Packing lubrication system for multiple pumping units

Abstract

Automatic packing lubrication systems for lubricating a hydraulic fracturing pump unit and methods of lubricating hydraulic fracturing pump units. An example system includes a single lubricant reservoir, a single lubricant pump fluidically coupled to the lubricant reservoir, at least two regulating valves fluidically coupled to the lubricant pump, at least two divider blocks, wherein one divider block is individually fluidically coupled to one regulating valve. For every divider block there is a regulating valve fluidically coupled between the divider block and the single lubricant pump. The system further includes a control system connected to and configured to control the regulating valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic packing lubrication system for lubricating a hydraulic fracturing pump unit, the system comprises:
 a single lubricant reservoir,   a single lubricant pump fluidically coupled to the lubricant reservoir,   at least two regulating valves fluidically coupled to the lubricant pump,   at least two divider blocks, wherein one divider block is individually fluidically coupled to one regulating valve, wherein for every divider block there is a regulating valve fluidically coupled between the divider block and the single lubricant pump, and   a control system connected to and configured to control the regulating valve.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is also connected to each of the divider blocks. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system further comprises a contact switch for each divider block; wherein there is a contact switch coupled to each of the divider blocks and the individual contact switches are configured to count a pumping cycle of their respective divider blocks. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the control system is configured to track the pumping cycles of the divider blocks based on the counts of the contact switches. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control system is configured to compare the tracked pumping cycles of the divider blocks to a desired pumping cycle count for each of the divider blocks and if the tracked divider block cycle count differs from the desired divider block cycle count, the control system is configured to flag the specific divider block and provide a notification capable of being received by a wellbore operator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rate control orifice fluidically coupled between the single lubricant pump and the regulating valve. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the regulating valves are selected from the group consisting of solenoid valves, electric motor valves, diaphragm valves, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is an oil-based lubricant. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic fracturing pump unit for each divider block; wherein one hydraulic fracturing pump unit is fluidically coupled to each divider block. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is programmable to control the regulating valve automatically and without the control of a wellbore operator. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control system is configured to control each regulating valve independently of the other regulating valves. 
     
     
         12 . A method for lubricating a hydraulic fracturing pump unit, the method comprises:
 pumping a lubricant from a single reservoir to at least two regulating valves with a single lubricant pump,   pumping the lubricant from each regulating valve to a divider block; wherein each regulating valve is fluidically coupled to a single divider block, and   then pumping the lubricant to a hydraulic fracturing pump unit from the divider block; wherein each divider block is fluidically coupled to a single hydraulic fracturing pump unit.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising controlling the flow of the lubricant through the regulating valve by opening or closing the regulating valve with a control system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising counting a pumping cycle of each divider block with a contact switch. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising tracking the pumping cycle count of each divider block with a control system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising comparing the tracked pumping cycles of the divider blocks to a desired pumping cycle count for each of the divider blocks and if the tracked divider block cycle count differs from the desired divider block cycle count, the control system flags the specific divider block and provides a notification capable of being received by a wellbore operator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a control system controls the regulating valve automatically and without the control of a wellbore operator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a control system is configured to control each regulating valve independently of the other regulating valves. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising reducing the flow rate of the lubricant to the regulating valves with a rate control orifice fluidically coupled between the single lubricant pump and the regulating valves, wherein there is one rate control orifice for each regulating valve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the regulating valves are selected from the group consisting of wherein each of the regulating valves are selected from the group consisting of solenoid valves, electric motor valves, diaphragm valves, or any combination thereof.