Method and apparatus for increasing fluid recovery from a subterranean formation

A method of recovering liquids from a downhole formation and through a production tubing string, comprising:

• providing a downhole injector in fluid communication with the production tubing string;
• positioning a packer above the downhole injector for sealing a well annulus radially outward of the production tubing string;
• providing a vent conduit sealingly extending upward through the packer;
• establishing fluid communication between the annulus above the packer and the production tubing string above the packer, such that gases pass through the vent tube to the annulus above the packer;
• automatically passing formation fluids through the downhole injector and to the production tubing string while preventing gases from passing through the injector;
• and
• positioning a downhole pump along the production tubing string above the one or more through ports for pumping liquids passed through the downhole injector and to the surface.

A system for recovering liquids from a downhole formation and through a production tubing string, comprising:

• a downhole injector for passing formation fluids through the injector and to the production tubing string while preventing gases from passing through the injector;
• a packer positioned above the downhole injector for sealing a well annulus radially outward of the production tubing string;
• and
• the packer being positioned vertically above a gas cap which forces liquids downward and to the injector, such that gases which are prevented from entering the production tubing string by the injector are retained downhole by the packer for assisting in the recovery of formation fluids.

A method of recovering liquids from a downhole formation and through a production tubing string, comprising:

• providing a downhole injector in fluid communication with the production tubing string;
• positioning a packer above the downhole injector for sealing a well annulus radially outward of the production tubing string such that gases prevented from entering the production tubing string by the injector are retained downhole by the packer for assisting in the recovery of formation fluids;
• and
• automatically passing formation fluids through the downhole injector and to the production tubing string while preventing gases from passing through the injector.

An injector for positioning downhole within the hydrocarbon recovery well to permit liquids to pass from a downhole formation through the injector, through a check valve for preventing fluids which pass by the check valve from returning to the shutoff valve, and into a production tubing string, while preventing gases from passing through the injector, the injector comprising:

• an injector housing having a shutoff valve seat affixed thereto;
• a fluid responsive float moveable with respect to the injector housing as a function of fluid density surrounding the float;
• a shutoff valve member moveably responsive to movement of the float and axially moveable relative to the injector housing for cooperation with the shutoff seat;
• a filter screen across an inflow port through the injector housing, the filter screen preventing selectively sized sand particles from entering the injector housing;
• and
• the injector housing having a nominal outer diameter and the shutoff valve member is spaced vertically from the check valve within ten nominal outer diameters of the injector housing.

A method of recovering liquids from a downhole formation and through a production tubing string, comprising:

• providing a downhole injector in fluid communication with the production tubing string;
• maintaining a gas pressure in an annulus about the production tubing string to act as a driving force to pass fluids through the production tubing string and to the surface of the well;
• and
• passing formation fluids through the injector and to the production tubing string while preventing gases from passing through the injector.

A system for recovering liquids from a downhole formation and through a production tubing string, comprising:

• an upper lateral extending outward from a substantially vertical wellbore and into a gas cap formation;
• a lower lateral extending externally from the substantially vertical wellbore and into a liquid bearing formation;
• a downhole injector within the substantially vertical wellbore for passing formation fluids through the injector and to the production tubing string while preventing gases from passing through the injector;
• and
• a packer positioned in the substantially vertical wellbore above the downhole injector and above the gas cap formation for sealing a well annulus radially outward of the production tubing string such that gases which are prevented from entering the production tubing string by the injector are retained downhole by the packer for passing through the upper lateral and assisting in the recovery of formation fluids from the lower lateral.

A method of recovering liquids from a downhole formation and through a production tubing string, comprising:

• extending a lateral outward from a substantially vertical portion of the wellbore and into a liquid bearing formation;
• positioning an injector at a lower end of the production tubing string and in the vertical portion of the wellbore;
• passing formation fluids through an injector and to the production tubing string while preventing gases from passing through the injector;
• and
• maintaining a gas pressure in an annulus about the production tubing string to act as a driving force to pass fluids through the production tubing string and to the surface of the well.