Processes and systems for treating oil and gas wells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9366118-B2
Application number	US-201013266127-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2010
Priority date	Apr 24, 2009
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

Systems and processes are provided for removing fluid from a subterranean well and enhancing the production of oil and/or gas are herein disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an injection conduit, an injection valve, a relief valve, a container, a container valve, a return conduit valve, and a return conduit, all arranged within a subterranean well for removing at least one fluid from the well. The removal of at least one fluid from the well is controlled by the flow of gas into the injection conduit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for removing at least one subterranean fluid from a subterranean well comprising:
a container positioned in a subterranean well;
a gas injection conduit within the tool and in fluid communication with the container for providing a fluid path for injecting an injection gas from an earth surface proximate location into the container;
a fluid return conduit within the tool and in fluid communication with the container for providing a fluid path for transferring the at least one subterranean fluid from the container to the earth surface proximate location;
a gas injection valve within the tool, the gas injection valve defining an interface between the gas injection conduit and the container;
a relief valve that defines an interface between the subterranean well and the container;
an adjustment rod disposed within the tool and between the gas injection valve and the relief valve, the adjustment rod adjusting an opening pressure of the gas injection valve by adjusting a distance between the gas injection valve and the relief valve;
a return valve within the tool, the return valve defining an interface between the fluid return conduit and the container;
and
a container valve that defines an interface between the subterranean well and the container; wherein
the relief valve is positioned on the system at subterranean depth above the container valve; and wherein,
in a gas injection orientation, the gas injection valve and the return valve are open, the relief valve and the container valve are closed, and the container is pressurized, and
in a fluid removal orientation, the gas injection valve and the return valve are closed, the relief valve and the container valve are open, and the at least one subterranean fluid flows from the wellbore into the container.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the return valve is a one-way check valve or a one-way pressure relief valve that permits unidirectional fluid flow from the container to the fluid return conduit and wherein the container valve is a one-way check valve or a one-way pressure relief valve that permits unidirectional fluid flow from the subterranean well to the container.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
injecting high pressure through the gas injection valve resulting in pushing fluid out into the return conduit.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein at least one of the gas injection, relief, return, or container valves is responsive to a hydraulic power signal sent through the gas injection conduit from an earth surface proximate location.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the relief valve is responsive to a differential pressure between a pressure of the gas injection conduit and a pressure of the subterranean well.

6. The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the gas injection valve is responsive to a differential pressure between a pressure of the gas injection conduit and a pressure of the container.

7. The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the return valve is responsive to a differential pressure between a pressure of the gas injection conduit and a pressure of the fluid return conduit.

8. The system as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:
a communications receiver for receiving a communication signal sent from an earth surface proximate location; and
a controller responsive to the communication signal sent from an earth surface proximate location.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a sensor for providing an indication of the presence of the at least one subterranean fluid, wherein the sensor is interfaced with the controller and positioned in the subterranean well.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the relief valve is responsive to a differential pressure between a pressure of the container and a pressure of the subterranean well.

11. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gas injection valve is responsive to a differential pressure between a pressure of the container and a pressure of the gas injection conduit.

12. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the return valve is responsive to a differential pressure between a pressure of the container and a pressure of the fluid return conduit.

13. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a gas holding chamber precharged with gas and used to control the gas injection, relief, return and container valves.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a measurement conduit disposed within the tool and extending from the earth surface proximate location to a check valve, the check valve disposed between the container and the container valve.

15. A process for removing fluid from a subterranean well comprising:
spooling a tool through a production tubing and into a subterranean well, the tool comprising:
a container;
a gas injection conduit within the tool and in fluid communication with the container;
a fluid return conduit within the tool and in fluid communication with the container;
a gas injection valve within the tool, the gas injection valve defining an interface between the gas injection conduit and the container;
a relief valve that defines an interface between the subterranean well and the container;
a return valve within the tool, the return valve defining an interface between the fluid return conduit and the container; and
a container valve that defines an interface between the subterranean well and the container;

injecting an injection gas into the gas injection conduit;
increasing the injection pressure to a first level that exceeds a reference pressure by a first set value to cause the gas injection valve and the return valve to open and the relief valve and the container valve to close;
injecting an injection gas through the injection conduit and into the container; and
reducing the injection pressure to a second level that exceeds the reference pressure by a second set value, said second set value being less than the first set value, to cause the gas injection valve and the return valve to close, the relief valve and the container valve to open and the at least one subterranean fluid to enter the container from the subterranean well.

16. The process as recited in claim 15 , wherein the reference pressure is a pressure at a position within the subterranean well.

17. The process as recited in claim 15 , wherein the reference pressure is a pressure at a position within the container.

18. The process as recited in claim 15 , wherein the reference pressure is a pressure at a position within the return conduit.

Assignees

• Arizmendi Jr Napoleon
• Rubbo Richard Paul
• Yamasaki Mark H
• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Arizmendi Jr Napoleon
• Rubbo Richard Paul
• Yamasaki Mark H

Classifications

• E21B43/121 Primary

  Lifting well fluids (monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008) · CPC title

• E21B34/10

  operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole · CPC title

• E21B43/123 Primary

  Gas lift valves · CPC title