Method and apparatus for well bore construction
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsJoseph F. Donovan, Michael H. Johnson, Daniel J. Turick, Larry A. Watkins, Wallace W.F. Leung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for producing a field is disclosed. The field includes a main access well with a first branch well extending therefrom. A separator for separating oil and water is placed in the first branch well. In an alternate embodiment, the separator may be contained within the main access well. A second branch well may also extend from the main access well and may contain a disposal assembly that is operatively associated with the separator. The first and second branch wells may intersect the same reservoir or different reservoirs.
Claims30
A method for recovering hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, having at least one producing zone and one disposal zone, through a multilateral wellbore having at least one branch wellbore, wherein the method comprises:
- extending a primary access wellbore from a surface location to a downhole location, the primary access wellbore presenting a first flow passage in fluid communication with a subterranean reservoir;
- intersecting the primary access wellbore with a branch wellbore presenting a second flow passage in fluid communication with a subterranean reservoir, with one of the flow passages being in fluid communication with a producing zone and the other passage being in fluid communication with a disposal zone;
- providing a phase separation processing unit in the branch wellbore separating phases of production fluids received from the producing zone;
- providing a packer in the branch wellbore blocking fluid flow in the branch wellbore, the packer having a transfer port therein in flow communication with the processing unit directing fluid flow in the branch wellbore via the processing unit;
- delivering production fluids from the producing zone to the subterranean processing unit located within the branch wellbore;
- processing the production fluids in the subterranean processing unit to separate the production fluids into a hydrocarbon production phase and an in-situ disposal phase;
- delivering the separated hydrocarbon production phase from the subterranean processing unit to the surface through the primary access wellbore;
- and
- delivering and re-injecting the separated in-situ disposal phase from the subterranean processing unit into the disposal zone through the flow passage in fluid communication with the disposal zone
- whereby the primary wellbore remains free of processing units and associated equipment and open for fluid flow and mechanical intervention below the branch wellbore.
A wellbore system for recovering hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, having at least one producing zone and at least one disposal zone, through a wellbore having at least one branch wellbore comprising:
- a primary access wellbore extending from a surface location to a downhole location, the primary access wellbore presenting a first flow passage in fluid communication with a subterranean reservoir;
- a first branch wellbore intersecting the primary access wellbore presenting a second flow passage in fluid communication with a subterranean reservoir with one of the flow passages being in fluid communication with a producing zone and the other passage being in fluid communication with a disposal zone;
- a phase separation processing unit in the branch wellbore separating phases of production fluids received from the producing zone into a hydrocarbon production phase which is delivered to the surface and an in-situ disposal phase which is re-injected into the disposal zone;
- and
- a packer in the branch wellbore blocking fluid flow in the branch wellbore, the packer having a transfer port therein in flow communication with the processing unit directing fluid flow in the branch wellbore via the processing unit;
- whereby the primary wellbore remains free of processing units and associated equipment and open for fluid flow and mechanical intervention below the branch wellbore.
A method for treating recovered hydrocarbons from subterranean formations through a wellbore, wherein the method comprises:
- providing a primary access wellbore which extends from a surface location to a downhole location;
- intersecting the primary access wellbore with a first branch wellbore extending outwardly;
- providing a subterranean fluid treatment device, positioned at least in part in the first branch wellbore treating fluid received at the device to enhance selected properties of the fluid;
- delivering fluid to the subterranean treatment device;
- treating the fluid at the subterranean treatment device;
- and
- delivering the treated fluid to the surface through the primary access wellbore from the subterranean treatment device.
A wellbore system for recovering treated hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprising:
- a primary access wellbore extending from a surface location to a downhole location;
- a branch wellbore intersecting the primary access wellbore;
- a subterranean treatment device located, at least in part, within the branch wellbore treating fluid received at the device to enhance selected properties of the fluid;
- and
- whereby the primary access wellbore, the branch wellbore and the subterranean treatment device together produce, treat and deliver fluids downhole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.