# US 9,004,166 B2 · Down-hole gas separator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,004,166 B2 - Document ID: US9004166B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/195,441 - Filed: 2011-08-01 - Published: 2013-02-07 - Granted: 2015-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-01 - Assignees: Spirit Global Energy Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: John M. Raglin - Inventors: John M. Raglin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9004166B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/38: in the well - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 43/121: {Lifting well fluids (monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008)} - E21B 43/127: {Adaptations of walking-beam pump systems} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A gas separator for separating gas from a fluid in a production stream in a producing hydrocarbon well is described. The gas separator includes a central tube sized to fit into a well casing of the producing hydrocarbon well and having an input at its lower end for receiving the production stream and perforations at its upper end to allow the production stream to flow into the space between the central tube and the well casing. A suction tube is located inside the central tube, the suction tube is operable to draw fluid from the space between the central tube and the well casing and to deliver the fluid to an artificial lift mechanism. A baffle assembly in the gas separator is comprised of a series of baffles, each baffle extending between an inner wall of the central tube and an outer wall of the suction tube for a portion of the available space between the inner wall of the central tube and the outer wall of the suction tube, each baffle offset from the other baffles in the baffle assembly, wherein the baffle assembly is operable to continually redirect the fluid and gas as it travels through the central tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas separator for separating gas from a fluid in a production stream in a producing hydrocarbon well, the gas separator comprising: a central tube, the central tube being sized to fit into a well casing of the producing hydrocarbon well and having an input at its lower end for receiving the production stream and perforations at its upper end to allow the production stream to flow into the space between the central tube and the well casing; a suction tube inside the central tube, the suction tube operable to draw fluid from the space between the central tube and the well casing and to deliver the fluid to an artificial lift mechanism; a baffle assembly comprising a series of baffles, each baffle extending between an inner wall of the central tube and an outer wall of the suction tube for a portion of the available space between the inner wall of the central tube and the outer wall of the suction tube, each baffle offset from the other baffles in the baffle assembly, each baffle being angled upward from the inner wall of the central tube to the outer wall of the suction tube and blocking about half of the available space for fluid flow, such that the baffle assembly continually redirects the fluid and gas toward a next baffle in the baffle assembly as the fluid and gas it travels through the central tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the gas separator is held in the well casing by a tubing anchor and a packer assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the packer creates an artificial sump adjacent to the suction tube intake. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the baffle assembly creates turbulence in the production stream that works to separate the gas from the fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the artificial lift mechanism is a rod pump. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the artificial lift mechanism is a submersible pump. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the artificial lift mechanism is a progressive cavity pump. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the flow rate of the fluid in the space between the central tube and the well casing is no more than 1.2 feet/second. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the flow rate of the fluid in the space between the central tube and the well casing is no more than 0.7 feet/second. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the flow rate of the fluid in the space between the central tube and the well casing is no more than 0.4 feet/second. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the gas separator is at least 20 feet long. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The gas separator of claim 1 wherein the gas separator is at least 40 feet long. ### Claim 13 A method for separating gas from a fluid in a production stream in a producing hydrocarbon well, the method comprising: using a packer to direct the production stream into a central tube of a gas separator assembly; continually redirecting the flow of the production stream using a baffle assembly in the central tube, wherein the baffle assembly comprises a series of baffles, each baffle extending between an inner wall of the central tube and an outer wall of the suction tube for a portion of the available space between the inner wall of the central tube and the outer wall of the suction tube, each baffle offset from the other baffles in the baffle assembly, each baffle being angled upward from the inner wall of the central tube to the outer wall of the suction tube and blocking about half of the available space for fluid flow, such that the baffle assembly continually redirects the fluid and gas toward a next baffle in the baffle assembly as the fluid and gas travels through the central tube; directing the production stream out of the central tube and into a space between a well casing of the hydrocarbon well and the central tube where the gas can separate from fluid; and drawing the fluid from the production stream into a suction tube running through the interior of the central tube, the suction tube delivering the fluid to an artificial lift mechanism. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the baffle assembly creates turbulence in the production stream that works to separate the gas from the fluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the packer creates an artificial sump adjacent to the suction tube intake. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the artificial lift mechanism is a rod pump. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the artificial lift mechanism is a submersible pump. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the artificial lift mechanism is a progressive cavity pump. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the gas separator is at least 20 feet long. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the gas separator is at least 40 feet long. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising creating a flow rate less than 1.2 feet/second in the space between the well casing of the hydrocarbon well and the central tube. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising creating a flow rate less than 0.7 feet/second in the space between the well casing of the hydrocarbon well and the central tube. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising creating a flow rate less than 0.4 feet/second in the space between the well casing of the hydrocarbon well and the central tube.