Gas vent system and methods of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9869161-B2
Application number	US-201414570698-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2014
Priority date	Sep 22, 2014
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

A gas intake apparatus for use in a wellbore configured to channel a mixture of fluids and solids includes a housing defining a chamber and at least one gas intake passage in flow communication with the chamber. The gas intake apparatus further includes a gas intake mechanism coupled to the housing at the at least one gas intake passage. The gas intake mechanism is configured to facilitate a flow of gaseous substances therethrough and to restrict a flow of solids and liquids therethrough.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gas intake apparatus for use in a wellbore, the wellbore configured to channel a mixture of fluids and solids, said gas intake apparatus comprising:
a housing defining an interior chamber, said housing comprising a first end coupled to a downstream portion of a gas conduit and a second end coupled to an upstream portion of the gas conduit, said housing further defining at least one gas intake passage in flow communication with said chamber; and
a gas intake mechanism coupled to said housing at said at least one gas intake passage, said gas intake mechanism configured to facilitate a flow of gaseous substances therethrough and to restrict a flow of solids and liquids therethrough,
wherein the gas intake apparatus and the gas conduit provide the gaseous substances with an escape path from within a horizontal portion of the wellbore.

2. The gas intake apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said gas intake mechanism comprises at least one membrane layer.

3. The gas intake apparatus in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said at least one membrane layer comprises a plurality of micro-pores that facilitate the flow of gaseous substances therethrough and restrict the flow of solids and liquids therethrough.

4. The gas intake apparatus in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said at least one membrane layer is comprised from a material comprising at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyetheretherkeytone, and polyetherkeytone.

5. The gas intake apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said gas intake mechanism comprises an actuation assembly comprising:
a sealing device configured to selectively seal said gas intake passage;
a sensor positioned proximate said gas intake passage, said sensor configured to determine a physical state of a fluid proximate said gas intake passage; and
an actuator configured to selectively control said sealing device based on the determined physical state of the fluid.

6. The gas intake apparatus in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said sensor comprises a buoyancy device configured to be moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when said buoyancy device is in the first position said at least one gas intake passage facilitates channeling the flow of gaseous substances therethrough, and wherein when said buoyancy device is in the second position said at least one gas intake passage restricts the flow of solids and liquids therethrough.

7. The gas intake apparatus in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said actuator comprises a lever configured to be moveable between a first lever position and a second lever position based on the determined state of the flow of fluid, wherein when said lever is in the first lever position said sealing device facilitates channeling the flow of gaseous substances therethrough, and wherein when said lever is in the second lever position said a sealing device restricts the flow of solids and liquids therethrough.

8. The gas intake apparatus in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said sensor is configured to determine whether the fluid proximate said gas intake passage comprises the flow of gaseous substances or the flow of solids and liquids.

9. A gas vent system for use in a wellbore, the wellbore configured to channel a mixture of fluids and solids, said gas vent system comprising:
a gas vent conduit positioned within the wellbore; and
a plurality of gas intake apparatuses coupled to said gas vent conduit, each of said gas intake apparatuses comprising: a corresponding housing defining an interior chamber, said housing comprising a first end coupled to a downstream portion of the gas vent conduit and a second end coupled to an upstream portion of the gas vent conduit, and a gas intake mechanism configured to facilitate a flow of gaseous substances therethrough and to restrict a flow of solids and liquids therethrough,
wherein the plurality of gas intake apparatuses and the gas vent conduit provide the gaseous substances with an escape path from within a horizontal portion of the wellbore.

10. The gas vent system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said gas intake mechanism comprises at least one membrane layer.

11. The gas vent system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said at least one membrane layer comprises a plurality of micro-pores that facilitate the flow of gaseous substances therethrough and restrict the flow of solids and liquids therethrough.

12. The gas vent system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said gas intake mechanism comprises an actuation assembly comprising:
a sealing device configured to selectively seal said gas intake passage;
a sensor positioned proximate said gas intake passage, said sensor configured to determine a physical state of a fluid proximate said gas intake passage; and
an actuator configured to selectively control said sealing device based on the determined physical state of the fluid.

13. The gas vent system in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said sensor is configured to determine whether the fluid proximate said gas intake passage comprises the flow of gaseous substances or the flow of solids and liquids.

14. The gas vent system in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said sensor comprises an electronic sensor configured to transmit a signal to said actuator.

15. The gas vent system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said actuator comprises an electric motor configured to control said sealing device based on said signal.

16. A method of operating a well using a gas vent system, said method comprising:
positioning a gas vent conduit within a wellbore of the well, the gas vent conduit including a plurality of gas intake apparatuses coupled thereto, each gas intake apparatus including a corresponding housing defining an interior chamber, said housing comprising a first end coupled to a downstream portion of the gas vent conduit and a second end coupled to an upstream portion of the gas vent conduit, and a gas intake mechanism;
channeling substances about the plurality of gas intake apparatuses, the substances including one or more of at least one gaseous substance, at least one solid substance, and at least one liquid substance;
channeling at least a portion of the at least one gaseous substance through the gas intake mechanism;
restricting a flow of the at least one solid substance and the at least one liquid substance from flowing through the gas intake mechanism; and
providing the at least a portion of the at least one gaseous substance with an escape path from within a horizontal portion of the wellbore and through the plurality of gas intake apparatuses and the gas vent conduit.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 , wherein channeling at least a portion of the at least one gaseous substance through the gas intake mechanism comprises channeling at least a portion of the at least one gaseous substance through at least one membrane layer.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein channeling at least a portion of the at least one gaseous substance through at least one membrane layer comprises channeling at least a portion of the at least one gaseous substance through at least one membrane layer defining a plurality of micro-pores therein.

19. The method in accordance with claim 16 , wherein channeling at least a portion of the at least one gaseous substance through the gas intake mechanism comprises channeling at least a portion of the at least one gaseous substance through an actuation assembly.

20. The method in accordance with claim

Assignees

• Vandam Jeremy Daniel
• Zhang Zhipeng
• Muhammed Ameen Aboel Hassan
• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Vandam Jeremy Daniel
• Zhang Zhipeng
• Muhammed Ameen Aboel Hassan

Classifications

• E21B43/38

  in the well · CPC title

• E21B34/066 Primary

  electrically actuated · CPC title

• E21B43/305

  comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well · CPC title

• E21B43/12

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title

• E21B2200/09

  Detecting, eliminating, preventing liquid slugs in production pipes · CPC title