# US 2019/0316451 A1 · Multi-stage hydrocarbon lifting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0316451 A1 - Document ID: US20190316451A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/360,342 - Filed: 2019-03-21 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-12 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Al-Waleed Abdullah Al-Gouhi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190316451A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/123: {Gas lift valves} - E21B 34/08: responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) - E21B 43/122: {Gas lift} - E21B 47/008: Monitoring of down-hole pump systems, e.g. for the detection of "pumped-off" conditions - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B 2200/04: Ball valves - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A production tubing is disposed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone. The production tubing extends from a surface of the wellbore to a downhole location at which hydrocarbons entrapped in the subterranean zone enter the wellbore. Multiple valves are disposed in the production tubing at respective multiple tubing locations. Each valve is configured to permit one-way flow of hydrocarbons in an uphole direction. The multiple valves divide the production tubing into multiple stages. A stage is a portion of the production tubing between two successively disposed valves. Multiple gas injection valves are coupled to the production tubing. Each gas injection valve is disposed in a respective stage. A controller, coupled to the multiple valves and the multiple gas injection valves, transmits signals to the multiple valves and the multiple gas injection valves to lift hydrocarbons flowed into the wellbore at the downhole location to the surface on a stage-by-stage basis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: in a production tubing disposed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone, the production tubing extending from a surface of the wellbore to a downhole location in the wellbore at which hydrocarbons entrapped in the subterranean zone enter the wellbore, a plurality of valves disposed in the production tubing at a respective plurality of tubing locations, each valve configured to permit one-way flow of hydrocarbons in an uphole direction, wherein the plurality of valves divide the production tubing into a plurality of stages, a stage being a portion of the production tubing between two successively disposed valves: (a) determining a presence of hydrocarbons in a first stage terminating at a first valve; (b) in response to determining the presence of hydrocarbons in the first stage, injecting gas into the first stage causing the hydrocarbons in the first stage to flow uphole through the first valve into a second stage uphole of the first stage, the second stage terminating at a second valve; (c) determining that the second stage is filled with the hydrocarbons flowed uphole through the first valve from the first stage; and (d) in response to determining that the second stage is filled with the hydrocarbons, ceasing to inject the gas into the first stage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: (e) in response to determining that the second stage is filled with the hydrocarbons, injecting gas into the second stage causing the hydrocarbons in the second stage to flow uphole through the second valve into a third stage uphole of the second stage, the third stage terminating at a third valve; (f) determining that the third stage is filled with the hydrocarbons flowed uphole through the second valve from the second stage; and (g) in response to determining that the third stage is filled with the hydrocarbons, ceasing to inject the gas into the second stage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of pressure gauges are disposed in the respective plurality of stages, wherein determining the presence of hydrocarbons in the first stage comprises sensing, by a first pressure gauge disposed in the first stage, a fluidic pressure by the hydrocarbons in the first stage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein injecting the gas into the first stage comprises injecting the gas for a first duration of time sufficient to flow the hydrocarbons in the first stage uphole through the first valve into the second stage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the second stage is filled with the hydrocarbons flowed uphole through the first valve from the first stage comprises determining a presence of hydrocarbons in a third stage uphole of the second stage and terminating at a third valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein a pressure gauge is disposed in the third stage uphole of the second valve, and wherein determining the presence of hydrocarbons in the third stage comprises sensing, by the pressure gauge disposed in the third stage, a fluidic pressure caused by hydrocarbons flowed from the second stage through the second valve into the third stage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) until the hydrocarbons in the first stage are flowed out of the wellbore at the surface. ### Claim 8 A wellbore tool system comprising: a production tubing disposed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone, the production tubing extending from a surface of the wellbore to a downhole location in the wellbore at which hydrocarbons entrapped in the subterranean zone enter the wellbore; a plurality of valves disposed in the production tubing at a respective plurality of tubing locations, each valve configured to permit one-way flow of hydrocarbons in an uphole direction, wherein the plurality of valves divide the production tubing into a plurality of stages, a stage being a portion of the production tubing between two successively disposed valves; a plurality of gas injection valves coupled to the production tubing, each gas injection valve disposed in a respective stage; and a controller coupled to the plurality of valves and the plurality of gas injection valves, the controller configured to transmit signals to the plurality of valves and the plurality of gas injection valves to lift hydrocarbons flowed into the wellbore at the downhole location to the surface on a stage-by-stage basis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wellbore tool system of claim 8, wherein, to lift the hydrocarbons to the surface on a stage-by-stage basis, the controller is configured to perform operations comprising: (a) determining a presence of hydrocarbons in a first stage terminating at a first valve; (b) in response to determining the presence of hydrocarbons in the first stage, injecting gas into the first stage causing the hydrocarbons in the first stage to flow uphole through the first valve into a second stage uphole of the first stage, the second stage terminating at a second valve; (c) determining that the second stage is filled with the hydrocarbons flowed uphole through the first valve from the first stage; and (d) in response to determining the presence of hydrocarbons in the third stage, ceasing to inject gas into the first stage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wellbore tool system of claim 9, wherein a plurality of pressure gauges are disposed in the respective plurality of stages, wherein determining the presence of hydrocarbons in the first stage comprises sensing, by a first pressure gauge disposed in the first stage, a fluidic pressure by the hydrocarbons in the first stage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The wellbore tool system of claim 9, wherein injecting the gas into the first stage comprises injecting the gas for a first duration of time sufficient to flow the hydrocarbons in the first stage uphole through the first valve into the second stage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The wellbore tool system of claim 9, wherein determining that the second stage is filled with the hydrocarbons flowed uphole through the first valve from the first stage comprises determining a presence of hydrocarbons in a third stage uphole of the second stage and terminating at a third valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wellbore tool system of claim 12, wherein a pressure gauge is disposed in the third stage uphole of the second valve, and wherein determining the presence of hydrocarbons in the third stage comprises sensing, by the pressure gauge disposed in the third stage, a fluidic pressure caused by hydrocarbons flowed from the second stage through the second valve into the third stage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The wellbore tool system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to perform operations comprising repeating steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) until the hydrocarbons in the first stage are flowed out of the wellbore at the surface. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: in a production tubing disposed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone, the production tubing extending from a surface of the wellbore to a downhole location in the wellbore at which hydrocarbons entrapped in the subterranean zone enter the wellbore, a plurality of valves disposed in the production tubing at a respective plurality of tubing locations, each valve configured to permit one-way flow of hydrocarbons in an uphole direction, wherein the plurality of valves divide the production tubing into a plurality of stages, a stage being a portion of the production tubing between two successively disposed valves, injecting gas into a first stage carrying hydrocarbons causing the hydrocarbons to flow into a second stage uphole of the first stage; ceasing to inject the gas into the first stage in response to determining that the hydrocarbons flowed to the second stage; and after ceasing to inject the gas into the first stage, injecting gas into the second stage causing the hydrocarbons to flow into a third stage uphole of the second stage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising, before injecting the gas into the first stage, determining that the hydrocarbons are carried by the first stage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein determining that the hydrocarbons are carried by the first stage comprises sensing a fluidic pressure of the hydrocarbons in the first stage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising preventing a flow back of the hydrocarbons from the second stage to the first stage after ceasing to inject the gas into the first stage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein a first valve at which the first stage terminates prevents the flow back of the hydrocarbons from the second stage to the first stage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising injecting gas into the plurality of stages on a stage-by-stage basis to flow the hydrocarbons to the surface of the wellbore.