Exploitation method for reservoirs containing hydrogen sulphide
OwnerIon-Ionel Adamache, William L. Kennedy +1inventors
InventorsIon-Ionel Adamache, William L. Kennedy, Michael C. Enwright
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of producing fluids from subterreanean reservoirs containing hydrogen sulphide and especially those reservoirs where elemental sulphur or hydrogen polysulphides are present. The method describes the use of a jet pump, chemical injection, and downhole electrical heaters to prevent the deposition of elemental sulphur within the production tubulars of wells penetrating such reservoirs by raising the pressure, temperature, and sulphur solvency of fluids being produced up these wells. In this way, subterranean reserves of sulphur and hydrogen sulphide which were previously unproducible or too expensive to produce can be commercially exploited.
Claims34
A method of substantially preventing deposition of sulphur from fluids containing hydrogen sulphide and sulphur on elements of a well, which penetrates a subterranean reservoir, during extraction of the reservoir fluids through the well, the well comprising:
- an outer tubular casing;
- first and second fluid pathways which are disposed within the outer casing;
- an extraction interval comprising an opening in the outer casing for permitting entry of the reservoir fluids into the well;
- an annular seal disposed within the outer casing above said extraction interval;
- a jet pump disposed within said first fluid pathway and located above said annular seal;
- a tailpipe in communication with said first fluid pathway and extending below said annular seal to said extraction interval at a depth below the point of entry of the reservoir fluids into the well;
- a chemical injection tubing disposed within the outer casing and extending to a depth below said annular seal, at a depth below the point of entry of the reservoir fluids into the well, wherein the method comprises:
- (i) injecting power fluid into said second fluid pathway;
- (ii) injecting a sulphur solvent into said chemical injection tubing for circulating said injected sulphur solvent with the reservoir fluids;
- (iii) driving said jet pump with said power fluid which enters said jet pump from said second fluid pathway and is commingled with and entrains the reservoir fluids to cause said commingled fluids to flow to the surface through said first fluid pathway;
- whereby a pressurizing action of said jet pump retains sulphur in a dissolved, non-plugging state within said commingled fluids and a liquid film is formed on surfaces of said first fluid pathway which impedes and substantially prevents the deposition of sulphur upon the surfaces of said first fluid pathway.
A method of substantially preventing deposition of sulphur from fluids containing hydrogen sulphide and sulphur on elements of a well, which penetrates a subterranean reservoir, during extraction of the reservoir fluids through the well, the well comprising:
- an outer tubular casing;
- inner and outer concentric tubing strings which are disposed within the outer casing;
- an extraction interval comprising an opening in the outer casing for permitting entry of the reservoir fluids into the well;
- a first annular seal disposed within a first annulus between the casing and said outer tubing string above said extraction interval;
- a jet pump disposed within said inner tubing string and located above said first annular seal;
- a second annular seal disposed within a second annulus between said inner tubing string and said outer tubing string and located below said jet pump;
- a tailpipe in communication with said inner tubing string and extending below said first annular seal to said extraction interval at a depth below the point of entry of the reservoir fluids into the well;
- a chemical injection tubing disposed within said first annulus and extending to a depth below said first annular seal, at a depth below the point of entry of the reservoir fluids into the well, wherein the method comprises:
- (i) injecting power fluid into said second annulus;
- (ii) injecting a sulphur solvent into said chemical injection tubing for circulating said injected sulphur solvent with the reservoir fluids;
- (iii) driving said jet pump with said power fluid which enters said jet pump from said second annulus and is commingled with and entrains the reservoir fluids to cause said commingled fluids to flow to the surface through said inner tubing string;
- whereby a pressurizing action of said jet pump retains sulphur in a dissolved, non-plugging state within said commingled fluids and a liquid film is formed on an inner surface of said inner tubing string which impedes and substantially prevents the deposition of sulphur upon the inner surface of said inner tubing string.
A method of substantially preventing deposition of sulphur from fluids containing hydrogen sulphide and sulphur on elements of a well, which penetrates a subterranean reservoir, during extraction of the reservoir fluids through the well, the well comprising:
- an outer tubular casing;
- first and second nonconcentric, parallel tubing strings which are disposed within the outer casing;
- an extraction interval comprising an opening in the well casing for permitting entry of the reservoir fluids into the well;
- an annular seal disposed within the outer casing above said extraction interval;
- a jet pump disposed within said first tubing string and located above said annular seal;
- a tailpipe in communication with said first tubing string and extending below said first annular seal to said extraction interval at a depth below the point of entry of the reservoir fluids into the well;
- a chemical injection tubing disposed within the casing and extending to a depth below said annular seal, at a depth below the point of entry of the reservoir fluids into the well, wherein the method comprises:
- (i) injecting power fluid into said second tubing string;
- (ii) injecting a sulphur solvent into said chemical injection tubing for circulating said injected sulphur solvent with the reservoir fluids;
- (iii) driving said jet pump with said power fluid which enters said jet pump from said second tubing string and is commingled with and entrains the reservoir fluids to cause said commingled fluids to flow to the surface through said first tubing string;
- whereby a pressurizing action of said jet pump retains sulphur in a dissolved, non-plugging state within said commingled fluids and a liquid film is formed on an inner surface of said first tubing string which impedes and substantially prevents the deposition of sulphur upon the inner surface of said first tubing string.
An apparatus for substantially preventing deposition of sulphur from fluids containing hydrogen sulphide and sulphur on elements of a well, which penetrates a subterranean reservoir, during extraction of the reservoir fluids through the well, the well comprising:
- an outer tubular casing;
- first and second fluid pathways which are disposed within the outer casing;
- an extraction interval comprising an opening in the outer casing for permitting entry of the reservoir fluids into the well;
- an annular seal disposed within the outer casing above said extraction interval;
- a jet pump disposed within said first tubing string and located above said annular seal, said jet pump for being driven by power fluid which enters said jet pump from said second fluid pathway and is commingled with and entrains the reservoir fluids through a throat of said jet pump into a diffuser where a velocity of said commingled fluids is reduced and pressure increases, said commingled fluid velocity being sufficient to expel said commingled fluids from said jet pump and to cause said commingled fluids to flow to the surface through said first fluid pathway;
- a tailpipe in communication with said first fluid pathway and extending below said annular seal to said extraction interval at a depth below the point of entry of the reservoir fluids into the well;
- and
- a chemical injection tubing disposed within the outer casing and extending to a depth below said annular seal, at a depth below the point of entry of the reservoir fluids into the well;
- whereby a pressurizing action of said jet pump retains sulphur in a dissolved, non-plugging state within said commingled fluids and a liquid film is formed on surfaces of said first fluid pathway for impeding and substantially preventing deposition of sulphur upon the surfaces of said first fluid pathway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.