US 2014/0174734 A1Published application

Cyclonic separators and methods for separating particulate matter and solids from well fluids

AssigneeBP Corporation North America Inc.

InventorsAlistair Gill, Paul Ellerton, David Fielding

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Abstract

A downhole separator for separating solids from downhole well fluids comprises a cyclonic separation assembly. The assembly comprises a housing with at least one inlet port and an intake member disposed within the housing. The intake member includes a feed tube, a guide member disposed about the feed tube, and a vortex tube coaxially disposed within the feed tube. The assembly also comprises a cyclone body coaxially disposed within the housing and extending axially from the feed tube. In addition, the separator comprises an upper solids collection assembly coupled to the housing and configured to receive the separated solids from the cyclone body. Further, the separator comprises a lower solids collection assembly coupled to the housing and configured to receive the separated solids from the first solids collection assembly.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A downhole separator for separating solids from downhole well fluids, the separator having a central axis and comprising:

a cyclonic separation assembly, including:
a housing with at least one inlet port;
an intake member disposed within the housing, wherein the intake member includes a feed tube, a guide member disposed about the feed tube, and a vortex tube coaxially disposed within the feed tube;
wherein the feed tube includes an inlet port extending radially therethrough to an annulus radially positioned between the feed tube and the vortex tube;
wherein the guide member has a first end radially spaced apart from the feed tube and a second end engaging the feed tube circumferentially adjacent the inlet port of the feed tube, the guide member being configured to direct fluid flow tangentially into the annulus radially positioned between the feed tube and the vortex tub;
a cyclone body coaxially disposed within the housing and extending axially from the feed tube, the cyclone body having an inner through passage in fluid communication with the feed tube and the vortex tube;
wherein the inlet port in the housing is in fluid communication with an annulus radially positioned between the housing and the cyclone body;
an upper solids collection assembly coupled to the housing and configured to receive the separated solids from the cyclone body;
and
a lower solids collection assembly coupled to the housing and configured to receive the separated solids from the first solids collection assembly.

7 more elements

A method for deliquifying a subterranean wellbore, comprising:

(a) coupling a separator to a lower end of tubing;
(b) lowering the separator into a borehole with the tubing;
(c) submerging the separator in well fluids in the borehole, the well fluids comprising solids and liquids;
and
(d) cyclonically separating the solids from the liquids in the well fluids with the separator downhole.

2 more elements

A downhole tool for liquifying a wellbore comprising:

a lift device coupled to a lower end of tubing, wherein the lift device is configured to lift liquids in the wellbore to the surface;
a separator coupled to the lift device, wherein the separator comprises:
a cyclonic separation assembly configured to separate solids from well fluids;
a first solids collection assembly coupled to a lower end of the cyclonic separation assembly and configured to receive the separated solids from the cyclonic separation assembly;
and
a second solids collection assembly coupled to a lower end of the first solids collection assembly and configured to receive the separated solids from the first solids collection assembly.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.