Wellbore Gravity Water Separator

Abstract

A method and apparatus to mitigate water loading in wellbores to increase oil and gas production and/or extend the life of the well. Beginning with a production wellbore through a subterranean formation used to extract hydrocarbons from a reservoir, a water draw-off wellbore, through the subterranean formation on a low-side of the production wellbore, is created to direct water to a non-producing formation. Fluids are produced through the production wellbore at a rate sufficient to lift the fluids to at least an entrance of the draw-off wellbore and allow the water to separate from the hydrocarbons due to gravity. The separated water is directed through the draw-off wellbore to the non-producing formation. Configurations of dual and multi-lateral production and draw-off wellbore arrangements are presented.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.