# US 2019/0376378 A1 · Systems for improving downhole separation of gases from liquids while producing reservoir fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0376378 A1 - Document ID: US20190376378A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/209,572 - Filed: 2018-12-04 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Heal Systems LP - Applicants: Heal Systems LP - Inventors: Jeff SAPONJA; Rob HARI; Dave KIMERY; Trystan WALL; Tim KEITH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376378A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/38: in the well - E21B 43/121: {Lifting well fluids (monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008)} - E21B 43/128: {Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A reservoir fluid production system for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation is provided for mitigating gas interference by effecting downhole separation of a gaseous phase from reservoir fluids, while mitigating entrainment of liquid hydrocarbon material within the gaseous phase. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-47. (canceled) ### Claim 48 A reservoir fluid production system for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation, comprising: a wellbore including an uphole portion and a downhole portion; a wellbore string that is lining the wellbore; wherein: the wellbore string includes a wider intermediate section and an uphole-disposed section that is disposed uphole relative to the wider intermediate section; the uphole-disposed section includes a narrower uphole-disposed section; and the wider intermediate section is wider relative to the narrower uphole-disposed section; and a reservoir fluid production assembly disposed within wellbore string such that an intermediate wellbore passage is defined within a space between the wellbore string and the assembly and is extending longitudinally through the wellbore, wherein the assembly includes wherein: the wellbore string and the reservoir fluid production assembly are co-operatively configured such that, while the wellbore string is receiving reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation, the reservoir fluid is conducted uphole to the reservoir fluid separation space, with effect that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the reservoir fluid within the reservoir fluid separation space and conducted through the reservoir fluid production assembly to the surface; and at least a portion of the reservoir fluid separation space defines a separation-facilitating passage portion of the intermediate wellbore passage, and the separation-facilitating passage portion is disposed within the wider intermediate section. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The system as claimed in claim 48; wherein the assembly further includes a pump, and the pump is disposed within the wider intermediate section. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The system as claimed in claim 49; wherein: the assembly further includes a flow diverter that includes a string counterpart and an assembly counterpart, and defines: (i) a reservoir fluid-conducting passage for conducting reservoir fluid to the reservoir fluid separation space of the wellbore, with effect that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the reservoir fluid within the reservoir fluid separation space in response to at least buoyancy forces; and (ii) a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting passage for receiving the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid while the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is flowing in a downhole direction, and diverting the flow of the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid such that the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted by the flow diverter in the uphole direction for discharge via a discharge communicator; the wellbore string defines the string counterpart; the reservoir fluid production assembly defines the assembly counterpart; and the discharge communicator of the flow diverter is fluidly coupled to the pump such that the flow diverter is disposed for supplying the pump with the gas-depleted reservoir fluid. ### Claim 51 (depends on 48) The system as claimed in claim 48; wherein: the assembly further includes a flow diverter that includes a string counterpart and an assembly counterpart, and defines: (i) a reservoir fluid-conducting passage for conducting reservoir fluid to the reservoir fluid separation space of the wellbore, with effect that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the reservoir fluid within the reservoir fluid separation space in response to at least buoyancy forces; and (ii) a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting passage for receiving the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid while the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is flowing in a downhole direction, and diverting the flow of the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid such that the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted by the flow diverter in the uphole direction; the wellbore string defines the string counterpart; and the reservoir fluid production assembly defines the assembly counterpart. ### Claim 52 A reservoir fluid production system for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation, comprising: a wellbore including an uphole portion and a downhole portion; a wellbore string that is lining the wellbore; wherein: the wellbore string includes a wider intermediate section and an uphole-disposed section that is disposed uphole relative to the wider intermediate section; the uphole-disposed section includes a narrower uphole-disposed section; and the wider intermediate section is wider relative to the narrower uphole-disposed section; a reservoir fluid production assembly disposed within wellbore string such that an intermediate wellbore passage is defined within a space between the wellbore string and the assembly and is extending longitudinally through the wellbore, wherein the assembly includes a flow diverter body including a reservoir fluid receiver, a reservoir fluid discharge communicator, and a gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver; and a sealed interface; wherein: the sealed interface prevents, or substantially prevents, flow communication, via the intermediate wellbore passage, between the downhole wellbore space and the uphole wellbore space; the wellbore string, the assembly, and the sealed interface are co-operatively configured such that, while the flow diverter body is receiving reservoir fluid, via the reservoir fluid receiver, from the subterranean formation via the downhole wellbore space, and discharging the received reservoir fluid, via the reservoir fluid discharge communicator, into the uphole wellbore space, within a reservoir fluid separation space of the uphole wellbore space, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the discharged reservoir fluid, in response to at least buoyancy forces, and is conducted to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver; and at least a portion of the reservoir fluid separation space defines a separation-facilitating passage portion of the intermediate wellbore passage, and the separation-facilitating passage portion is disposed within the wider intermediate section. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein: the assembly further includes: a pump; and an uphole fluid conductor; wherein: the pump is fluidly coupled to the flow diverter body for receiving and pressurizing the gas-depleted reservoir fluid; and the uphole fluid conductor is for conducting the pressurized gas-depleted reservoir fluid to the surface; and the flow diverter body includes: a reservoir fluid conductor that is effecting flow communication between the reservoir fluid receiver and the reservoir fluid discharge communicator. a gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor; and a gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharge communicator; wherein: the gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor is effecting flow communication between the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver and the gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharge communicator; and the gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharge communicator is for supplying the pump with the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The system as claimed in claim 53; wherein the pump is disposed within the wider intermediate section. ### Claim 55 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein the separation-facilitating passage portion is disposed between the flow diverter body and the wider intermediate section. ### Claim 56 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein the separation-facilitating passage portion is disposed within an annulus that is defined between the flow diverter body and the wider intermediate section. ### Claim 57 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein: the separation-facilitating passage portion includes: (i) an uphole-disposed space, and (ii) a flow diverter body-defined intermediate space; the uphole-disposed space is disposed uphole relative to the reservoir fluid discharge communicator; and the flow diverter body-defined intermediate space is disposed within an annulus that is defined between the flow diverter body and the wider intermediate section. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The system as claimed in claim 57; wherein the flow diverter body-defined intermediate space merges with the uphole-disposed space. ### Claim 59 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein the separation-facilitating passage portion spans a continuous space extending from the assembly to the wider intermediate section. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The system as claimed in claim 59; wherein the continuous space extends outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis of the assembly. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) The system as claimed in claim 60; wherein the continuous space extends outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore. ### Claim 62 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein: the narrower uphole-disposed section merges with the wider intermediate section via an uphole transition section of the wellbore string; and the uphole transition section extends from the narrower uphole-disposed section along, or substantially along, an upper transition wellbore string section axis that is disposed at an acute angle of less than about 45 degrees relative to a reference axis that is parallel, or substantially parallel, to the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore. ### Claim 63 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein: the ratio of: (a) the minimum width of the wider intermediate section to (b) the maximum width of the narrower uphole-disposed section is at least about 1.1. ### Claim 64 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein: the wellbore string defines an internal passage; and a cross-sectional area of the internal passage of the wider intermediate section is greater than a cross-sectional area of the internal passage of the narrower uphole-disposed section. ### Claim 65 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein: the ratio of: (a) a cross-sectional area of the internal passage of the wider intermediate section to (b) a cross-sectional area of the internal passage of the narrower uphole-disposed section is at least about 1.15. ### Claim 66 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein: the separation-facilitating passage portion includes a minimum cross-sectional area, and the ratio of: (a) the minimum cross-sectional area of the separation-facilitating passage portion, to (b) the maximum cross-sectional area of a narrower uphole-disposed section-defined passage portion of the intermediate wellbore passage, the narrower uphole-disposed section-defined passage portion being defined between the narrower uphole-disposed section and the assembly and disposed in flow communication with the separation-facilitating passage portion, is at least about 0.9. ### Claim 67 (depends on 52) The system as claimed in claim 52; wherein: the ratio of: (a) the length of the narrower uphole-disposed section, measured along its longitudinal axis to (b) the length of the wider intermediate section, measured along its longitudinal axis is at least about two (2).