Downhole gas-liquid separator for wells

A separator apparatus for insertion of a gas-liquid separator in a tubing string of a fluid producing well, said separator comprising:

• an elongated tubular body including a central bore forming a passage extending from a first end of said tubular body to a second end of said tubular body;
• a spiral baffle disposed in said body and defining a spiral flowpath for a gas-liquid mixture entering said second end of said body;
• a duct interposed in said body for conducting gas exiting said spiral flowpath out of said body;
• said apparatus comprising
• means for registering a first end said body with said tubing string at a predetermined point in said tubing string for communicating gas through said duct into an annular space in said well;
• and
• a ported nipple positioned on said tubing string to receive said separator in a predetermined position therein for placing said duct in communication with ports formed in said nipple for conducting gas from the interior of said body into said annular space.

A gas-liquid separator device for a well producing both liquid and gas, said well including a tubing string extending within a wellbore and in fluid flow communication with a wellbore space, a packer defining a seal between said tubing string and the wall of said wellbore and delimiting an annular space in said wellbore for conducting gas to the surface, and an opening in said tubing string for communicating gas from said wellbore space to said annular space, said separator device comprising:

• a generally spiral shaped baffle interposed in said tubing string and in communication with said wellbore space and with said opening in said tubing string for inducing spiral flow of a gas-liquid mixture upwardly through a generally spiral flowpath defined to effect separation of liquid and gas by causing liquid to migrate to the radial extremities of said flowpath and flow upwardly through a fluid discharge end of said baffle and allowing gas to pass generally centrally along said flowpath;
• and
• a duct coaxial with said baffle and disposed centrally of said flowpath for directing the flow of gas through said opening into said annular space, said duct including at least one gas inlet port interposed between an inlet end and said discharge end of said baffle and operable to receive gas flow through a space defined in part by said baffle and to effect a change in direction of said gas flow upon entering said duct.