Downhole separation and reinjection
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorRyan Cox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique enhances hydrocarbon fluid production. The technique utilizes a well with a plurality of lateral wellbores positioned to facilitate removal of well fluid from a hydrocarbon reservoir. A separator is disposed in the well to receive well fluid that flows from a lateral production leg. Operation of the separator separates well fluid into an oil component and a water component to enable production of the oil component. The water component is injected into the reservoir in a manner that drives well fluid trapped in the reservoir into the lateral production leg.
Claims23
A system for enhancing hydrocarbon production, comprising:
- a wellbore having:
- a vertical wellbore section;
- and
- a plurality of lateral wellbore sections extending laterally from the vertical wellbore section, the plurality of lateral wellbore sections comprising a lateral production leg and a lateral injection leg;
- an electric submersible pumping system deployed in the lateral production leg wherein the electric submersible pumping system comprises production tubing;
- and
- a separator disposed in the wellbore to receive well fluid from the lateral production leg via the production tubing, the separator being operable to separate water and oil from the well fluid received via the production tubing, wherein the oil is directed to a surface location and the water is directed into the lateral injection leg in a manner to drive well fluid into the lateral production leg and wherein the electric submersible pumping system deployed in the lateral production leg provides power for separation of the water and the oil from the well fluid by the separator.
A method for enhancing hydrocarbon production, comprising:
- forming a plurality of lateral wellbores including a lateral production leg and a lateral injection leg;
- employing an electric submersible pumping system in the lateral production leg fitted with production tubing for flowing a well fluid from the lateral production leg via the production tubing to a separator, deployed in a wellbore above the lateral production leg, to power the separator for separating water from the well fluid;
- directing the water into the lateral injection leg;
- and
- using the water directed into the lateral injection leg to drive well fluid from an adjacent reservoir into the lateral production leg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.