Increasing Hydrocarbon Recovery in a Multipurpose Well

A system for downhole separation of water from hydrocarbons in a wellbore, the system comprising:

• a first seal disposed in the wellbore downhole of apertures extending through a casing of the wellbore, the first seal limiting flow of fluids downhole in the wellbore;
• a second seal disposed in the wellbore uphole of the apertures extending through the casing of the wellbore, the second seal limiting flow of fluids uphole in the wellbore;
• a liquid-gas separator positioned to receive fluids present in the wellbore between the first seal and the second seal, the liquid-gas separator discharging hydrocarbons into the wellbore uphole of the second seal;
• a liquid collection vessel receiving water discharged by the hydrocarbon separator;
• a conduit extending downhole from the liquid collection vessel through the first seal and the second seal;
• a pump installed with the conduit and operable to pump fluids from liquid collection vessel downhole and out of the wellbore, and
• a valve system operated based on water saturation, the valve system controlling the pump.