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US 6,684,956 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for producing fluids from multiple formations
AssigneeWood Group ESP, Inc.
InventorMichael R. Berry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for producing fluid from a well intersecting a plurality of producing formations. The apparatus includes a pumping system lowered into the well on a production tubing. The well is separated into upper and lower production zones by a packer installed in the well. Fluid is communicated upwardly in the well from the upper zone through a first flow conduit and from the second zone through a second flow conduit. Fluid from both zones is combined and produced upwardly in a single stream. The amount of fluid produced from each zone can be determined with a flow meter which will measure the amount of flow produced from one or more of the zones.
Claims26
An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from first and second production zones intersected by a well, the apparatus comprising;
- a first packer positioned in the well above said first production zone;
- a second packer positioned in the well between said first and second production zones, wherein said first packer comprises a dual packer;
- a first flow conduit for communicating a first production fluid from said first production zone between said first and second packers into an interior of said well above said first packer;
- a second flow conduit extending from said first packer to said second packer for communicating a second production fluid from said second zone below said second packer into said interior of said well above said first packer wherein said first and second production fluids are commingled in said interior of said well above said first packer;
- and
- a pumping system lowered into said well on a production tubing, wherein the commingled first and second production fluids are communicated into the production tubing and urged upwardly therein.
3 more elements
Apparatus for producing fluid from a plurality of hydrocarbon producing formations intersected by a well, the apparatus comprising:
- a packer positioned in said well to separate said plurality of producing formations into upper and lower production zones, the upper and lower production zones each comprising at least one producing formation;
- a production tubing lowered into said well, said production tubing splitting into first and second production branches at a lower end thereof;
- a first pumping system connected to said first production branch for communicating fluid from said upper production zone into said first production branch;
- and
- a second pumping system pump for communicating fluid from said lower production zone into said second production branch, wherein fluid from said first production branch and said second production branch are combined in said production tubing and delivered upwardly therein, the first and second pumping systems comprising:
- an electric submersible pump;
- a fluid intake for said pump;
- a motor connected to said pump;
- and
- a seal section disposed between said motor and said pump, wherein a shroud having an upper end and a lower end is disposed about said second pumping system, said upper end of said shroud being positioned above said intake of said second pumping system, said lower end of said shroud being located such that fluid from said lower production zone flows around said lower end of said shroud and upwardly past said motor of said second pumping system prior to reaching said intake of said second pumping system.
7 more elements
An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a well, wherein the well intersects a plurality of producing formations, the apparatus comprising:
- a packer positioned in said well for separating said formations into an upper production zone and a lower production zone, the upper and lower production zones each having at least one producing formation;
- a first pumping system disposed in said well for pumping fluid from said upper production zone upwardly in said well;
- and
- a second pumping system disposed in said well for pumping fluid from said lower production zone upwardly in said well, wherein said first and second pumping systems are positioned in said well above said packer;
- wherein said first pumping system is connected to a first production tubing lowered into said well from a wellhead and said second pumping system is connected to a second production tubing lowered into said well from said wellhead.
2 more elements
A method of producing fluid from a plurality of producing formations intersected by a well, the method comprising:
- (a) separating the plurality of formations into upper and lower production zones with a lower packer, each zone having at least one producing formation;
- (b) placing an upper packer in said well above said upper production zone, the upper packer comprising a dual packer;
- (c) connecting the upper packer to the lower packer with a fluid flow conduit;
- (d) communicating fluid from said lower production zone upwardly through said fluid flow conduit and into the well above the upper packer;
- (e) communicating fluid from said upper production zone upwardly in said well past said upper packer;
- (f) combining said fluid from said upper production zone and said lower production zones in said well to form a single fluid stream;
- and
- (g) communicating said single fluid stream upwardly in said well.
5 more elements
A method of determining the amount of fluid produced from different production zones in a well intersecting a plurality of producing formations, the method comprising:
- (a) lowering a single pumping system into said well on a production tubing;
- (b) separating the well into upper and lower production zones with a packer, each zone having at least one producing formation;
- (c) communicating fluid from said lower production zone upwardly in said well past said packer;
- (d) combining said fluid from said upper and lower production zones into a single stream;
- (e) communicating said single stream upwardly in said well wherein said single pumping system draws fluid from both of said first and second production zones upwardly in said well and communicates said single stream upwardly in said production tubing;
- and
- (f) prior to said combining step, determining the amount of fluid produced from one of said upper and lower production zones.
4 more elements
Apparatus for producing fluid from a plurality of hydrocarbon producing formations intersected by a well, the apparatus comprising:
- a packer positioned in said well to separate said plurality of producing formations into upper and lower production zones, the upper and lower production zones each comprising at least one producing formation;
- a production tubing lowered into said well, said production tubing splitting into first and second production branches at a lower end thereof;
- a first pumping system connected to said first production branch for communicating fluid from said upper production zone into said first production branch;
- a second pumping system pump for communicating fluid from said lower production zone into said second production branch, wherein fluid from said first production branch and said second production branch are combined in said production tubing and delivered upwardly therein, the first and second pumping systems comprising:
- an electric submersible pump;
- a fluid intake for said pump, wherein both of said first and second pumping systems are positioned above said packer;
- a shroud disposed about said second pumping system;
- and
- a tailpipe connected to said shroud, said tailpipe being received in an opening in said packer, wherein fluid from said lower production zone passes through said tailpipe into said shroud and is communicated from said shroud by said second pumping system into said second production branch.
6 more elements
An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a well, wherein the well intersects a plurality of producing formations, the apparatus comprising:
- a packer positioned in said well for separating said formations into an upper production zone and a lower production zone, the upper and lower production zones each having at least one producing formation;
- a first pumping system disposed in said well for pumping fluid from said upper production zone upwardly in said well;
- a second pumping system disposed in said well for pumping fluid from said lower production zone upwardly in said well, wherein said first and second pumping systems are positioned in said well above said packer;
- a shroud disposed about said second pumping system, said second pumping system and said shroud defining an annulus therebetween;
- and
- a tailpipe extending downward from said shroud to said packer, wherein fluid from said lower production zone passes through said tailpipe into said annulus, and wherein said second pumping system pumps said fluid in said annulus upwardly in a flow channel connected thereto.
3 more elements
An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a well, wherein the well intersects a plurality of producing formations, the apparatus comprising:
- a packer positioned in said well for separating said formations into an upper production zone and a lower production zone, the upper and lower production zones each having at least one producing formation;
- a first pumping system disposed in said well for pumping fluid from said upper production zone upwardly in said well;
- a second pumping system disposed in said well for pumping fluid from said lower production zone upwardly in said well, wherein said first and second pumping systems are positioned in said well above said packer, and wherein flow from both of the first and second pumping systems is displaced upwardly in a single production tubing, the single production tubing having a first production branch connected to said first pumping system and a second production branch connected to said second pumping system so that fluid from both of said first and second production branches is communicated upwardly in said single production tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.