Three phase downhole separator apparatus and process

A three phase separator system in a well bore having a casing extending through the well bore, the well bore extending from a surface comprising:

• a packer within the casing adapted to provide substantial fluid isolation between a first vertical section of the casing above the packer and a second vertical section of the casing below the packer;
• an oil production tubing from the second vertical section that extends to the surface;
• an oil valve inline with the oil tubing adapted to regulate an oil flow through the oil production tubing;
• a pump having a pump intake in the first vertical section and a pump discharge piping from the pump that extends through the packer to the second vertical section;
• a gas piping from the first vertical section to the surface adapted to allow the production of gas to the surface;
• and
• a gas valve inline with the gas piping adapted to regulate flow of gas through the gas piping.

A process for downhole separation of three phases within a well bore in a formation, the well bore having a casing and the well bore extending from a surface, comprising:

• providing a packer in the casing so as to provide substantial fluid isolation between a first vertical section of the casing and a second vertical section of the casing;
• allowing a mixture from the formation to enter the first vertical section of the casing;
• allowing the mixture to form a first phase and a second phase in the first vertical section;
• providing a pump, the pump having a pump intake in the first vertical section and having a pump discharge piping from the pump that extends through the packer to the second vertical section;
• pumping the second phase from the first vertical section through the pump discharge piping to the second vertical section so as to form a third phase in the second vertical section;
• allowing the third phase to form a fourth phase and a fifth phase in the second vertical section;
• providing a tubing that extends from the fourth phase to the surface to allow for production from the fourth phase;
• allowing the fifth phase to be discharged outside of the casing to a disposal zone in the formation;
• regulating a fourth phase flow from the fourth phase to the surface so as to substantially prevent the fourth phase flow to the disposal zone;
• providing a piping from the first phase in the first vertical section to the surface to allow for a production from the first phase to the surface;
• and
• regulating a first phase flow from the first phase in the first section to the surface.