Down-hole separator for in-situ gas-lift

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11828154-B2
Application number	US-202217647782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2022
Priority date	Jan 12, 2022
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A system includes a cyclonic separator that separates a first production fluid into a lighter phase and a heavier phase and a pipe that transports the lighter phase from a first exit of the cyclonic separator to an annulus. The pipe includes an inlet fluidly connected to the cyclonic separator, a first outlet fluidly connected to the annulus, and a second outlet fluidly connected to the annulus. The system also includes a low pressure recombination zone that reintroduces the lighter phase to the heavier phase, thereby forming a second production fluid. The low pressure recombination zone transports the second production fluid to a well exit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a cyclonic separator configured to separate a first production fluid into a lighter phase and a heavier phase, the cyclonic separator comprising:
an entrance opening configured to receive the first production fluid;
a first exit disposed at an upper axial end of the cyclonic separator; and
a second exit disposed at a lower axial end of the cyclonic separator;

a pipe configured to transport the lighter phase from the first exit of the cyclonic separator to an annulus, the pipe comprising:
an inlet fluidly connected to the cyclonic separator;
a first outlet fluidly connected to the annulus; and
a second outlet fluidly connected to the annulus; and

a low pressure recombination zone configured to reintroduce the lighter phase to the heavier phase, thereby forming a second production fluid,
wherein the low pressure recombination zone is configured to transport the second production fluid to a well exit.

2. The system according to claim 1 , the pipe further comprises:
a first branch connected to the inlet;
a second branch connected to the first outlet; and
a third branch connected to the second outlet,
wherein the first branch, the second branch, and the third branch are fluidly interconnected at a junction.

3. The system according to claim 2 , the pipe further comprising:
a first angle that is between the first branch and the second branch and is between 90 and 180 degrees; and
a second angle that is between the first branch and the third branch and is between 90 and 180 degrees.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the cyclonic separator is configured to form the lighter phase into a central vortex when the first production fluid is separated.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the low pressure recombination zone is disposed in a main inner pipe adjacent to an opening in the annulus.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the annulus further comprises a check valve disposed at the opening of the annulus, configured to allow the lighter phase to pass from the annulus to the main inner pipe.

7. A method, comprising:
receiving a first production fluid from an entrance opening of a cyclonic separator;
separating, by the cyclonic separator, the first production fluid into a lighter phase and a heavier phase;
transporting, by a pipe, the lighter phase from an inlet fluidly connected to a first exit disposed at an upper axial end of the cyclonic separator to a first outlet and a second outlet connected to an annulus;
reintroducing the lighter phase to the heavier phase in a main inner pipe subsequent to the heavier phase traveling to a wall of the cyclonic separator and exiting the cyclonic separator through a second exit disposed at a lower axial end of the cyclonic separator, thereby producing a second production fluid; and
transporting, by a low pressure recombination zone, the second production fluid to a well exit.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising forming the lighter phase into a central vortex when the first production fluid is separated.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising venting the lighter phase through the first exit of the cyclonic separator subsequent to the central vortex of the lighter phase being formed.

10. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising transporting the heavier phase upwards in the main inner pipe between the cyclonic separator and the pipe, subsequent to the heavier phase exiting the cyclonic separator.

11. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising directing the lighter phase from the annulus, through an opening in the annulus, into the main inner pipe.

12. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising venting the lighter phase from the annulus, through an opening in the annulus, into the main inner pipe by a check valve.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising preventing, by the check valve, the heavier phase from entering the annulus.

14. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising, after separating the lighter phase and the heavier phase, mixing the lighter phase and the heavier phase at the low pressure recombination zone in the main inner pipe.

15. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising producing the second production fluid in the low pressure recombination zone.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Alrabaei Rayan A
• Alnafisah Musa
• Noui-Mehidi Mohammed
• Alkhaldi Mohammed H

Classifications

• E21B43/38 Primary

  in the well · CPC title

• B04C5/15

  with swinging flaps or revolving sluices; Sluices; Check-valves · CPC title

• E21B43/122

  Gas lift · CPC title

• E21B43/40

  Separation associated with re-injection of separated materials {(E21B43/385 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B04C5/12 Primary

  Construction of the overflow ducting, e.g. diffusing or spiral exits · CPC title