American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2022 - 70

SpecialReport: Resource Science
the frac stack. When it is almost time to
move to the next stage, the valve automatically
equalizes the pressure between
the surface and wellbore so it is safe for
wireline to enter the well, Marvel describes.
He points out that this eliminates
the need to pressure down and conduct
pressure tests between stages.
" As a stage concludes, we slow the
pumps down and press a button to move
to the next stage. The computer responds
by opening the next well, transitioning the
zipper to it and closing the first well, at
which point we can ramp the pumps back
to treatment pressure, " he relates. " The
entire transition takes 20-30 seconds. "
The pressure-equalizing valve eliminates
the need for a gate valve and the unplanned
downtime associated with cutting wireline,
replacing or greasing gate valves, and
chasing leaks, Marvel mentions.
Because the system is integrated, a
single controller oversees the zipper valves,
pump down valves and flowback valves,
he adds. " This integration lets the operator
and fracturing company see exactly what
is going on in the pad during the operation.
The system timestamps each event and
sends collected data to the cloud, which
can enable remote operations and aid with
post-job analysis, " Marvel says.
Every time a valve actuates, the system
automatically greases it, Marvel continues.
" By monitoring grease cavity pressure,
the system can tell when the void is full, "
he says. " This keeps us from injecting
too much grease, which cuts consumption
50%-90%. "
Hot-Swapping Pumps
Having addressed post-stage transition
time, Downing has turned its attention to
pump maintenance, Marvel relates. " Today,
frac fleets generally have to stop pumping
every so many stages to pull pumps out
for maintenance. In the Haynesville, this
happens after almost every stage, " he says.
" To get rid of that downtime, we have designed
equipment that lets operators knock
pumps out for maintenance and put them
back in without stopping the frac. "
Wiesner predicts this capability will
save time and shrink pump counts. " After
a lengthy pump run, pumps often have
costly damage that will take several hours
to repair, " he says. " With this system in
place, fleets will be able to avoid that
damage by pulling pumps out one at a
time for preventative maintenance. The
extra reliability also may allow them to
bring fewer backup pumps on site, increasing
fleet utilization. For example, a
20-pump fleet may only need 18. "
Wiesner stresses that the automated
connections improve safety. " When the
pump needs maintenance, the system isolates
the missile and the truck, then disconnects
the truck so it can pull out.
There is never a need to put anyone in
the red zone, " he says.
Headache-Free Desanders
As proppant loadings have increased
and 100-mesh proppant has gained popularity,
removing sand from produced oil,
water and gas has become more important,
says Anthony Sisto, vice president of U.S.
sales for Specialized Desanders Inc. " When
NORTHAMERICA2022
OILFIELD CHEMICAL SERIES
22 & 23 March 2022 - Houston, Texas
Strategies to reduce well failures caused by Corrosion, Scale, Paraffin & H2S &
Digitalizing chemical management programs for the future
RON MACLEOD
Chemical Advisor
Chevron
FADI EL AHMADIEH
YAO XIONG
Staff Corrosion Engineer
ConocoPhillips
Team Lead, Corrosion and
Asset Integrity
ExxonMobil
TEDDY VOCKA BATOUMA
Sr Prod Chem Sp & WI Eng
Occidental Petroleum
RAMA (JOE) ALAPATI
Flow Assurance and Production
Chemistry Advisor
Devon Energy
®
DEANNA CALLAHAN
Technical Engineering Manager
Tall City Exploration III
Solar Powered Chemical Injection Pumps
www.oilfieldchemicalsseries.com
70 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER
http://www.oilfieldchemicalsseries.com
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2022

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