Below motor well fluid separation and conditioning
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorJoseph E. Vandevier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for downhole treatment and pumping of well fluids enhances the pumping of viscous fluids to the surface. The first step is to separate the oil and water from the well fluid and then channel the oil to a chamber that encloses the motor. The heat from the motor will increase the heat of the crude oil flowing past the motor, thereby lowering the viscosity of the crude oil. The water flows separately past the motor in another passageway, and remixes with the oil. After the oil and water recombine, the treated well fluid has a lower viscosity, and the fluid is then pumped to the surface more efficiently than without treating the oil.
Claims18
A system for pumping fluids, comprising:
- a downhole pump;
- a downhole motor connected to and below the pump;
- a shroud that encloses a substantial portion of the motor;
- and
- a separator the separates oil and water from well fluid, having an outlet communicating with the interior of the shroud, and another outlet discharging to the exterior of the shroud.
A system for pumping fluids, comprising:
- a downhole well pump;
- a motor that is coupled to and below the pump for driving the pump;
- a separator located below the motor for separating water from oil in well fluid, which has at least one inlet for the entry of the well fluid, at least one water outlet for delivering water separated from the well fluid, and at least one oil outlet where the separated oil is discharged;
- a shroud that surrounds the motor, an upper portion of the separator, and a lower portion of the pump above an intake of the pump, the shroud having a lower end that is sealingly attached around a circumference of the separator between the water and oil outlets, and has an upper end that is sealingly attached around a circumference of the pump above the inlet of the pump, creating an annulus space inside the shroud that is in fluid communication with the oil outlet, the shroud preventing the separated oil and water from mixing with each other as they travel past the motor;
- and
- at least one opening in the shroud above the motor for allowing the water to enter inside the shroud and recombine with the oil before entering the pump.
A method for pumping well fluid, comprising:
- (a) providing a downhole pump and motor;
- (b) operating the motor in the well;
- (c) separating water from crude oil contained in the well fluid;
- then
- (d) flowing one of the fluids separated from the well fluid past and in contact with the motor;
- (e) flowing the other fluid separated from the well fluid in a bypass passage that passes but does not contact the motor;
- then
- (f) recombining above the motor the oil with the water that had been separated out;
- and
- (g) directing the recombined oil and water into the pump, which pumps the recombined oil and water to the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.