuel to electricity and an inlet and exhaust transport configured to: couple to at least one side of the power generation transport such that the inlet and exhaust transport is not connected to a top side of the power generation transport, provide ventilation air and combustion air to the power generation transport, collect exhaust air from the power generation transport, and filter the exhaust air. In another embodiment, a fracturing pump transport comprising a first pump configured to pressurize and pump fracturing fluid, a second pump configured to pressurize and pump the fracturing fluid, and a dual shaft electric motor comprises a shaft and configured to receive electric power from a power source and drive in parallel, both the first pump and the second pump with the shaft. <CIT> teaches The disclosure contained herein describes systems, units, and methods usable to stimulate a formation including a pump usable to pressurize fluid, an electric-powered driver in communication with and actuating the pump, and an electrical power source in communication with and powering the electric-powered driver. The electrical power source can include on-site generators and/or grid power sources, and transformers can be used to alter the voltage received to a voltage suitable for powering the electric-powered driver. Air moving devices associated with the electric-powered driver can be used to provide air proximate to the pump to disperse gasses. In combination with fluid supply and/or proppant addition subsystems, the pump can be used to fracture a formation.

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosed subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of the technology disclosed herein, and it is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is discussed later.

Described is an apparatus comprising a hydration tank, a fracturing blender, and an internal manifold system. The internal manifold system couples the hydration tank and the fracturing blender to route fluid between the hydration tank and the fracturing blender. The apparatus also comprises a single transport frame that couples the hydration tank, the fracturing blender, and the internal manifold system to form a single transport.

Also described is a method for producing fracturing fluid, comprising receiving source fluid from one or more inlet manifolds of a single transport and driving a first pump mounted on the single transport to route the source fluid from the inlet manifolds into a hydration tank mounted on the single transport. The method also drives second pump mounted on the single transport to route hydrated fluid produced by the hydration tank to a blending tub mounted on the single transport and discharges fracturing fluid produced by the blending tub to one or more outlet manifolds of the single transport.

Further described is a transport comprising a transport frame, an internal manifold system coupled to the transport frame, and a hydration tank coupled to the transport frame. The hydration tank is configured to receive a source fluid from the internal manifold system, produce a hydrated fluid with a target viscosity based on the source fluid, and output the hydrated fluid to the internal manifold system. The transport also comprises a blender coupled to the transport frame, where the blender is configured to receive the hydrated fluid from the internal manifold system, produce a fracturing fluid based on the hydrated fluid, and discharge the hydrated fluid to the internal manifold system. The delivery rate of the hydrated fluid for the hydration tank corresponds to an amount of fracturing fluid the blender provides to one or more fracturing pump transports.

Also described is an electric fracturing system comprises a switch gear transport electrically connected to a power generation source to provide electric power at a first voltage level. The electric fracturing system also comprises an electrical cable that supplies electric power at the first voltage level and a fracturing pump transport electrically connected to the switch gear transport via only the electrical cable. The fracturing pump transport comprises a transformer that steps down the electric power received at the first voltage level to a lower voltage level. The fracturing pump transport is not electrically connected to the switch gear transport via another electrical cable at a voltage level that differs from the first voltage level.

Further described is a transport that comprises a single transport frame and an electric prime mover mounted on the single transport frame. The pump is coupled to the electric prime mover and mounted on the single transport frame and a transformer coupled to the electric prime mover and mounted on the single transport frame. The transformer is configured to receive electric power at a first voltage level from a power source via a single cable assembly and step down the electric power at the first voltage level to a lower voltage level. The transformer is also configured to supply the electric power at the lower voltage level to the electric prime mover, where the transport is not connected to any other cable assemblies that supply electric power at the first voltage level and other voltage levels.

Also described is a method for electric power distribution used for fracturing operations. The method comprises receiving, at a transport, electric power from a mobile source of electricity at a first voltage level, where the first voltage level falls within a range of <NUM>,<NUM> V to <NUM> kilovolts and supplying, from the transport, the electric power to a fracturing pump transport at the first voltage level using only a first, single cable connection. The method also includes supplying, from the transport, the electric power to a second transport at the first voltage level using only a second, single cable connection.

Each of the above described examples and variations thereof, may be implemented as a method, apparatus, and/or system.

The term "fracturing sand" is used in this disclosure to serve as a non-limiting example of a proppant used as a component of fracturing fluid. "Fracturing sand" is also used herein to collectively refer to both wet and dry fracturing sand. Embodiments in this disclosure are not limited to fracturing sand and any other type of proppant, such as man-made ceramics, aluminum beads and sintered bauxite, can be used with the various embodiments presented in the disclosure. Unless otherwise specified within the disclosure, the term "fracturing sand" can be interchanged throughout this disclosure with the term "proppants.

As used herein, the term "wet fracturing sand" refers to a quantity of fracturing sand that contains a moisture content of about one percent or more, which is typically determined based on weight. "Dry fracturing sand" refers to quantities of fracturing sand that contain a moisture content of less than about one percent. As used herein, the term "liquefying wet fracturing sand" refers to enhancing and transforming the flow properties of wet fracturing sand to be substantially similar to dry fracturing sand in order to accurately control the amount of metered fracturing sand. Wet fracturing sand can liquefy and flow when shaken with force.

As used herein, the term "transport" refers to any transportation assembly, including, but not limited to, a trailer, truck, skid, rail car, and/or barge used to transport relatively heavy structures and/or other types of articles, such as fracturing equipment and fracturing sand. A transport could be independently movable from another transport. For example, a first transport can be mounted or connected to a motorized vehicle that independently moves the first transport while an unconnected second transport remains stationary.

As used herein, the term "trailer" refers to a transportation assembly used to transport relatively heavy structures and/or other types of articles (such as fracturing equipment and fracturing sand) that can be attached and/or detached from a transportation vehicle used to pull or tow the trailer. As an example, the transportation vehicle is able to independently move and tow a first trailer while an unconnected second trailer remains stationary. The trailer includes mounts and manifold systems to connect the trailer to other fracturing equipment within a fracturing system or fleet. The term "lay-down trailer" refers to a a trailer that includes two sections with different vertical heights. One of the sections or the upper section is positioned at or above the trailer axles and another section or the lower section is positioned at or below the trailer axles. The main trailer beams of the lay-down trailer may be resting on the ground when in operational mode and/or when uncoupled from a transportation vehicle, such as a tractor.

As used herein, the term "low voltage" refers to a voltage range from about <NUM> volts (V) to <NUM>,<NUM> V for alternating current (AC) electric power. The term "medium voltage" refers to a voltage range from about <NUM>,<NUM> V to about <NUM> kilovolts (kV) for AC electric power, and the term "high voltage" refers to a voltage range greater than <NUM> kV for AC electric power. Although the terms "low voltage," "medium voltage," and "high voltage" generally refer to voltage ranges in AC electric power, the disclosure is not limited to AC electric power and could also utilize current (DC) voltage.

Unless otherwise specified within the disclosure, the term "electrical connection" refers to connecting one transport to another transport using one or more electrical cables. The term "electrical cable" can be interchanged throughout this disclosure with the term "power cable" "power cable connection," "cable connection," or "electrical cable connection. " The terms "electrical cable," "power cable" "power cable connection," "cable connection," and "electrical cable connection" refer to a single cable assembly that bundles together one or more wires (e.g., copper wires) that carry AC or DC electric current to provide electric power. In one or more embodiments, the single cable assembly also includes other wire types, such as fiber optic wires that perform other functions besides providing electric power. For example, the fiber optic wires are able to carry light for the purposes of transferring communication signals.

Various examples are disclosed herein for performing mobile fracturing operations using a hydration-blender transport. Rather than having a hydration transport that is separate and independent from a blender transport, a fracturing fleet may replace two or more different transports with a single hydration-blender transport. The hydration-blender transport includes a hydration tank and a blender unit (e.g., a single configuration blender or a dual configuration blender) interconnected with each other using the hydration-blender transport's internal manifold system. The internal manifold system directly couples the hydration tank and blender unit such that the hydration tank is able to provide fracturing fluid to the blender unit without requiring manifolds or other fluid connections (e.g., piping or hoses) that are external to the hydration-blender transport. To draw in source fluid, such as water or a fluid mixture (e.g., water with chemical additives), via one or more inlet manifolds, the hydration-blender transport comprises a plurality of electric prime movers that drive a plurality of pumps. Based on how an operator configures the inlet valves of the internal manifold system, the hydration-blender transport can transfer the source fluid to the hydration tank and blender unit, or completely by-pass the hydration tank and blender unit and transport the source fluid directly to one or more outlet manifolds. By doing so, the hydration-blender transport is able to perform a variety of operations that include, but are not limited to straight through operations, hydration-blender operations, and split stream operations.

Also disclosed are various examples that distribute electric power from a mobile source of electricity. In one embodiment for fracturing operations, a power distribution system positions the voltage step down operation downstream and in close proximity to the fracturing equipment within a mobile fracturing system. As an example, a fracturing pump transport and a hydration-blender transport both include transformers that step down a supplied voltage level to one or more lower voltage levels that the fracturing equipment (e.g., electric prime movers) utilizes. The transports could also include drives (e.g., variable frequency drives (VFDs)) to control and monitor the electric prime movers. By doing so, the mobile fracturing system is able to reduce the number of transports by eliminating the use of an auxiliary unit transport (e.g., auxiliary unit transport <NUM> in <FIG>) and/or drive power transports (e.g., drive power transports <NUM> in <FIG>). A switch gear transport within the mobile fracturing system is then able to directly provide to the other transports, such as a hydration-blender transport and the fracturing pump transport, electric power at a relatively high medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV); thereby, reducing the number of electrical cables to power fracturing equipment. The switch gear transport is connected to each fracturing pump transport using a single electrical cable that supplies electric power at <NUM> kV. Each transformer mounted on the fracturing pump transport is then able to step down the supplied electric power to different voltage levels (e.g., <NUM> kV and <NUM> V) and provide enough electric current to power fracturing equipment.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a a well site <NUM> that comprises a wellhead <NUM> and a mobile fracturing system <NUM>. Generally, a mobile fracturing system <NUM> may perform fracturing operations to complete a well and/or transform a drilled well into a production well. For example, the well site <NUM> may be a site where operators are in the process of drilling and completing a well. Operators may start the well completion process with vertical drilling, running production casing, and cementing within the wellbore. The operators may also insert a variety of downhole tools into the wellbore and/or as part of a tool string used to drill the wellbore. After the operators drill the well to a certain depth, a horizontal portion of the well may also be drilled and subsequently encased in cement. The operators may subsequently pack the rig and move a mobile fracturing system <NUM> onto the well site <NUM> to perform fracturing operations that force relatively high pressure fracturing fluid through wellhead <NUM> into subsurface geological formations to create fissures and cracks within the rock. The mobile fracturing system <NUM> may then be moved off the well site <NUM> once the operators complete fracturing operations. Typically, fracturing operations for well site <NUM> may last several days or weeks.

As shown in <FIG>, the mobile fracturing system <NUM> includes a mobile source of electricity <NUM> configured to generate electricity by converting hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas, obtained from one or more other sources (e.g., a producing wellhead, gathering pipe systems and/or pipelines) at well site <NUM>, from a remote offsite location, and/or another relatively convenient location near the mobile source of electricity <NUM>. The mobile source of electricity <NUM> supplies the generated electricity to fracturing equipment to power fracturing operations at one or more well sites. In particular, the mobile source of electricity <NUM> may supply electric power to fracturing equipment within the mobile fracturing system <NUM> that includes, but is not limited to, the switch gear transport <NUM>, drive power transports <NUM>, auxiliary unit transport <NUM>, blender transport <NUM>, data van <NUM>, hydration transport <NUM>, auxiliary power transport <NUM>, and fracturing pump transports <NUM> in order to deliver fracturing fluid through wellhead <NUM> to subsurface geological formations.

The switch gear transport <NUM> may receive the electricity generated from the mobile source of electricity <NUM> via one or more electrical connections. The switch gear transport <NUM> uses <NUM> kilovolts (kV) electrical connections to receive power from the mobile source of electricity <NUM>. The switch gear transport <NUM> may comprise a plurality of electrical disconnect switches, fuses, transformers, and/or circuit protectors to protect other fracturing equipment within the mobile fracturing system <NUM>. The switch gear transport <NUM> may then transfer the electricity received from the mobile source of electricity <NUM> to the drive power transports <NUM> and auxiliary unit transports <NUM>. The power distribution system to supply power from the mobile source of electricity <NUM> to the mobile fracturing system <NUM> is discussed in more detail in <FIG>.

The auxiliary unit transport <NUM> may comprise a transformer and a control system to control, monitor, and provide power to the electrically connected fracturing equipment. The auxiliary unit transport <NUM> receives a relatively higher medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) electrical connection and steps down the electric power to a lower voltage. For example, the auxiliary unit transport <NUM> steps down the voltage level from <NUM> kV to <NUM> V. The auxiliary unit transport <NUM> may then provide the stepped down voltage to other fracturing equipment, such as the blender transport <NUM>, sand storage and conveyor, data van <NUM>, and lighting equipment.

The drive power transports <NUM> may be configured to monitor and control one or more electric prime movers located on the fracturing pump transports <NUM> via a plurality of connections, such as electrical connections (e.g., copper wires), fiber optics, wireless, and/or combinations thereof. The drive power transports <NUM> may also receive power from the switch gear transport <NUM> and step down the <NUM> kV electrical connection to lower voltages. The drive power transports <NUM> may step down the voltage to <NUM> kV rather than other lower voltage levels, such as <NUM> V, in order to reduce cable size of the electrical cable and the number of electrical cables used to connect the mobile fracturing system <NUM>. In <FIG>, the fracturing pump transport <NUM> utilizes the electric power received from the drive power transport <NUM> to power one or more electric prime movers that convert electric power to mechanical power in order to drive one or more pumps.

To form fracturing fluid, the hydration transport <NUM> combines a fluid, such as water from a frac tank, with a polymer-based slurry to produce a hydrated fluid with a target viscosity. The polymer-based slurry may be a viscous slurry concentrate that contains hydratable polymers that include, but are not limited to guar gum, hydroxypropyl guar (HPG), carboxymethyl HPG, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, and combinations thereof. Because the polymer-based slurry has a specified hydration rate, the viscosity level of the hydrated fluid after initially combining the polymer-based slurry with the fluid may not equal the target viscosity. Typically, the hydrated fluid requires a certain amount of mixing time (also known as residence time) to hydrate the polymer-based slurry so that the hydrated fluid reaches the target viscosity. For example, after combining the source fluid with the polymer-based slurry, the viscosity of the hydrated fluid increases as the degree of hydration of the polymer-based slurry increases.

The blender transport <NUM> receives electric power from the auxiliary unit transport <NUM> to power a plurality of electric prime movers to perform a variety of blending operations. For instance, some of the electric prime movers may drive one or more pumps to route source fluid to the blender transport <NUM> to produce fracturing fluid. Non-limiting examples include directing source fluid (e.g., hydrated fluid from the hydration transport <NUM>) received at one or more inlet manifolds into one or more blending tubs and/or discharging fracturing fluid via one or more outlet manifolds to supply fracturing fluid to the fracturing pump transports <NUM>. Other electric prime movers may power other blending operations, such as metering the fracturing sand into the blending tubs and mixing hydrated fluid with fracturing sand to form the fracturing fluid.

The data van <NUM> may be part of a control network system, where the data van <NUM> acts as a control center configured to monitor and provide operating instructions in order to remotely operate the hydration transport <NUM>, the blender transport <NUM>, the mobile source of electricity <NUM>, fracturing pump transport <NUM> and/or other fracturing equipment within the mobile fracturing system <NUM>. For example, the data van <NUM> may communicate via the control network system with the VFDs located within the drive power transports <NUM> that operate and monitor the health of the electric motors used to drive the pumps on the fracturing pump transports <NUM>. Other fracturing equipment shown in <FIG>, such as gas conditioning transport, frac tanks, chemical storage of chemical additives, sand conveyor, and sand container storage are known by persons of ordinary skill in the art, and therefore are not discussed in further detail.

Rather than having a separate hydration transport <NUM> and blender transport <NUM>, the mobile fracturing system <NUM> could include a single hydration-blender transport (not shown in <FIG>). Using <FIG> as an example, the hydration-blender transport receives electric power from the auxiliary unit transport <NUM> to power a plurality of electric prime movers to perform a variety of hydration and blending operation. As an example, the hydration tank of the hydration-blender transport could be configured to perform a continuous hydration process to hydrate a polymer-based slurry with the source fluid to reach the target viscosity. Implementing a continuous hydration process rather than a batch process allows the hydration tank to produce hydrated fluid as needed or in real-time, where the rate of hydrated fluid production corresponds to the amount of fracturing fluid the blender unit provides to the fracturing pump transport <NUM>. To provide an adequate amount of residence time to hydrate the polymer-based slurry, the hydration tank may direct the hydrated fluid to travel a torturous flow path that delays supplying the hydrated fluid to the blender unit.

The torturous flow path may be configured to provide a minimal amount of residence time for a given flow rate to produce hydrated fluid with the target viscosity. Moreover, the torturous flow path is configured to hold a targeted volume of hydrated fluid to sustain a delivery rate of the hydrated fluid to the blender unit. For example, to provide a targeted flow rate of about <NUM> to <NUM> barrels per minute (bpm) and a residence time of about three minutes, the torturous flow path or volume of the hydration tank would need to hold at least about <NUM> barrels. As the hydrated fluid travels through the torturous flow path, the torturous flow path may also be configured to further mix, agitate, and apply shear forces that enhance hydration of the polymer-based slurry. The torturous flow path for the hydration tank may be implemented using a variety of methods known by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

One or more pumps on the hydration-blender transport may then direct the hydrated fluid with the target viscosity to the blender unit to mix fracturing sand with the hydrated fluid. The hydration-blender transport may include a dual configuration blender that comprises electric prime movers (e.g., electric motors) for the rotating machinery. The dual configuration blender may have two separate blending tubs configured to be independent and redundant, where any one or both of the blending tubs may receive hydrated fluid that originated from any of the inlet manifolds. In other words, source fluid received from any of the inlet manifolds may subsequently be hydrated and then blended by any one or both of the blending tubs. Afterwards, the blended fracturing fluid is discharged out of any of the outlet manifolds. When both blending tubs are operational, the dual configuration blender may have a blending capacity of up to about <NUM> bpm. Other examples of the hydration-blender transport may utilize a single configuration blender that only has a single blending tub.

Combining the hydration tank and blender into a single hydration-blender transport also allows the hydration-blender transport to support a variety of operation modes, such as straight through operation mode, hydration operation mode, and/or split stream operation mode. In a straight through operation mode, the hydration-blender transport receives the source fluid from one or more inlet manifolds and directly discharges the source fluid to one or more outlet manifolds by having the source fluid bypass both the hydration tank and blending tubs of the blender unit. By doing so, the hydration-blender transport supplies source fluid, which can also be referred to as clean fluid, to one or more fracturing pump transports <NUM>. In hydration operation mode, the hydration-blender transport directs the source fluid into the hydration tank, pumps the hydrated fluid into the blending tubs to form fracturing fluid and discharges the fracturing fluid, which can also be referred to as dirty fluid, to one or more outlet manifolds. In a split stream operation mode, the hydration-blender transport is able to discharge both clean fluid and dirty fluid to different outlet manifolds. To supply a split stream to the fracturing pump transports, a portion of the source fluid bypasses both the hydration tank and blending tubs and directly flows out to the outlet manifolds, and a remaining portion of the source fluid is directed into the hydration tank to generate the dirty fluid.

Having a hydration-blender transport with different operation modes provides operators flexibility in utilizing a variety of fracturing fluids. Specifically, the hydration-blender transport is flexible enough to provide clean fluid, dirty fluid, or both based on an operator's desired fracturing operation. Using <FIG> as an example, the mobile fracturing system <NUM> may have some of the fracturing pump transports <NUM> pump clean fluid and other fracturing pump transports <NUM> pump dirty fluid as fracturing fluid. An operator may desire to utilize clean fluid as fracturing fluid because of the potential benefits of increasing and enhancing the life of fracturing pumps. Because of additional wear fracturing sand and the polymer-based slurry may cause, pumps and manifold equipment exposed to dirty fluid are often susceptible to higher maintenance costs and/or decreases in useful life when compared to pumps and manifold equipment operating with clean fluid. As such, by having some of the fracturing pump transports <NUM> pump clean fluid, an operator may reduce fracturing operating costs.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a medium-low voltage power distribution system for the mobile fracturing system <NUM>. Although the voltage and current levels referenced in <FIG> generally refer to AC electric power, other examples could have the mobile fracturing system <NUM> configured to be powered using DC electric power. As shown in <FIG>, the mobile source of electricity <NUM> provides power by connecting to the switch gear transport <NUM> using three medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connections. In one or more examples, the mobile source of electricity <NUM> includes a turbine-electric generator transport that compresses and mixes combustion air with hydrocarbon gas to spin and generate mechanical energy and then converts the mechanical energy to electricity. The mobile source of electricity <NUM> could also include an inlet and exhaust transport that provides ventilation and combustion air to the turbine-electric generator transport when generating electricity. Configuring and utilizing a turbine-electric generator transport and an inlet and exhaust transport are discussed and shown in more detail in <CIT> and entitled "Mobile Electric Power Generation for Hydration Fracturing of Subsurface Geological Formations,". In other examples, the mobile source of electricity <NUM> could include other transport configurations to employ a centralized source of electricity that powers fracturing equipment.

The switch gear transport <NUM> contains a transformer that steps down the medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) electric power to a low voltage level (e.g., <NUM> V) and provides a low voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) electrical connection to other transports. Using <FIG> as an example, the switch gear transport <NUM> connects to the drive power transports <NUM> and the auxiliary unit transport <NUM> using the <NUM> V electrical connection. <FIG> also illustrates that the switch gear transport <NUM> utilizes four <NUM> V cable connections from an auxiliary power transport <NUM> that provides electric power to ignite, start, or power on the mobile source of electricity <NUM> and/or provide ancillary power where peak electric power demand exceeds the electric power output of mobile source of electricity <NUM>. Although not shown in <FIG>, in other examples, the switch gear transport <NUM> may also include a transformer to step down the electric power from a medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV) to a relatively lower medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV) and provide the relatively lower medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV) directly to the drive power transports <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, both the hydration transport <NUM>, blender transport <NUM>, and fracturing pump transports <NUM> do not contain transformers to step down the voltage for the switch gear transport's <NUM> electric power. Instead, the voltages supplied to power the fracturing equipment (e.g., the electric prime movers) are stepped down upstream at different transports within the mobile fracturing system <NUM>. As an example, the drive power transports <NUM> may be operable to step down a medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV) that the switch gear transport <NUM> supplies to a relatively lower medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV), and the auxiliary unit transport <NUM> may be able to step down a medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV) that the switch gear transport <NUM> supplies to a low voltage level (e.g., <NUM> V). In other examples, switch gear transport <NUM> may include other transformers that step down the voltage to other voltages. The drive power transports <NUM> and auxiliary unit transport <NUM> then supply the stepped down voltages to power electric prime movers mounted on transports (e.g., blender transport <NUM> and fracturing pump transports <NUM>) and other fracturing equipment. In one or more examples, the transformers and/or drives (e.g., VFDs) for controlling the electric prime movers may be placed on drive power transports <NUM> and/or auxiliary unit transport <NUM> because the fracturing pump transports <NUM> and/or blender transports <NUM> may not have enough space or may exceed a specific weight limit.

In <FIG>, the switch gear transport <NUM> provides a medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) electrical connection and a low voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) electrical connection to the drive power transports <NUM>. Specifically, each drive power transport <NUM> receives a single medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connection from the switch gear transport <NUM> and utilizes transformers to step down the voltage level of the received electric power from the medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV) to a relatively lower medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV). Each drive power transport <NUM> also receives a single low voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) cable connection from the switch gear transport <NUM>. After the drive power transports <NUM> receives electric power from the switch gear transport <NUM>, each drive power transport <NUM> provides electric power to two different fracturing pump transports <NUM>. In other words, the mobile fracturing system <NUM> implements a <NUM>:<NUM> ratio regarding the number of fracturing pump transports <NUM> that receive electric power from a drive power transport <NUM>. Other examples could have different ratios where the drive power transport <NUM> supply power to a single fracturing pump transport <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>:<NUM> ratio) or more than two fracturing pump transport <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>:<NUM> or <NUM>:<NUM> ratio).

As shown in <FIG>, each drive power transport <NUM> supplies a low voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) cable connection and two relatively lower medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connections to power each fracturing pump transport <NUM>. The low voltage cable connection may supply electric power to drives (e.g., VFDs) and/or other electrical equipment (e.g., sensors) mounted on the fracturing pump transport <NUM>. The two medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connections supply electric power to one or more electric prime movers that drive one or more pumps that pump fracturing fluid into a wellbore. As an example, the fracturing pump transport <NUM> contains a <NUM>,<NUM> horsepower (HP) dual-shaft electric motor that utilizes about <NUM> amperes (A) of electric current to operate. The dual-shaft electric motor could be a dual-shaft electric motor that is discussed and shown in more detail in <CIT> and entitled "Mobile Electric Power Generation for Hydration Fracturing of Subsurface Geological Formations. " To supply enough electric power, each of the medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connections could provide about <NUM> A of electric current. Having a single medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) electrical cable that provides <NUM> A of electric current to the dual-shaft electric motor may not be desirable because of safety concerns with the relatively high current flow. Besides safety concerns regarding the relatively high current (e.g., <NUM> A) flow, having a single electrical cable could also cause connection and/or disconnections issues because of the thicker cable size used to support relatively high current flow.

<FIG> also illustrates that the switch gear transport <NUM> supplies a single medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connection and a single low voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) cable connection to an auxiliary unit transport <NUM>. The auxiliary unit transport <NUM> includes at least one transformer to step down the voltage from the medium voltage level (<NUM> kV) to the low voltage level (e.g., <NUM> V). The auxiliary unit transport <NUM> supplies a low voltage level (e.g., <NUM> V) electrical connection to both the hydration transport <NUM> and blender transport <NUM>. In <FIG>, the hydration transport <NUM> and blender transport <NUM> are separate and independent from each other, where the hydration transport <NUM> receives two low voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) cable connections and the blender transport <NUM> receives eight low voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) cable connections from the auxiliary unit transport <NUM>. Other examples of the power distribution system may have the auxiliary unit transport <NUM> provide a low voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) electrical connection (e.g., ten cable connections) to a single hydration-blender unit transport for when the blender transport <NUM> and hydration transport <NUM> are integrated into a single transport.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a medium voltage power distribution system for the mobile fracturing system <NUM>. In contrast to <FIG>, the power distribution system moves the voltage step down further downstream by placing transformers <NUM> and/or <NUM> on the fracturing pump transports <NUM> and hydration-blender transport <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the mobile fracturing system <NUM> reduces the number of transports by eliminating the need for an auxiliary unit transport (e.g., auxiliary unit transport <NUM> in <FIG>) and/or drive power transports (e.g., drive power transports <NUM> in <FIG>). Instead, the drives (e.g., VFDs) to control and monitor the electric prime movers of the fracturing pump transports <NUM> and transformers <NUM> and/or <NUM> for stepping down the voltage for the electric power are mounted on the fracturing pump transport <NUM> and the hydration-blender transport <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates that switch gear transport <NUM> connects to a mobile source of electricity <NUM> with six medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connections. The switch gear transport also connects to an auxiliary power transport <NUM> with one medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connection. The switch gear transport <NUM> also includes a transformer <NUM> that steps down electric power received at a medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV) from the auxiliary power transport <NUM> to a low voltage level (e.g., <NUM> V). The low voltage level (e.g., <NUM> V) connection may provide electric power to ignite, start, or power on the mobile source of electricity <NUM>. In contrast to <FIG>, the switch gear transport <NUM> does not output or provide low voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) electrical connections to other transports. Specifically, the switch gear transport <NUM> outputs and supplies medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connections directly to the hydration-blender transport <NUM> and the fracturing pump transport <NUM> without connecting to any intermediate transports (e.g., drive power transport <NUM> and auxiliary unit transport <NUM> in <FIG>). <FIG> depicts that the switch gear transport <NUM> generates a total seven medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connection, where each fracturing pump transports <NUM> is directly connected to the switch gear transport <NUM> with a single medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connection. The switch gear transport <NUM> also directly connects to the hydration-blender transport <NUM> using a single medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connection.

The medium voltage power distribution system shown in <FIG> is able to reduce the number of electrical cables used to supply electric power to the fracturing pump transport <NUM> and hydration-blender transport <NUM> when compared to the medium-low power distribution system shown in <FIG>. Specifically, when compared to the medium-low power distribution system shown in <FIG>, the medium voltage power distribution system in <FIG> is able to reduce the number of electrical cables that provide power to each fracturing pump transport <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the mobile fracturing system <NUM> reduces the number of electrical cables from three electrical cables to one electrical cable for each fracturing pump transport <NUM>. A further reduction of electrical cables is shown by supplying one electrical cable to the hydration-blender transport <NUM> instead of the ten electrical cables used to power both the blender transport <NUM> and hydration transport <NUM>. One reason the medium voltage power distribution system is able to utilize less electrical cables is that each electrical cable does not need to supply a relatively high current (e.g., <NUM> A) to each of the fracturing pump transports <NUM> and hydration-blender transport <NUM>. Supplying electric power at relatively lower current levels avoids the safety concerns and/or connection/disconnection issues associated with using a single electrical cable that supplies relatively high current (e.g., <NUM> A).

Each fracturing pump transport <NUM> may include one or more transformers to step down the voltage received from the switch gear transport <NUM> to different voltage levels. Using <FIG> as an example, each fracturing pump transport <NUM> may include two separate and independent transformers, a first transformer <NUM> to step down to a voltage level of <NUM> kV and a second transformer <NUM> to step down to a voltage level of <NUM> V. In other examples, each fracturing pump transport <NUM> could include a single transformer that produces multiple voltages levels. For example, the fracturing pump transport <NUM> may mount a three phase or three winding transformer to step down the voltage to two different voltage levels. Recall that the <NUM> kV voltage level supplies electric power to one or more electric prime movers that drive one or more pumps and the <NUM> V supplies electric power to the drives and/or other control instrumentation mounted on the fracturing pump transport <NUM>. Transformers <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to supply enough electric current to power the prime movers, drivers, and/or other control instrumentation.

<FIG> also illustrates that the hydration-blender transport <NUM> may include a transformer that steps down the voltage level to <NUM> V. The hydration-blender transport <NUM> can use the stepped down voltages levels to provide electric power to the electric prime movers for the hydration-blender transport <NUM>, drives, and/or other control instrumentation mounted on the hydration-blender transport <NUM>. The hydration-blender transport <NUM> may also be configured to provide electric power at the <NUM> V voltage level to other downstream fracturing equipment, such as the sand conveyor. In <FIG>, the medium voltage power distribution system may utilize two electrical connections to provide electric power to the sand conveyor. Although <FIG> illustrates that switch gear transport <NUM> provides electric power to a hydration-blender transport <NUM>, other embodiments could have the switch gear transport <NUM> separately connect to a hydration transport and a blender transport. In such an embodiment, the switch gear transport <NUM> may connect to the hydration transport using a single medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connection and another single medium voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) cable connection to connect to the blender transport.

By mounting the drives and transformers <NUM> and/or <NUM> onto the fracturing pump transport <NUM> and hydration-blender transport <NUM>, the transports become individually autonomous by removing the need for other separate support-based trailers, such as the auxiliary unit transport and drive power transports that provide power conversion and/or drive control. Having autonomous trailers allows the mobile fracturing system <NUM> to become scalable and flexible, where each fracturing pump transport may be interchangeable with each other. For example, if the well is relatively small, the mobile fracturing system <NUM> may have a reduced number of fracturing pump transports <NUM> (e.g., four transports instead of six transports). Conversely, if the well is large and/or the well site is located at high elevations and/or high temperatures, more fracturing pump transports <NUM> can be stacked to increase pumping capacity without utilizing additional support-based transports (e.g., drive power transports <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>).

With reference to <FIG>, the disclosure describes a switch gear transport <NUM> receiving electric power from a mobile source of electric. However, other embodiments could have the switch gear transport <NUM> receive electric power from other types of power sources, such as a power grid or a stationary power source. Additionally or alternatively, the mobile fracturing system <NUM> shown in <FIG> may utilize a separate hydration transport and blender transport instead of the hydration-blender transport <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a side view of a hydration-blender transport <NUM> that comprises a hydration tank <NUM>, a blender unit <NUM>, an electric prime mover <NUM>, a pump <NUM>, and multiple manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. <FIG> also depicts that the hydration-blender transport <NUM> as a trailer that includes four axles. Other examples of the hydration-blender transport <NUM> may vary the number of axles depending on the weight of the fracturing equipment and/or the size of the hydration tank <NUM>. For example, the hydration-blender transport <NUM> may include three axles to allow for mounting of a hydration tank <NUM> with larger volume. By removing the axle <NUM> from the trailer, the hydration-blender transport <NUM> has more available space to mount a larger hydration tank <NUM>.

Depending on the operation modes, the manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be configured as inlet manifolds that receive source fluid and/or outlet manifolds that supply fracturing fluid to one or more fracturing pump transports. The manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are coupled to the hydration-blender transport's <NUM> internal manifold system to route fluid within the hydration-blender transport <NUM>. The electric prime movers <NUM> (e.g., electric motors) may drive the pumps <NUM> to draw in and deliver source fluid to the hydration tank <NUM>, blender unit <NUM>, and/or directly to another manifold group based on the configuration of the internal manifold system. To implement a variety of operation modes, the internal manifold system includes a plurality of valves (not shown in <FIG>) configured to isolate different sections of the internal manifold system.

The internal manifold system may comprise a hydration tank manifold system <NUM>, a hydration-blender manifold system <NUM>, a blender output manifold system <NUM>, an interconnector manifold system <NUM>, and an under tank manifold system <NUM>. The interconnector manifold system <NUM> may connect the manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the pumps <NUM>, the hydration tank manifold system <NUM>, the hydration-blender manifold system <NUM>, and the under tank manifold system <NUM> to each other. To connect the interconnector manifold system <NUM> to the manifold groups <NUM> and <NUM>, connection points <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, may be used to connect the interconnector manifold system <NUM> to the under tank manifold system <NUM>. The hydration tank manifold system <NUM> may be configured to receive source fluid from one or more of the manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> via the interconnector manifold system <NUM> to transport the source fluid within the hydration tank <NUM>.

After the hydration tank <NUM> hydrates the polymer-based slurry with the source fluid, the hydration-blender manifold system <NUM> transports the hydrated fluid from the hydration tank <NUM> to blending tubs <NUM>. Once the blending tubs <NUM> mix fracturing sand with the hydrated fluid to form fracturing fluid, the blender output manifold system <NUM> may then transport the fracturing fluid from the blender unit <NUM> to one or more manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. A feedback manifold system <NUM> may be configured to feedback liquid within the hydration tank <NUM> to maintain a desired level of hydrated fluid. The under tank manifold system <NUM> may be configured to connect the manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to each other. Although not illustrated, the internal manifold system shown in <FIG> may include other components known by persons of ordinary skill in the art to monitor fluid properties and/or direct fluids within the hydration-blender transport <NUM>, such as flow meters, densitometers, and valves.

As shown in <FIG>, the hydration-blender transport <NUM> may include a power and control system <NUM>. In one example, the power and control system <NUM> may include a drive (e.g., a VFD) to control the electric prime movers <NUM> and a transformer to step down incoming voltage. For example, the transformer is configured to receive a relative higher voltage (e.g., <NUM> kV) and step down the voltage level to <NUM> V. The power and control system <NUM> may also be configured to provide electric power at the <NUM> V voltage level to other downstream fracturing equipment, such as the sand conveyor. In another example, the power and control system <NUM> may include the drive to control the electric prime movers <NUM>, but may not include the transformer and instead receives power at the stepped down voltage (e.g., <NUM> V) from another transport.

<FIG> illustrates that the blender unit <NUM> is a dual configuration blender that includes two separate blending modules to produce fracturing fluid. Each blending module includes a blending tub <NUM>, a hopper <NUM> (also known as surge tanks), and a metering component <NUM> (e.g., an auger). To power the blending operations, the blender unit <NUM> may also include prime movers <NUM> and <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, each of the blending modules includes an electric prime mover <NUM> to power the metering component <NUM> that meters fracturing sand into the blending tub <NUM>, and an electric prime mover <NUM> to drive pumps to power the blending tub. The blending tub <NUM> mixes the fracturing sand and hydrated fluid received from the hydration-blender manifold system <NUM> to produce the fracturing fluid that discharges via the blender output manifold system <NUM>. The blending tub <NUM> may discharge the fracturing fluid using a pump (not shown in <FIG>) driven by a prime mover.

In <FIG>, the metering component <NUM> is an auger positioned at an incline to meter the fracturing sand into a blending tub <NUM>. Other examples of the blender unit <NUM> may have the metering component <NUM> positioned in a straight or horizontal orientation. Correctly controlling and metering fracturing sand into the blending tub <NUM> affects the overall proppant concentration of the fracturing fluid (e.g., weight of the slurry). Controlling the overall proppant concentration is advantageous because the overall proppant concentration could affect the proppant transport and the propped fracture dimensions of the subsurface geological formations and the realization of the hydraulic fracturing treatment.

The blender unit <NUM> unit may be configured to produce fracturing fluid using dry fracturing sand and/or wet fracturing sand. In one examples, to be able to produce fracturing fluid using wet fracturing sand, the blender unit <NUM> may include one or more vibrator components (e.g., mechanical vibrators, vibration screens, and acoustic generators), which are not shown in <FIG>, to liquefy sand and enhance the flow properties of the wet fracturing sand. The vibrator components may be powered by a variety of power sources that include, but are not limited to, air pressure, hydraulics, and/or electricity. When powering the vibrator components by electricity, the blender unit <NUM> includes electric motors to drive hydraulic pumps that operate the vibrator components. By controlling the electric motors, an operator is able to indirectly control one or more vibrator components via the hydraulic pressure. In another example, operators are able to control the one or more vibrator components directly by connecting one or more electric motors to one or more vibrator components. Adjusting the electric motors' attributes, such as frequency, voltage, and/or amperage could vary operation of the vibrator components. To reduce vibration and disturbances to other components of the hydration-blender transport <NUM>, the blender unit <NUM> may include a vibration isolation system that include springs, air bags, rubber-based dampeners (e.g., rubber bushings), and/or other vibration isolation components. In examples where a vibration screen and/or acoustic waves are used to directly liquefy sand without vibrating the blending tub, the vibration isolation system may dampen and reduce the amount of vibration experienced by the blending tub. Processing and liquefying wet fracturing sand is discussed in more detail in <CIT> and entitled "Utilizing Wet Fracturing Sand for Hydraulic Fracturing Operations,".

<FIG> illustrates an under tank cross sectional view of the hydration-blender transport <NUM>. Specifically, <FIG> represents the C-C cross sectional view illustrated in <FIG> that highlights the under tank manifold system <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the under tank manifold system <NUM> includes two redundant sides that are coupled together using crossing manifolds <NUM> and <NUM>. The blender output manifold system <NUM> discussed in <FIG>, connects to both sides of the under tank manifold system <NUM> at connection points <NUM> such that the output of one of the blending tubs connects to one side of the under tank manifold system <NUM>. The crossing manifolds <NUM> and <NUM> allow fracturing fluid to be discharged to either side or both sides of the hydration-blender transport <NUM> and also allows the hydration tank to receive source fluid from either side of the hydration-blender transport <NUM>. Each side of the under tank manifold system <NUM> also includes the manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, where each manifold group can be isolated using values (not shown in <FIG>). The crossing manifolds <NUM> and <NUM> may include valves to allow or prevent fluid from flowing to both sides of the under tank manifold system <NUM>.

<FIG> also illustrates that the under tank manifold system <NUM> includes three pump connection points <NUM>, connection points <NUM>, and a connection point <NUM>. The three pump connection points <NUM> interconnect the under tank manifold system <NUM> to the pumps <NUM> shown in <FIG> illustrates that the electric prime movers <NUM> are positioned above the pumps <NUM> such that one or more of the electric prime movers <NUM> may drive one or more pumps <NUM>. The pumps <NUM> are then able to direct source fluid and/or fracturing fluid into and out of the under tank manifold system <NUM>. For instance, the pumps <NUM> may be able to pump source fluid received from one or more manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the interconnector manifold system <NUM> via connection points <NUM>. One or more valves can be set according to the operation mode for the hydration-blender transport <NUM>. For example, to implement split streaming operation, a valve associated with the connection point <NUM> may be set to an open position such that source fluid received from the manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is sent directly to another manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (e.g., manifold group <NUM>) and bypasses the hydration tank <NUM>. In other words, the connection point <NUM> may be used to bypass the hydration tanks <NUM> and blending tubs <NUM> and directly pump source fluid received from one or more manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> back out to other manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross sectional view of the hydration-blender transport <NUM> that depicts the inside of the hydration tank <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the inside of the hydration tank <NUM> includes the interconnector manifold system <NUM> that allows the pumps, driven by electric prime movers <NUM>, to direct fluid to different sections of the internal manifold system. In particular, the interconnector manifold system <NUM> connects to the hydration tank manifold system <NUM> via connection points <NUM> and <NUM> and connects to the hydration-blender manifold system <NUM> via connection point <NUM>. Using the interconnector manifold system <NUM>, the pumps are able to direct source fluid received at one or more manifold groups <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the hydration tank via the hydration tank manifold system <NUM> and/or pump hydrated fluid to the blending tubs <NUM> via the hydration-blender manifold system <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a top view of the hydration-blender transport <NUM> that depicts the top of the hydration tank <NUM>. In <FIG>, the hydration tank manifold system <NUM> receives source fluid and directs that source fluid to a diffuser located at the top of the hydration tank <NUM>. The diffuser combines the source fluid with the polymer-based slurry and feeds the hydrated fluid to a tortuous flow path within the hydration tank <NUM>. Once the hydrated fluid travels through the tortuous flow path, the hydration-blender manifold system <NUM> obtains the hydrated fluid via the interconnector manifold system <NUM> and supplies the hydrated fluid to the blending tubs <NUM>. In one example, the hydration-blender manifold system <NUM> includes two different manifold connections, where each manifold connection supplies hydrated fluid to one of the blending tubs <NUM>. Afterwards, the blending tub discharges the fracturing fluid via the blender output manifold system <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross sectional view of the hydration-blender transport <NUM> that corresponds to section cut A-A shown in <FIG>. In <FIG>, the electric prime mover <NUM> and pump <NUM> combination is mounted in an upright position such that the electric prime mover <NUM> is mounted on top of the pump <NUM>. The pumps <NUM> are also connected to the under tank manifold system <NUM>. Three different electric prime mover <NUM> and pump <NUM> combinations may be used to provide enough power to simultaneously pump source fluid into the hydration-blender transport <NUM>, pump hydrated fluid into the blending tubs <NUM>, and/or pump fluid out of the hydration-blender transport <NUM>. In one example, the pumps <NUM> may be centrifugal pumps.

<FIG> illustrates an under tank cross sectional view of another example of a hydration-blender transport <NUM>. Specifically, <FIG> represents the C-C cross sectional view illustration of an under tank manifold system <NUM> that is substantially similar to the under tank manifold system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The under tank manifold system <NUM> is similar to the under tank manifold system <NUM> except that the under tank manifold system <NUM> includes a sump <NUM> for collecting and remove fluid from the hydration tank <NUM>. As an example, when an operator completes a fracturing job, the operator may empty fluid stored within the hydration tank <NUM> before transportation. An operator is able to divert stored fluid within the hydration tank <NUM> to the sump <NUM> when discharging fluid out of the hydration tank <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a hydration-blender transport <NUM> that includes a single blending tub. <FIG> illustrates a top view of the hydration-blender transport <NUM> that depicts the top of the hydration tank. <FIG> is similar to <FIG> except that manifolds within the hydration-blender manifold system <NUM> and blender output manifold system <NUM> that correspond to the missing blending tub have been removed. For example, in <FIG>, once the hydrated fluid travels through the tortuous flow path, the hydration-blender manifold system <NUM> supplies the hydrated fluid to only one blending tub <NUM>. The hydration-blender manifold system <NUM> includes only one manifold connection to supply hydrated fluid to the one blending tubs <NUM>. Afterwards, the blending tub <NUM> discharges the fracturing fluid via the blender output manifold system <NUM>(e.g., using a pump not shown in <FIG>), which only has one outlet manifold connection to the blending tub <NUM>. Although <FIG> illustrates that three electric prime movers <NUM> may be used to drive three pumps <NUM>, other examples of the hydration-blender transport <NUM> could include two electric prime movers <NUM> that drive two pumps <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow chart of an example of a method <NUM> to provide fracturing fluid using a single hydration-blender transport. Method <NUM> may correspond to the hydration-blender operation mode and the split-stream operation mode. The use and discussion of <FIG> is only an example to facilitate explanation and is not intended to limit the disclosure to this specific example. For example, although <FIG> illustrates that the blocks within method <NUM> are implemented in a sequential order, method <NUM> is not limited to this sequential order. For instance, one or more of the blocks, such as blocks <NUM> and <NUM>, could be implemented in parallel.

Method <NUM> may start at block <NUM> by receiving source fluid from one or more inlet/outlet manifolds. To implement block <NUM>, method <NUM> may configure one or more values within the hydration-blender transport such that some of the inlet/outlet manifolds are configured to receive source fluid and some of the of inlet/outlet manifolds discharge fracturing fluid. Method <NUM> may then move to block <NUM> and drive one or more pumps to route the source fluid from the inlet/outlet manifolds into a hydration tank. In one example, method <NUM> may use electric prime movers to drive pumps to route the source fluid.

Method <NUM> continues to block <NUM> and hydrates a polymer-based slurry with the source fluid to produce hydrated fluid with a target viscosity. In one example, method <NUM> may utilize a tortuous flow path that provides enough residence time and a flow rate to supply fracturing fluid to a blender unit. Afterwards, method <NUM> moves to block <NUM> and drives one or more pumps to route the hydrated fluid into one or more blending tubs. Method <NUM> then moves to block <NUM> and mixes the hydrated fluid with metered fracturing sand to produce fracturing fluid. Afterwards, method <NUM> continues to block <NUM> and drives one or more pumps to discharge the fracturing fluid from the blending tubs. Prior to discharging the fracturing fluid, method <NUM> may configure one or more valves to direct which inlet/outlet manifolds receive the fracturing fluid.

<FIG> is a flow chart of an example of a method <NUM> to supply electric power to fracturing equipment using a medium voltage power distribution system. For example the medium voltage power distribution system that includes the switch gear transport <NUM> and transformers <NUM> and <NUM> shown in <FIG> can implement method <NUM>. The use and discussion of <FIG> is only an example to facilitate explanation and is not intended to limit the disclosure to this specific example. For example, although <FIG> illustrates that the blocks within method <NUM> are implemented in a sequential order, method <NUM> is not limited to this sequential order. For instance, one or more of the blocks, such as blocks <NUM> and <NUM>, could be implemented in parallel.

Method <NUM> may start at block <NUM> by receiving electric power from a mobile source of electricity at a medium voltage level. As an example, method <NUM> receives electric power at <NUM> kV or at some other relatively higher medium voltage level from the mobile source of electricity. In one or more other examples, method <NUM> may receive electric power from other power sources, such as a power grid or a power plant. Method <NUM> may then move to block <NUM> and supply electric power to one or more fracturing pump transports at the medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV). At block <NUM>, method <NUM> does not step down the electric power received from the mobile source of electricity to a lower voltage level using transformers. Instead, method <NUM> at block <NUM> supplies electric power to one or more transports at the medium voltage level. As discussed with reference to <FIG>, method <NUM> is able to reduce the number of electrical cables used to supply electric power to transports, such as fracturing pump transport <NUM> and hydration-blender transport <NUM>, when compared to the medium-low power distribution system shown in <FIG>.

Method <NUM> continues to block <NUM> and steps down the medium voltage level received at the fracturing pump transports to one or more lower voltage levels. In one example, method <NUM> may step down the voltage level to a lower medium voltage level (e.g., <NUM> kV) or a low voltage level (e.g., <NUM> V or <NUM> V). By stepping the voltage down at the fracturing pump transport, method <NUM> is able to reduce the number of transports by eliminating the drive power transports (e.g., drive power transports <NUM> in <FIG>). Afterwards, method <NUM> moves to block <NUM> and steps down the medium voltage level received at other transports to one or more lower voltage levels. For example, method <NUM> can step down the voltage at a hydration transport, a blender transport, a hydration-blender transport, or combinations thereof. Stepping down the voltage at the different transports also reduces the number of transports by eliminating the auxiliary unit transport. Subsequently, method <NUM> may move to block <NUM> and supply electric power to one or more electric prime movers mounted on the fracturing pump transports and other transports with the lower voltage levels.

At least one embodiment is disclosed and variations, combinations, and/or modifications of the embodiment(s) and/or features of the embodiment(s) made by a person having ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the disclosure. Alternative embodiments that result from combining, integrating, and/or omitting features of the embodiment(s) are also within the scope of the disclosure. Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such express ranges or limitations may be understood to include iterative ranges or limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly stated ranges or limitations (e.g., from about <NUM> to about <NUM> includes, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.; greater than <NUM> includes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.). The use of the term "about" means ±±<NUM>% of the subsequent number, unless otherwise stated.

Use of the term "optionally" with respect to any element of a claim means that the element is required, or alternatively, the element is not required, both alternatives being within the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, and having may be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of, and comprised substantially of. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description set out above but is defined by the claims that follow.

Claim 1:
An electric fracturing system (<NUM>) comprising:
a switch gear transport (<NUM>) electrically connected to a power generation source (<NUM>), and configured to receive electric power from the power generation source at a first medium voltage level;
a first electrical cable (<NUM>) connected to the switch gear transport (<NUM>) that supplies a first electric power at the first medium voltage level from the switch gear transport (<NUM>); and
a fracturing pump transport (<NUM>) comprising: at least one first transformer (<NUM>, <NUM>), a drive, a pump and an electric prime mover, each being disposed on the fracturing pump transport (<NUM>), wherein the fracturing pump transport (<NUM>) is electrically connected to the switch gear transport (<NUM>) via only the first electrical cable (<NUM>), the first electric power supplied from the switch gear transport (<NUM>) via the first electrical cable (<NUM>) being received by the at least one first transformer (<NUM>, <NUM>); and, wherein the at least one first transformer (<NUM>, <NUM>) is electrically connected to the electric prime mover and the drive,
wherein the at least one first transformer (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to step down the electric power received at the first medium voltage level to a first lower medium voltage level that powers the electric prime mover; and,
wherein the at least one first transformer (<NUM>, <NUM>) is further configured to step down the first electric power received at the first medium voltage level to a first low voltage level that is lower than the first lower medium voltage level and that powers the drive.