Energy Recovery announced a 15-year deal with Schlumberger Technology Corporation. The agreement provides exclusive rights to Energy Recovery’s VorTeq™ hydraulic pumping system, the first hydraulic fracturing manifold (“missile”) built to isolate hydraulic fracturing pumps from abrasive proppants that cause pump failure.
The VorTeq system is a hydraulic pumping system that replaces the missiles traditionally used in hydraulic fracturing. In current operations, the missile routes water, proppants (sand or ceramics) and chemicals downhole at treating pressures up to 15,000 psi. However, the proppants cause frequent failures in the high pressure hydraulic fracturing pumps. With VorTeq, high-pressure hydraulic fracturing pumps will process clean or proppant-free water and transfer the hydraulic energy to the hydraulic fracturing fluid within the VorTeq missile.
Energy Recovery’s President and Chief Executive Officer Joel Gay stated, “We are thrilled to be working with Schlumberger. We believe VorTeq is a paradigm shift for the hydraulic fracturing industry as it significantly reduces maintenance costs associated with pumping downtimes and provides considerable redundancy efficiencies.”
“We believe this technology offers Schlumberger the immediate benefit of reducing wear and tear on its pumps, as well as reducing downtime. In the medium-term, we believe it provides Schlumberger additional savings associated with eliminating redundant equipment onsite,” said Gay. “For a company in this market who wants to keep producing but needs to be mindful of costs, this technology tackles these challenges and delivers meaningful results.”
The heart of the VorTeq system is Energy Recovery’s Pressure Exchanger technology, which is the leading pressure energy recovery device in desalination with over 16,000 devices deployed globally. The technology works by capturing and recycling otherwise wasted pressure energy in fluid flows, by a clean liquid-to-liquid energy exchange between high pressure and low pressure fluids. With a single moving part made of tungsten carbide, one of the most abrasion resistant materials on the planet, the system has been engineered to withstand tremendous pressure and harsh conditions, and transfers up to 95% of the hydraulic energy from one fluid to the next.
For hydraulic fracturing engineers, one of the biggest problems on the jobsite is pump failure. When pumps break down, the entire operation grinds to a halt. VorTeq uses Energy Recovery’s revolutionary PX Pressure Exchanger technology to re-route abrasive proppants away from high-pressure pumps. It ensures that only pure water touches the pumps, extending pump lifespans to new levels.
Made of tungsten carbide, 1000x more abrasion-resistant than steel
Treating pressure up to 15,000psi
Up to 95% efficient energy exchange
Extends lifespan for components
Defends high-pressure pumps by re-routing abrasive proppants
Connects to fleet like a traditional manifold trailer
Works under extreme conditions in any environment
Profits Under Pressure
VorTeq uses Energy Recovery’s revolutionary PX Pressure Exchanger technology to re-route abrasive proppants away from high-pressure pumps. It ensures that only pure water touches the high-pressure pumps, extending the pump lifespan to new industry levels.
Built Tough as the Job
VorTeq defends high-pressure pumps through major leaps in both engineering and materials science.
Made from tungsten carbide, the heart of the VorTeq hydraulic pumping system is 1,000x more abrasion-resistant than steel. Engineered with a single moveable part, it’s designed to endure extraordinarily high pressures, high flows, extreme temperatures and harsh proppants.
A New Freedom in Hydraulic Fracturing
The VorTeq hydraulic pumping system is manufactured as a complete manifold trailer, and fits into a frac fleet like a traditional missile.
Since VorTeq handles abrasive proppants and extends the life of pumps, operators can explore new ways to configure frac sites, including swapping positive displacement pumps with more efficient pumping solutions, and using idle equipment at other sites. VorTeq opens a new realm of possibilities.
SAVE TIME, MONEY AND PUMPS
For many hydraulic fracturing engineers, one of the biggest problems on the jobsite is pump failure. When pumps break down, the entire operation grinds to a halt. Work stops–and rofit does too.
Not anymore. We’ve spent millions of dollars and years of research adapting our proven technology in pressurized fluid flows to relieve a major pain point in fracking. The transformative result is the VorTeqTM hydraulic pumping system. VorTeq isn’t just best-in-class. It’s the only product in its class. VorTeq saves time and money by increasing the life expectancy of your pumps, decreasing equipment redundancy, and eliminating the need for plunger pumps. We’ve created a new process, a new market, a new way to pump. And it’s going to change how oil & gas does business.
PROFITS UNDER PRESSURE
Stop losing money on broken and redundant equipment. Until now, fracking has required multiple high-pressure pumps forcing a mixture of water, proppants and chemicals downhole to fracture rock and release natural gas. The fluid ends of those pumps take a beating from constant exposure to sand and chemicals, resulting in abrasive wear and almost daily component replacements–not to mention downtime, constant maintenance and redundant equipment and human resources.
VorTeq uses Energy Recovery’s revolutionary PX Pressure Exchanger® technology to re-route abrasive proppants away from the existing high-pressure pumps. It ensures that only pure water touches the high-pressure pumps, extending the pump lifespan to new industry levels.
With longer-lasting equipment, expect more runtime. Expect that you’ll need fewer backup pump trucks on site. Expect to lower your capital expenditure on every site where you use VorTeq. And expect more profits.
BUILT TOUGH AS THE JOB
VorTeq defends high-pressure pumps through major leaps in both engineering and materials science. Made from tungsten carbide, the heart of the VorTeq pumping system is 1,000 times more abrasion-resistant than steel. Engineered with a single moveable part, it’s designed to endure extraordinarily high pressures, high flows, extreme temperatures and harsh proppants. A smart, simple and incredibly strong solution to the demands of hydraulic fracturing, VorTeq puts pressure in its place. Visit energyrecovery.com/vorteq to see VorTeq in action.
The VorTeq hydraulic pumping system is manufactured as a complete manifold trailer. Swapping out your old missile for ours, VorTeq breathes new life into your high-pressure pumps and changes the rules on designing frack jobs.
Because VorTeq handles abrasive proppants and extends the life of your pumps, you can explore new ways to configure frack sites, including swapping positive displacement pumps with more efficient options, and using idle equipment at other sites. VorTeq opens a new realm of possibilities for how you assemble your fleets.
Reduce redundancy. Forget about extra pumps – you won’t need them anymore, which will drive down your capital expenditure at every site. And since your pumps no longer need to pump viscous fluids, you can swap out plunger pumps with more efficient pumping solutions that last longer and have lower overall maintenance costs.
VorTeq: PUMPING STRENGTH
- MADE OF TUNGSTEN CARBIDE, WHICH IS 1000X MORE ABRASION-RESISTANT THAN STEEL;
- TREATING PRESSURE UP TO 15,000 PSI;
- HANDLES FLOWS UP TO 110 BARRELS PER MINUTE, OR MORE THAN 4,600 GALLONS PER MINUTE;
- PROVIDES 93% EFFICIENT ENERGY EXCHANGE;
- EXTENDS LIFESPAN FOR COMPONENTS.
ENGINEERED TO EXCEL
- DEFENDS HIGH-PRESSURE PUMPS BY RE-ROUTING ABRASIVE PROPPANTS;
- CONNECTS TO FLEET LIKE A TRADITIONAL MANIFOLD TRAILER;
- WORKS UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS IN ANY ENVIRONMENT;
- LOWERS MAINTENANCE COSTS WITH ONLY ONE MOVING PART.