Inclined wellbore optimization for artificial lift applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9869164-B2
Application number	US-201414329701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2014
Priority date	Aug 5, 2013
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

A system for removing liquids from an inclined wellbore includes a plug member positioned within a heel section of the inclined wellbore, the plug member including an orifice therethrough; a first tubular member having a first end for providing fluid flow from the first portion of the wellbore to the second portion of the wellbore, a second end positioned at least partially within the second portion of the wellbore and providing fluid flow from the first portion of the wellbore to the second portion of the wellbore; a second tubular member positioned within the second portion of the wellbore, the second tubular member having a first end for receiving fluid from the second portion of the wellbore, the second end positioned adjacent the surface of the inclined wellbore; and a pump for pumping fluid from the second tubular member to the surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for removing liquids from an inclined wellbore, the inclined wellbore including a first portion and a second portion, the system comprising,
(a) a plug member positioned within a heel section of the inclined wellbore and hydraulically isolating the first portion from the second portion, the plug member including an orifice therethrough providing fluid flow from the first portion of the wellbore to the second portion of the wellbore;
(b) a first tubular member having a first end and a second end, the first end providing fluid flow from the first portion of the wellbore to the second portion of the wellbore through the orifice of the plug member, the second end positioned at least partially within the second portion of the wellbore and providing fluid flow from within the first tubular member from the first portion of the wellbore to the second portion of the wellbore;
(c) a second tubular member positioned within the second portion of the wellbore, the second tubular member having a first end and a second end, the first end receiving fluid from the second portion of the wellbore, positioned adjacent a first end of the plug member and the second end positioned adjacent the surface of the inclined wellbore;
(d) a pump having a pump intake, the pump intake receiving fluid from the second portion of the wellbore at a fluid level within the wellbore that is between the plug member and the second end of the first tubular member for pumping fluid from the second tubular member to the surface; and
(e) a sleeve positioned within the heel section of the inclined wellbore, the sleeve adapted to receive the plug member.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is positioned within the second tubular member proximate the first end of the second tubular member.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first tubular member is positioned above a liquid level existing above the plug member, the first end located at an elevation below the second end.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inclined wellbore includes a casing and the system further includes swellable material positioned to prevent the egress of liquids between an inner surface of the casing and an outer surface of the plug member.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the sleeve has a chamfered sealing surface and the plug member is swaged to mate with the chamfered sealing surface to effect a seal.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a particulate filter positioned adjacent the first end of the second tubular member.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the second tubular member is perforated for the intake of liquids.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is an electric submersible pump.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein an electric cable for powering the electric submersible pump passes from the surface of the inclined wellbore through the second tubular to the electric submersible pump.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a seat within the second tubular configured to permit the pump to be stabbed in and removed.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein liquids are separated from gas adjacent the second end of the first tubular for transporting through the second tubular to the surface of the inclined wellbore.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inclined well is in fluid communication with a subterranean reservoir that produces sufficient gas to foul, interrupt, or cause significant efficiency loss in artificial lift pumps.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the subterranean reservoir is gas-dominated.

14. A method for removing liquids from an inclined wellbore, the inclined wellbore including a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising,
(a) positioning a plug member within a heel section of the inclined wellbore, the plug member having an orifice therethrough;
(b) placing a first tubular member having a first end and a second end, the first end providing fluid flow from the first portion of the wellbore to the second portion of the wellbore through the orifice of the plug member, the second end positioned at least partially within the second portion of the wellbore and providing fluid flow from within the first tubular member from the first portion of the wellbore to the second portion of the wellbore;
(c) placing a second tubular member within the second portion of the wellbore, the second tubular member having a first end and a second end, the first end receiving fluid from the second portion of the wellbore, positioned adjacent a first end of the plug member and the second end positioned adjacent the surface of the inclined wellbore;
(d) installing a pump having a pump intake, the pump intake positioned to receive fluid from the second portion of the wellbore at a fluid level within the wellbore that is between the plug member and the second end of the first tubular member for pumping fluid from the second tubular member to the surface within the second tubular member proximate the first end of the second tubular member;
(e) transporting liquids from the inclined wellbore through the second tubular member; and
(f) providing a sleeve positioned within the heel section of the inclined wellbore for the sleeve to receive the plug member.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of separating liquids from gas adjacent the second end of the first tubular for transporting through the second tubular to the surface of the inclined wellbore.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the inclined wellbore includes a casing and the method further comprises the step of placing a swellable material to substantially prevent the egress of liquids between an inner surface of the casing and an outer surface of the plug member.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of placing a particulate filter adjacent the first end of the second tubular member.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first end of the second tubular member is perforated for the intake of liquids.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pump is an electric submersible pump.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of installing an electric cable from the surface of the inclined wellbore through the second tubular member for powering the electric submersible pump.

21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of installing a seat within the second tubular to permit the pump to be stabbed in and removed.

22. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sleeve has a chamfered sealing surface and the plug member is swaged to mate with the chamfered sealing surface to effect a seal.

23. The method of claim 14 , wherein the inclined well is in fluid communication with a subterranean reservoir that produces sufficient gas to foul, interrupt, or cause significant efficiency loss in artificial lift pumps.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the subterranean reservoir is gas-dominated.

25. An artificial lift kit for removing liquids from a inclined wellbore, the inclined wellbore including a first portion and a second portion, the kit comprising,
(a) a plug member for positioning within a heel section of the inclined wellbore to hydraulically isolate the first portion from the second portion, the plug member including an orifice therethrough for providing fluid flow from the first portion of the wellbore to the second portion of the wellbore;
(b) a first tu

Assignees

• Tolman Randy C
• Tavarez Federico A
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Tolman Randy C
• Tavarez Federico A

Classifications

• E21B43/126 Primary

  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

• E21B43/14

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B43/12 Primary

  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