Vertical Annular Separation and Pumping System With Outer Annulus Liquid Discharge Arrangement
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsBrian J Fielding, Tracy Fowler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsea formation comprises at least one producing well (1) penetrating the formation (2) for producing hydrocarbon fluids. At least one dummy well (7) is hydraulically connected to the at least one producing well (1) for routing the hydrocarbon fluids from the producing well to the dummy well. At least one pump (8) is disposed in the at least one dummy well. The pump takes suction flow from the dummy well (7) and boosts the flow energy of the discharge flow of hydrocarbon fluids.
Claims43
A system for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsea formation, comprising:
- at least one producing well penetrating said formation for producing hydrocarbon fluids;
- at least one dummy well hydraulically connected to said at least one producing well;
- and
- at least one pump disposed in said at least one dummy well, said at least one pump taking suction flow from said at least one dummy well and imparting flow energy to a discharge flow of said hydrocarbon fluids.
A system for imparting flow energy to a flow of hydrocarbon fluids in a subsea environment, comprising;
- at least one dummy well connected to a source of the flow of hydrocarbon fluids;
- and at least one pump disposed at a predetermined depth in said at least one dummy well, said at least one pump taking suction flow from said at least one dummy well and imparting flow energy to a discharge flow of said hydrocarbon fluids.
A method for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsea formation, comprising;
- installing at least one pump in at least one dummy well hydraulically connected to at least one producing well, said at least one dummy well acting as a suction reservoir for said at least one pump;
- hydraulically routing said production flow from said at least one producing well to said at least one dummy well;
- imparting flow energy to said production flow using said at least one pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.