# US 7,744,352 B2 · Method for removing fluid from a well bore

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- Number: US 7,744,352 B2
- Document ID: US7744352B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/397,080
- Filed: 2009-03-03
- Published: 2009-07-02
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2004-08-24
- Assignees: Latigo Pipe and Equipment, Inc.
- Inventors: Thomas Earl Parr
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744352B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/129: {Adaptations of down-hole pump systems powered by fluid supplied from outside the borehole (gas-lift E21B43/122; jet pumps E21B43/124)}
- F04B 47/04: the driving means incorporating fluid means
- Y10S 417/904: Well pump driven by fluid motor mounted above ground
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A jet pump assembly and method for removing fluid from a well bore extending into a formation is disclosed. The jet pump assembly includes a jet pump interposed between a tubing string and a packer. The jet pump includes a body having an outer surface, a lower tubular end, an upper tubular end connected to a lower end of the tubing string, and a central axial bore intersecting the upper tubular end at a discharge end and extending partially through the pump body toward the lower tubular end. The pump body further has a plurality of radial inlet ports intersecting the central axial bore and a plurality of production ports extending from the lower tubular end to the upper tubular end in a non-intersecting relation to the injection ports. The central axial bore is shaped to provide a non-restricted flow path from the point the injection ports intersect the central axial bore to the discharge end of the central axial bore.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for removing fluid from a well bore extending into a formation, comprising:
connecting a jet pump to a lower end of a tubing string, the jet pump comprising a pump body having an outer surface, a lower end, an upper end, and a central axial bore intersecting the upper end at a discharge end and extending partially through the pump body toward the lower end, the pump body further having a plurality of radial inlet ports extending from the outer surface of the pump body and intersecting the central axial bore and a plurality of production ports extending from the lower end to the upper end in a non-intersecting relation to the inlet ports, the central axial bore having a substantially uniform diameter from the point the inlet ports intersect the central axial bore to the discharge end of the central axial bore so that the central axial bore provides a non-restricted flow path from the inlet ports into the upper tubular end of the body;
positioning the tubing string and the jet pump in the well bore to form an annulus;
sealing the annulus below the inlet ports of the pump body in such a way that fluid communication is established between the formation and the production ports; and
injecting a gas into the annulus so as to cause the gas to pass into the inlet ports of the body of the jet pump and through the central axial bore thereby causing fluid located below the lower end of the pump body to be lifted up through the production ports, mix with the gas, and be lifted up the tubing string to the surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
connecting a separator to the tubing string such that fluid communication is established between the separator and the tubing string, the separator capable of separating the fluid lifted from the well bore into a gas portion and a liquid portion, the separator having a gas outlet; and
connecting a compressor to the gas outlet of the separator such that fluid communication is established between the compressor and the separator, the compressor capable of compressing at least a portion of the gas portion to provide a compressed gas, the compressor connected to the annulus so as to establish fluid communication between the compressor and the annulus to permit the compressed gas to be conveyed to the annulus.

### Claim 3

A method for removing fluid from a well bore extending into a formation and lined by a casing having perforations open to the formation, comprising:
connecting a jet pump to a lower end of a tubing string, the jet pump comprising a pump body having an outer surface, a lower end, an upper end, and a central axial bore intersecting the upper end at a discharge end and extending partially through the pump body toward the lower end, the pump body further having a plurality of radial inlet ports extending from the outer surface of the pump body and intersecting the central axial bore and a plurality of production ports extending from the lower end to the upper end in a non-intersecting relation to the inlet ports, the central axial bore having a substantially uniform diameter from the point the inlet ports intersect the central axial bore to the discharge end of the central axial bore so that the central axial bore provides a non-restricted flow path from the inlet ports to the upper end of the body;
positioning the tubing string and the jet pump in the well bore to form an annulus with the casing;
sealing the annulus below the inlet ports of the pump body and above the perforations in such a way that fluid communication is established between the formation and the production ports; and
injecting a gas into the annulus so as to cause the gas to pass into the inlet ports of the body of the jet pump and through the central axial bore thereby causing fluid located below the lower end of the pump body to be lifted up through the production ports, mix with the gas, and be lifted up the tubing string to the surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 further comprising:
connecting a separator to the tubing string such that fluid communication is established between the separator and the tubing string, the separator capable of separating the fluid lifted from the well bore into a gas portion and a liquid portion, the separator having a gas outlet; and
connecting a compressor to the gas outlet of the separator such that fluid communication is established between the compressor and the separator, the compressor capable of compressing at least a portion of the gas portion to provide a compressed gas, the compressor connected to the annulus so as to establish fluid communication between the compressor and the annulus to permit the compressed gas to be conveyed to the annulus.

### Claim 5

A method for removing fluid from a well bore extending into a formation and lined by a casing having perforations open to the formation, comprising:
connecting a jet pump to a lower end of a tubing string, the jet pump comprising a pump body having an outer surface, a lower tubular end, an upper tubular end, and a central axial bore intersecting the upper tubular end at a discharge end and extending partially through the pump body toward the lower tubular end, the pump body further having a plurality of radial inlet ports extending from the outer surface of the pump body and intersecting the central axial bore and a plurality of production ports extending from the lower tubular end to the upper tubular end in a non-intersecting relation to the inlet ports, the central axial bore having a substantially uniform diameter from the point the inlet ports intersect the central axial bore to the discharge end of the central axial bore so that the central axial bore provides a non-restricted flow path from the inlet ports to the upper tubular end of the body;
positioning the tubing string and the jet pump in the well bore to form an annulus with the casing;
sealing the annulus below the inlet ports of the pump body and above the perforations in such a way that fluid communication is established between the formation and the production ports; and
injecting a gas into the annulus so as to cause the gas to pass into the inlet ports of the body of the jet pump and through the central axial bore thereby causing fluid located below the lower tubular end of the pump body to be lifted up through the production ports, mix with the gas, and be lifted up the tubing string to the surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 further comprising:
connecting a separator to the tubing string such that fluid communication is established between the separator and the tubing string, the separator capable of separating the fluid lifted from the well bore into a gas portion and a liquid portion, the separator having a gas outlet; and
connecting a compressor to the gas outlet of the separator such that fluid communication is established between the compressor and the separator, the compressor capable of compressing at least a portion of the gas portion to provide a compressed gas, the compressor connected to the annulus so as to establish fluid communication between the compressor and the annulus to permit the compressed gas to be conveyed to the annulus.