Articulating Frac Arm Manifold Trailer

Well service pressure pumping companies continuously seek ways to improve efficiency and enhance
safety during fracturing operations. There are several challenges these companies face every day at
the job site and FMC Technologies’ Articulating Frac Arm Manifold (AFAM) addresses some of these
critical issues. As the only manufacturer of Chiksan® and Weco® products, FMC leads the industry in
innovation and has an established track record of solving our customer’s most difficult challenges.

  Key Features

•  High pressure system is separated from the chassis through Coiled Cable Suspension Mounts, providing vibration resistance and reducing fatigue on high pressure lines
•  Meets DOT rules and regulations
•  Dual hydraulic power unit ensures functioning Arms
•  Patented Chiksan® Longsweep ™ TripleStep™ Swivel Joints used in each arm providing longer life
•  Rated for pressures up to 15K and flow up to 100 BPM
•  Standard manifold trailer 75 to 80 BPM
•  Reduces weight of pump truck by carrying iron on AFAM
•  Has all of the necessary degrees of freedom to allow for correct connection to the pump truck anywhere in a 12 foot radius every time
•  Self balancing arm requires less lifting by only one man
•  Isolation valves at each station allow flow to be re-routed allowing the job to continue in the event of an issue
•  High pressure lines are fully integral/No welded ends

Rigging up using a conventional manifold trailer requires the operators to assemble flowline iron between it and the pump truck. Various arrangements are constructed behind each truck to allow the degrees of freedom necessary to keep piping from binding as the flowline pulsates. Choosing correct pup lengths, swivel configurations, carrying iron, and hammering the assembly all together increases rig-up time significantly.

Solution: FMC Articulating Frac Arm Manifold assembly has the necessary swivel joints and piping required to connect the manifold to the pump discharge in any configuration within a 12 ft. span. Only one connection is rigged up (or rigged down) for each pumping unit, whereas the conventional method requires 5 to 6 connections.

Superior Safety  

The area between the manifold trailer and pumping units is usually very cramped and cluttered with flowline iron on the ground. The assembly and disassembly of the iron typically requires multiple personnel and can pose significant potential safety hazards ranging from hand injuries to back injuries.

Solution: FMC’s Articulating Frac Arm extends directly to the pump truck allowing one man the ability to make one connection. This, coupled with the removal of clutter on the ground, results in a reduction of exposure hours and can significantly improve safety at the wellsite.

Enhanced Utilization

Swivel joints and pup joints typically are laid in mud, sand, or gravel. High pressure pumping units pulsate considerably during fracing operations and cause flowline piping to vibrate into the ground which reduces flowline flexibility and increases stresses.

Solution: FMC Articulating Frac Arm Manifold does not touch the ground. The necessary degrees of freedom are built into the design of the Arm eliminating fatigue loading due to binding. Because the Arm bridges the manifold to the pumping unit, it remains free of debris.