石油和天然气行业正在经历一场革命——一场电力革命。在效率提升、成本节约和排放减少的推动下，美国陆上压裂行业是这场变革最为显著的一个领域。
有趣的是，支持这一转变的燃料一直就在业界的眼皮底下：天然气。
Enverus 油田服务情报高级副总裁马克·查普曼 (Mark Chapman) 表示：“目前，大约 70% 的压力泵组可以使用某种形式的天然气，无论是 Tier II [柴油-汽油混合物 (DGB)]、Tier IV DGB、电动还是直驱涡轮机。”
查普曼补充道：“我们越来越多地听到的新趋势是使用100% Tier IV 往复式发动机，但燃烧100% 天然气。这使得它们能够获得与电力相同的优势，但无需整个发电系统。”
压力泵供应商 Liberty Energy 先进设备技术副总裁 Roy Aune 解释说，电动车队或电子车队近年来在美国页岩生产商中变得流行，但这一术语有些误导，因为它们实际上是天然气车队。
“人们常说‘泵组’，但我们应该称之为‘泵组’。”几乎所有电动压裂泵都由现场的燃气发动机驱动。燃气发动机要么将气体转化为电能，然后再转化为机械能和液压能，或者类似的东西。
The oil and gas industry is undergoing a revolution—an electric revolution. Driven by efficiency gains, cost savings, and reduced emissions, one area in which the transformation is clearly evident is the US onshore fracturing sector.
Interestingly enough, the fuel supporting this transition has been right under the industry’s nose all along: natural gas.
“Right now, about 70% of the pressure pumping fleet out there can use natural gas in one form or another, whether that’s Tier II [diesel-gas blend (DGB)], Tier IV DGBs, electric, or direct-drive turbines,” said Mark Chapman, senior vice president of oilfield service intelligence at Enverus.
Chapman added, “A new trend we’re starting to hear more about is using 100% Tier IV reciprocating engines—but burning 100% natural gas. This allows them to get the same benefits as electric, except without the need for whole power generation systems.”
Electric fleets, or e-fleets, have become popular in recent years among US shale producers, but the term is somewhat misleading, as they are actually gas fleets, explained Roy Aune, vice president of advanced equipment technologies for pressure pumping provider Liberty Energy.
“People talk about ‘e-fleets,’ but we should call them ‘g-fleets.’ Virtually all electric frac pumps are driven by a gas engine on site. It’s either gas converted to electricity, which is then converted to mechanical and hydraulic energy, or something similar.
