Passive multiphase flow separator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10344580-B2
Application number	US-201715586086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2017
Priority date	May 3, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A passive multiphase separator is configured to separate gas from a two-phase fluid in a wellbore. The passive multiphase separator includes an intake tube that has an intake end, a discharge end and an interior section between the intake end and the discharge end. The interior section includes a rifled interior surface that induces rotation in fluids passing through the interior section. The passive multiphase separator further includes a head assembly connected to the discharge end of the intake tube. The head assembly includes a crossover tube extending into the interior section, one or more gas vents extending from an interior of the crossover tube to an exterior of the head assembly and a liquid discharge. The passive multiphase separator can be deployed in a variety of hydrocarbon recovery systems.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A passive multiphase separator configured to separate gas from a two-phase fluid in a wellbore, the passive multiphase separator comprising:
an intake tube, wherein the intake tube comprises:
an intake end;
a discharge end; and
an interior section between the intake end and the discharge end, wherein the interior section includes a rifled interior surface; and

a head assembly connected to the discharge end of the intake tube, wherein the head assembly comprises:
a crossover tube extending into the interior section;
one or more gas vents extending from an interior of the crossover tube to an exterior of the head assembly; and
a liquid discharge.

2. The passive multiphase separator of claim 1 , wherein the crossover tube comprises an open lower end and a capped upper end.

3. The passive multiphase separator of claim 1 , further comprising one or more stabilization fins that are each connected to a corresponding one of the one or more gas vents.

4. A hydrocarbon recovery system for use in conveying multiphase hydrocarbons from a wellbore to a wellhead, the hydrocarbon recovery system comprising:
production tubing connected to the wellhead and extending into the wellbore; and
a passive multiphase separator connected to the production tubing, wherein the passive multiphase separator comprises:
an intake tube, wherein the intake tube comprises:
an intake end;
a discharge end; and
an interior section between the intake end and the discharge end, wherein the interior section includes a rifled interior surface; and

a head assembly connected to the discharge end of the intake tube, wherein the head assembly comprises:
a crossover tube extending into the interior section;
one or more gas vents extending from an interior of the crossover tube to an exterior of the head assembly; and
a liquid discharge.

5. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 4 , wherein the crossover tube comprises an open lower end and a capped upper end.

6. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 5 , wherein the head assembly further comprising one or more stabilization fins that are each connected to a corresponding one of the one or more gas vents.

7. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 4 further comprising:
a Y-tool connected to the head assembly of the passive multiphase separator; and
a gas bypass line connected to the Y-tool.

8. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 7 further comprising a gas bypass line connected between the wellhead and the Y-tool to convey gas expelled from the passive multiphase separator to the wellhead.

9. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 4 further comprising a pumping system, wherein the pumping system comprises:
an electric motor; and
a pump driven by the electric motor, wherein the pump is in fluid communication with the liquid discharge of the passive multiphase separator.

10. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 9 further comprising a lower packer, wherein the lower packer is located in the wellbore below the pumping system and wherein the passive multiphase separator is located below the lower packer.

11. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 10 further comprising a pup joint extending from the liquid discharge of the passive multiphase separator through the lower packer.

12. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 11 further comprising a gas collection line that extends from below the lower packer to the surface to prevent collected gas from entering the pump.

13. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 12 further comprising an upper packer positioned in the wellbore above the pumping system.

14. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 9 further comprising a shroud that encapsulates the pumping system and wherein the liquid discharge of the passive multiphase separator extends into the shroud.

15. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 4 further comprising:
a downhole progressing cavity pump connected to the liquid discharge of the passive multiphase separator;
a drive assembly positioned above the wellhead; and
a rod string extending from the drive assembly to the progressing cavity pump, wherein the drive assembly rotates the rod string to operate the progressing cavity pump.

16. A hydrocarbon recovery system for use in conveying multiphase hydrocarbons from a wellbore to a wellhead, the hydrocarbon recovery system comprising:
production tubing connected to the wellhead and extending into the wellbore; and
a passive multiphase separator deployed through the production tubing and retained within the production tubing, wherein the passive multiphase separator comprises:
an intake tube, wherein the intake tube comprises:
an intake end;
a discharge end; and
an interior section between the intake end and the discharge end, wherein the interior section includes a rifled interior surface; and

a head assembly connected to the discharge end of the intake tube, wherein the head assembly comprises:
a crossover tube extending into the interior section;
one or more gas vents connected to the crossover tube; and
a liquid discharge in fluid communication with an interior of the production tubing.

17. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 16 further comprising a Y-tool connected to the production tubing, wherein the Y-tool is connected adjacent to the one or more gas vents of the head assembly and wherein the gas expelled from the one or more gas vents is captured within the Y-tool.

18. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 17 further comprising a gas bypass line connected between the Y-tool and the wellhead.

19. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 16 , wherein the crossover tube comprises an open lower end and a capped upper end.

20. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 16 , wherein the head assembly further comprising one or more stabilization fins that are each connected to a corresponding one of the one or more gas vents.

Assignees

• Ge Oil & Gas Esp Inc

Inventors

• Williams Jason Ryan

Classifications

• E21B43/128

  Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives · CPC title

• E21B43/38 Primary

  in the well · CPC title

• E21B43/126

  Adaptations of down-hole pump systems powered by drives outside the borehole, e.g. by a rotary or oscillating drive (powered by fluid E21B43/129) · CPC title

• B04C2003/006

  Construction of elements by which the vortex flow is generated or degenerated · CPC title

• B04C3/00

  Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex {flow following a screw-thread type line} remains unchanged {; Devices in which one of the two discharge ducts returns centrally through the vortex chamber, a reverse-flow vortex being prevented by bulkheads in the central discharge duct (combined with other devices B04C9/00)} · CPC title