Apparatus and methods for providing natural gas to multiple engines disposed upon multiple carriers

Apparatus for providing natural gas from an external gas source to multiple engines disposed on multiple carriers, each carrier having at least one engine thereon, the apparatus comprising:

• a natural gas supply system disposed upon each carrier, each said natural gas supply system including
• a rigid gas supply conduit mounted to the associated carrier, said gas supply conduit having first and second ends and at least one fluid flow port formed therebetween,
• a gas feed line fluidly coupling said fluid flow port of said rigid gas supply conduit to the engine of the associated carrier,
• a fluid flow control valve fluidly coupling said fluid flow port of said rigid gas supply conduit and said gas feed line and being disposed proximate to said fluid flow port of said rigid gas supply conduit, said fluid flow control valve configured to be selectively movable between at least one open position and at least one closed position, said fluid flow control valve in said closed position preventing the flow of natural gas from said rigid gas supply conduit to said gas feed line and in said open position allowing the flow of natural gas from said rigid gas supply conduit to said gas feed line,
• at least one particulate filter disposed between and in fluid communication with said rigid gas supply conduit and said gas feed line,
• at least one coalescing filter disposed between and in fluid communication with said rigid gas supply conduit and said gas feed line,
• a flexible connector conduit having first and second ends and being mechanically and fluidly engaged at said first end with said rigid gas supply conduit at its said first end, said second end of said flexible connector conduit being configured to be extended outwardly relative to said rigid gas supply conduit and selectively releasably mechanically and fluidly engaged with one among the gas source and said second end of said rigid gas supply conduit of another carrier,
• whereby a series of engines disposed upon different carriers may be fluidly interconnected for delivering natural gas to each engine.

A method of providing natural gas from an external gas source to multiple engines disposed upon multiple mobile hydraulic fracturing pump units, each pump unit carrying at least one engine, the method comprising:

• fluidly and mechanically releasably connecting a first end of a flexible connector conduit extending from a rigid gas supply conduit mounted on a first pump unit to the gas source, the second end of the flexible connector conduit being mechanically and fluidly coupled to the first end of the rigid gas supply conduit;
• fluidly and mechanically releasably connecting a first end of a flexible connector conduit extending from a rigid gas supply conduit mounted on a second pump unit to the second end of the rigid gas supply conduit of the first pump unit, the second end of the flexible connector conduit of the second pump unit being mechanically and fluidly coupled to the first end of the rigid gas supply conduit on the second pump unit;
• fluidly and mechanically releasably connecting a first end of a flexible connector conduit extending from a rigid gas supply conduit mounted on a third pump unit to the second end of the rigid gas supply conduit of the second pump unit, the second end of the flexible connector conduit of the third pump unit being mechanically and fluidly coupled to the first end of the rigid gas supply conduit on the third pump unit;
• and
• capping off the second end of the rigid gas supply conduit on the third pump unit.