Gas lift apparatus and method for producing a well
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorRobert P. Rouen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas lift system is provided for use in unloading a fluid from a perforation interval of a subterranean well to facilitate producing gas from a gas-bearing formation. The system may include a packer having dual ports, a tubing string running from the surface to the packer for producing the well, and an injection tool extending below from the packer into the perforation interval. The injection tool may include at least one gas lift valve for injecting gas into the perforating interval of the well.
Claims27
A gas injection tool, comprising:
- a tubular member defining an axial bore therethrough, the axial bore adapted to deliver a gas into a wellbore proximate a perforation interval via orifices, wherein the gas injection tool is separate from and not in contact with a tubing string for removing fluid from the wellbore;
- and
- a plurality of gas lift valves attached to the tubular member, the gas lift valves adapted to regulate communication, via the corresponding orifices, from the axial bore of the tubular member to the wellbore at or below the perforation interval, and wherein the gas lift valves are configured to be opened in response to application of pressure applied by a flow of gas injected into the axial bore of the tubular member, wherein the gas is injected through each of the gas lift valves that is opened to assist production of fluid from the wellbore.
A gas lift system for use in producing a well having a perforation interval, the system comprising:
- a sealing mechanism adapted to seal the well at a location above the perforation interval, the sealing mechanism having two ports therein;
- a tubular string adapted to produce fluid from the perforation interval via one port in the sealing mechanism;
- and
- an injection tool separate from and not in contact with the tubular string to inject gas into the well at or below the perforation interval via the other port in the sealing mechanism, the injection tool having plural gas lift valves for delivering the injected gas into the well at a location below the sealing mechanism and at or below the perforation interval, wherein the injection tool is to receive a flow of gas and the plural gas lift valves are configured to be opened by pressure applied by the flow of gas to inject gas into the well, wherein the gas is injected through each of the gas lift valves that is opened to assist production of fluid from the well.
A method for unloading an accumulated liquid from a well having a perforation interval proximate a gas-bearing formation, wherein hydrostatic pressure of the accumulated liquid exceeds pressure of produced gas, the method comprising:
- sealing the formation in the well at a location above the perforation interval;
- providing a tubing string for establishing communication between surface and a point below the sealing location;
- providing a gas injection tool having a plurality of gas lift valves for establishing communication between a point above the sealing location and the perforation interval below the sealing location, wherein the gas injection tool is separate from and not in contact with the tubing string;
- delivering gas to the gas injection tool, wherein the delivered gas applies pressure to cause the plurality of gas lift valves to open;
- delivering gas into the well at or below the perforation interval via the plurality of gas lift valves when opened to decrease the hydrostatic pressure of the accumulated liquid to a level sufficient to permit gas to be produced from the formation;
- and
- removing the accumulated liquid and gas from the well via the tubing string.
A gas lift system for use in producing a wellbore having perforations proximate a gas-bearing formation, the system comprising:
- a dual-port packer adapted to seal the wellbore at a location above the perforations, the dual-port packer having two ports therein;
- a tubing string adapted to deliver gas from the perforations proximate the formation via one port in the packer to a surface location, wherein the tubing string has a valve that is actuated in response to gas pressure in a well annulus outside the tubing string exceeding a predetermined level;
- and
- an injection tool separate from and not in contact with the tubing string and adapted to inject gas from a surface location into the wellbore at or below the perforations via the other port in the packer, the injection tool having a plurality of gas lift valves for delivering the injected gas into the wellbore at a location below the packer, wherein the injection tool is to receive a flow of gas and the plural gas lift valves are configured to be opened by pressure applied by the flow of gas to inject gas into the well, wherein the gas is injected through each of the gas lift valves that is opened to assist production of fluid from the wellbore.
A method for producing through a wellbore having a perforation interval proximate a formation, comprising:
- injecting gas into the wellbore at or below the perforation interval, wherein injecting the gas comprises injecting the gas using an injecting tool having plural gas lift valves;
- actuating a first one of the gas lift valves when the injected gas reaches a first pressure;
- actuating a second one of the gas lift valves when the injected gas reaches a second, greater pressure;
- and
- producing fluids from the wellbore using a tubing string that is separate from and not in contact with the injecting tool such that the gas lift valves are separate from the tubing string.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.