Downhole separator

A system for producing reservoir fluid from a hydrocarbon reservoir within a subterranean formation via a wellbore string passage of a wellbore string that is lining a wellbore that is extending into the subterranean formation, comprising:

• a pump;
• and
• a flow diverter, emplaced within the wellbore string passage, including:
• a diverter inlet configuration, defined by at least one port;
• a diverter cavity;
• and
• a flow diverting conductor configuration defining a flow passage configuration;
• wherein:
• fluid coupling between the diverter cavity and the suction of the pump is effected via the flow passage configuration of the flow diverting conductor configuration only;
• the flow diverter and the wellbore string are co-operatively configured such that, in response to inducement by the pump:
• while reservoir fluid is disposed within a reservoir fluid-receiving zone, disposed within the wellbore string passage, the reservoir fluid is conducted upwardly to a gas separation zone, disposed within the wellbore string passage such that the reservoir fluid becomes emplaced within the gas separation zone, with effect that the reservoir fluid flow is separated into at least a downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid and an upwardly flowing gas-enriched reservoir fluid, wherein the separation includes separation in response to buoyancy forces within the gas separation zone;
• and
• while the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is flowing downwardly from the separation zone, the diverter cavity receives the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid, via the diverter inlet configuration, with effect that the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid becomes disposed within the diverter cavity;
• and
• the flow diverter diverts the received downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid such that the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid changes direction and an upwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid, being conducted by the flow diverting conductor configuration, is established, and supplied to the pump;
• wherein:
• there is an absence of alignment between a central longitudinal axis, of a portion of the flow passage configuration of the flow diverting conductor configuration, with a central longitudinal axis of a flow passage of a pump suction of the pump;
• and
• there is an absence of a bend, within the flow passage configuration of the flow diverting conductor configuration, that is greater than ten (10) degrees.

A system for producing reservoir fluid from a hydrocarbon reservoir within a subterranean formation via a wellbore string passage of a wellbore string that is lining a wellbore that is extending into the subterranean formation, comprising:

• a flow diverter, emplaced within the wellbore string passage, including:
• a cavity-defining housing;
• a cavity defined within the cavity-defining housing;
• and
• a flow diverting conductor extending into the cavity such that a cavity-disposed portion of the flow diverting conductor is disposed within the cavity;
• wherein:
• the cavity-disposed portion of the flow diverting conductor includes:
• a flow passage-defining housing which defines a flow passage;
• and
• a plurality of vanes, such that the flow diverting conductor includes a vane configuration disposed within the cavity;
• wherein:
• each one of the vanes, independently, extends from the flow passage-defining housing, in a laterally outwardly direction relative to the central longitudinal axis of the flow passage;
• the flow diverter and the wellbore string are co-operatively configured such that, in response to inducement by a pump:
• while reservoir fluid is disposed within a reservoir fluid-receiving zone, disposed within the wellbore string passage, the reservoir fluid is conducted upwardly to a gas separation zone, disposed within the wellbore string passage such that the reservoir fluid becomes emplaced within the gas separation zone, with effect that the reservoir fluid flow is separated into at least a downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid and an upwardly flowing gas-enriched reservoir fluid, wherein the separation includes separation in response to buoyancy forces within the gas separation zone;
• and
• while the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is flowing downwardly from the separation zone, the cavity receives the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid with effect that the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted past the vane configuration with effect that a torsional flow component is imparted to the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid by the vane configuration, such that separation of solid particulate material, from the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid, is induced;
• and
• the flow diverter diverts the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid such that the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid changes direction and an upwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid, being conducted by the flow diverting conductor, is established;
• and
• relative to one another, the vanes are circumferentially staggered and axially staggered.

A system for producing reservoir fluid from a hydrocarbon reservoir within a subterranean formation via a wellbore string passage of a wellbore string that is lining a wellbore that is extending into the subterranean formation, comprising:

• a flow diverter, emplaced within the wellbore string passage, including:
• a housing, wherein the housing includes a base and a continuous sidewall, extending upwardly from the base, and the base and the continuous sidewall co-operate to define the cavity;
• a flow diverting conductor;
• wherein:
• the flow diverter and the wellbore string are co-operatively configured such that, in response to inducement by a pump:
• while reservoir fluid is disposed within a reservoir fluid-receiving zone, disposed within the wellbore string passage, the reservoir fluid is conducted upwardly to a gas separation zone, disposed within the wellbore string passage such that the reservoir fluid becomes emplaced within the gas separation zone, with effect that the reservoir fluid flow is separated into at least a downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid and an upwardly flowing gas-enriched reservoir fluid, wherein the separation includes separation in response to buoyancy forces within the gas separation zone;
• and
• while the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is flowing downwardly from the separation zone, the cavity receives the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid with effect that the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted past the vane configuration with effect that a torsional flow component is imparted to the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid by the vane configuration, such that separation of solid particulate material, from the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid, is induced;
• and
• the flow diverter diverts the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid such that the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid changes direction and an upwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid, being conducted by the flow diverting conductor, is established;
• and
• the continuous sidewall, of the housing, includes a slotted cylindrical portion, defining a slot extending downwardly from an upper edge of the housing, and within which is emplaced a lower portion of the flow diverting conductor, such that the slot is sealed by the lower portion of the flow diverting conductor, and such that at least the slotted cylindrical portion and the lower portion, of the flow diverting conductor, co-operate to define the sidewall.