Downhole separation and reinjection
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorRyan Cox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique enhances hydrocarbon fluid production. The technique utilizes a well with a plurality of lateral wellbores positioned to facilitate removal of well fluid from a hydrocarbon reservoir. A separator is disposed in the well to receive well fluid that flows from a lateral production leg. Operation of the separator separates well fluid into an oil component and a water component to enable production of the oil component. The water component is injected into the reservoir in a manner that drives well fluid trapped in the reservoir into the lateral production leg.
Claims23
A system for enhancing hydrocarbon production, comprising:
- a wellbore having:
- a vertical wellbore section;
- and
- a plurality of lateral wellbore sections extending laterally from the vertical wellbore section, the plurality of lateral wellbore sections comprising a production leg and an injection leg;
- and
- a separator disposed in the wellbore to receive well fluid from the production leg, the separator being operable to separate water and oil from the well fluid, wherein the oil is directed to a collection location and the water is directed into the injection leg in a manner to drive well fluid into the production leg.
A method for enhancing hydrocarbon production, comprising:
- forming a plurality of lateral wellbores including a lateral production leg and a lateral injection leg;
- flowing a well fluid from the production leg to a separator located downhole to separate water from the well fluid;
- directing the water into the lateral injection leg;
- and
- using the water directed into the lateral injection leg to drive well fluid from an adjacent reservoir into the lateral production leg.
A method, comprising:
- separating well fluid into a water component and an oil component at a downhole location;
- injecting the water component into a reservoir to drive a well fluid into a lateral wellbore;
- and
- flowing the well fluid in the lateral wellbore to a separator to continue separation of well fluid into the water component and the oil component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.