HEAVY, MEDIUM, AND LIGHT PLUNGER GREASE FOR HYDRAULIC PUMPS

Abstract

A lubrication product used in the packings and plungers of hydraulic pumps used in fracking and other oilfield applications. The composition including: 1) diluent oil, comprising of naphthenic, paraffinic, or synthetic origin ranging from 60 SUS to 3000 SUS at 100 F.; 2) olefin co-polymers, either high propylene or high ethylene, or combinations thereof; 3) polybutene, ranging in molecular weights from 100-6000 4) high molecular weight poly-ISO-Butylene, ranging from 500,000 to 3,000,000; 5) PIBSA dispersant; 6) performance additives, containing anti-wear and extreme pressure properties. Most preferable is a sulfur/phosphorus gear oil package.

Claims

1. A lubrication composition used in the packings and plungers of hydraulic pumps used in fracking and other oilfield applications, comprising: diluent oil; olefin co-polymers; Polybutene; high molecular weight poly-ISO-Butylene, ranging from 500,000 to 3,000,000; PIBSA dispersant; performance additives.

2. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said diluent oil is selected from naphthenic, paraffinic, or synthetic origin.

1. The lubricant composition of claim 2 wherein said diluent oil ranges from 60 SUS to 3000 SUS at 100 F.

2. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said olefin co-polymers are either high propylene or high ethylene, or combinations thereof.

3. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said polybutylene ranges in molecular weight from 100-6000.

4. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said performance additives contain anti-wear properties.

5. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said performance additives contain extreme pressure resistant properties.

6. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said performance additives contain anti-wear and extreme pressure resistant properties.

7. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said performance additive is a sulfur/phosphorus gear oil.

8. A plunger grease composition for use in the packings and plungers of hydraulic pumps used in oilfield applications, comprising: 35 wt. %-80 wt. % diluent oil selected from naphthenic, paraffinic, or synthetic origin; 10 wt. %-50 wt. % olefin co-polymers; 10 wt. %-40 wt. % polybutene ranging in molecular weight from 100-6000; 0 wt. %-2wt. % high molecular weight poly-ISO-Butylene; 0 wt. %- 2 wt. % PIBSA; and, 0 wt. %-2 wt. % sulfur/phosphorus gear oil.

9. The plunger grease composition of claim 10 wherein said diluent oil is bright stock 150.

10. The plunger grease composition of claim 11 wherein said diluent oil ranges from 60 SUS to 3000 SUS at 100 F.

11. The plunger grease composition of claim 10 wherein said olefin co-polymer comprising high propylene, high ethylene, or a combination thereof.

12. The plunger grease composition of claim 10 wherein said polybutylene ranges in molecular weight from 100-6000.

13. The plunger grease composition of claim 10 wherein said performance additives contain anti-wear properties.

14. The plunger grease composition of claim 10 wherein said performance additives contain extreme pressure resistant properties.

15. The plunger grease composition of claim 10 wherein said performance additives contain anti-wear and extreme pressure resistant properties.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The preferred composition of the present invention includes the following: [0020] 1. Diluent oil, of naphthenic, paraffinic, or synthetic origin ranging from 60 SUS to 3000 SUS at 100 F. (determined by viscosity which is driven by ambient temperature); [0021] 2. Olefin co-polymers, either high propylene or high ethylene, or combinations thereof (this volume changes depending upon ambient temperaturegenerally less in light winter grade than in summer heavy grade, for example); [0022] 3. Polybutene, ranging in molecular weights from 100-6000 (temperature variable); [0023] 4. Tackifier-High molecular weight poly-ISO-Butylene, ranging from 500,000 to 3,000,000; [0024] 5. Polyisobutylene succinic anhydride (PIBSA) dispersant; [0025] 6. Performance additives, containing anti-wear (AW) and extreme pressure (EP). Most preferable is a sulfur/phosphorus gear oil package similar to what greases contain.

[0026] The preferred composition of the present invention includes the following: [0027] 7. 0 wt. %-80 wt. % diluent oil, of naphthenic, paraffinic, or synthetic origin ranging from 60 SUS to 3000 SUS at 100 F.; [0028] 8. 10 wt. %-50 wt. % olefin co-polymers, either high propylene or high ethylene, or combinations thereof; [0029] 9. 10 wt. %-40 wt. % polybutene, ranging in molecular weight from 100-6000; [0030] 10. 0 wt. %-2wt. % high molecular weight poly-ISO-Butylene, ranging from 500,000 to 3,000,000; [0031] 11. 0 wt. %-2wt. % PIBSA dispersant; [0032] 12. 0 wt. %-2wt. % performance additives, containing anti-wear (AW) and extreme pressure (EP). Most preferable is a sulfur/phosphorus gear oil package similar to what greases contain.

[0033] Three different specific embodiments of the present formulation are contemplated and expressed as three most preferable grades of product a set forth below. The differences generally relate to viscosity as required by ambient temperatures experienced throughout the year.

Formulation Example A: Heavy Contemplated for High Ambient Temperatures

[0034] 1. 42% Bright Stock 150; [0035] 2. 35% olefin co-polymer [0036] 3. 20% polybutene; [0037] 4. 0.5% High MW poly-ISO-butylene; [0038] 5. 0.5% PIBSA; [0039] 6. 2% performance additives.

[0040] It is contemplated that the heavy formulation would be suitable for use in temperatures above approximately 90 F. ambient.

Formulation Example B: Medium Contemplated for Medium Ambient Temperatures

[0041] 1. 62% Bright Stock 150; [0042] 2. 20% olefin co-polymer [0043] 3. 15% polybutene; [0044] 4. 0.5% High MW poly-ISO-butylene; [0045] 5. 0.5% PISBA; [0046] 6. 2% performance additives.

[0047] It is contemplated that the medium formulation would be suitable for use in temperatures between approximately 50 F. and 90 F. ambient.

Formulation Example C: Light Contemplated for Low Ambient Temperatures

[0048] 1. 75% Bright Stock 150; [0049] 2. 15% olefin co-polymer [0050] 3. 7% polybutene; [0051] 4. 0.5% High MW poly-ISO-butylene; [0052] 5. 0.5% PIBSA; [0053] 6. 2% performance additives.

[0054] It is contemplated that the light formulation would be suitable for use in temperatures approximately less than 50 F. ambient.

[0055] Testing was conducted between the product of the present disclosure and two products commonly utilized in the industry.

Testing Example 1

[0056] The first was a 00 grease versus the product of the present disclosure used in a coil tubing operation.

[0057] First, the 00 grease was pumped for 3 on and one off, or 3:1 ratio, (could be 3 minutes pumping, then one off).

[0058] Then the 00 grease lubricating product was switched out for the product of the present disclosure.

[0059] Achieving the same lubrication results with all other factors being equal, the plunger lube of the present disclosure was pumped for 1 on and three off, or 1:3 ratio (again could be 1 minute pumping and three minutes off).

[0060] Pump packing life was observed to be 40 to 60% longer vs. the current lubricant.

Testing Example 2

[0061] The second example was a rock drill oil 100 versus the product of the present disclosure used in a down hole operation. Rock drill oil 100 is a tacky type product that is a commonly used lubricant in the industry.

[0062] First, the rock drill oil 100 had to be continuously pumped and fed from a tank.

[0063] Switching to the plunger lube of the present invention allowed the use of a 1:3 on/off ratio for the pump (could be 1 minute pumping and three minutes off). The same (or better) lubrication results were achieved with all other factors being equal.

[0064] Pump packing life was observed to be 40 to 60% longer vs. the current lubricant.

[0065] It is to be understood that the terms including, comprising, consisting and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

[0066] If the specification or claims refer to an additional element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

[0067] It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to a or an element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

[0068] It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic may, might, can or could be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

[0069] Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

[0070] Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.

[0071] The term method may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

[0072] The term at least followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, at least 1 means 1 or more than 1. The term at most followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, at most 4 means 4 or less than 4, and at most 40% means 40% or less than 40%.

[0073] When, in this document, a range is given as (a first number) to (a second number) or (a first number)(a second number), this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 should be interpreted to mean a range whose lower limit is 25 and whose upper limit is 100. Additionally, it should be noted that where a range is given, every possible subrange or interval within that range is also specifically intended unless the context indicates to the contrary. For example, if the specification indicates a range of 25 to 100 such range is also intended to include subranges such as 26-100, 27-100, etc., 25-99, 25-98, etc., as well as any other possible combination of lower and upper values within the stated range, e.g., 33-47, 60-97, 41-45, 28-96, etc. Note that integer range values have been used in this paragraph for purposes of illustration only and decimal and fractional values (e.g., 46.7-91.3) should also be understood to be intended as possible subrange endpoints unless specifically excluded.

[0074] It should be noted that where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where context excludes that possibility), and the method can also include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except where context excludes that possibility).

[0075] Further, it should be noted that terms of approximation (e.g., about, substantially, approximately, etc.) are to be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise herein. Absent a specific definition within this disclosure, and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be plus or minus 10% of the base value.

[0076] Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While the inventive device has been described and illustrated herein by reference to certain preferred embodiments in relation to the drawings attached thereto, various changes and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made therein by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.