Claims
- 1. A downhole oil and water separation system for conducting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without conducting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the system comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a rod-driven progressive cavity pump and an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, wherein said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump;
- a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;
- a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is disposed in said tubing;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter said rod-driven progressive cavity pump; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump.
- 2. A downhole oil and water separation system for conducting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without conducting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the system comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone so that produced hydrocarbons and produced water enter said casing through said first of said two spaced intervals and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a first electrical submersible progressive cavity pump and a second electrical submersible progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, wherein said first electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said second electrical submersible progressive cavity pump;
- a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;
- a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said first electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said second electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed in said tubing;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter one of said first and second electrical submersible progressive cavity pumps; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter the other of said first and second electrical submersible progressive cavity pumps.
- 3. A downhole oil and water separation system for conducting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without conducting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the system comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a rod-driven progressive cavity pump and an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, wherein said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump;
- a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;
- a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is disposed in said tubing;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter said rod-driven progressive cavity pump.
- 4. A downhole oil and water separation system comprising:
- a casing having an interval, said casing extending from a ground surface downwardly such that said interval communicates with a producing zone;
- a first progressive cavity pump and a second progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing;
- a packer disposed within said casing, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit produced hydrocarbons and produced water to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and the produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;
- a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said first progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said second progressive cavity pump is coupled to said tubing;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons to enter one of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter the other of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump.
- 5. An apparatus for selectively lifting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without lifting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone so that produced hydrocarbons and produced water enter said casing through said first of said two spaced intervals and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a first progressive cavity pump and a second progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, each of said first and said second progressive cavity pump having a pump output;
- a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing, wherein said first progressive cavity pump is disposed within said tubing and said second progressive cavity pump is disposed within said tubing below said first progressive cavity pump;
- a conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein one of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps is coupled to said conduit;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter one of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter the other of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump, wherein said first inlet is disposed in said tubing below said first progressive cavity pump and in fluid flow communication therewith and said second inlet is disposed in said tubing above said second progressive cavity pump and in fluid flow communication therewith.
- 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first progressive cavity pump is a rod-driven progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump is an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump.
- 7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first and said second progressive cavity pumps are electrical submersible progressive cavity pumps.
- 8. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
- a tubing plug disposed in said tubing between said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump.
- 9. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first progressive cavity pump is coupled to said tubing and said second progressive cavity pump is disposed within said tubing below said first progressive cavity pump.
- 10. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said conduit is a bypass conduit.
- 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a second packer disposed in said casing, wherein said packer and said second packer are configured to isolate the injection zone located above the producing zone.
- 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said conduit extends upwardly through said casing and said packer thereby providing a flow path for the segregated produced water into said casing between said packer and said second packer and thereafter into the injection zone.
- 13. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
- a motor coupled to one of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps for controlling the pump output of said one of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps coupled to said motor.
- 14. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:
- a sucker rod, whereby said sucker rod couples said motor to said one of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps and is configured to impart rotation from said motor to said one of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps.
- 15. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
- a variable speed drive coupled to said one of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps coupled to said conduit for controlling the output of said one of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps coupled to said conduit.
- 16. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said conduit is a branch conduit.
- 17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said one of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps is disposed in said conduit and the other of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps is disposed in said tubing.
- 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first inlet is disposed in said conduit and is in fluid flow communication with said one of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps disposed in said conduit and said second inlet is disposed in said tubing above the other of said first and said second progressive cavity pumps disposed in said tubing and is in fluid flow communication therewith.
- 19. An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:
- a tubing plug disposed in said tubing between said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump.
- 20. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said one of said first and said second progressive cavity pump is disposed in said conduit and the other of said first and said second progressive cavity pump is coupled to said tubing.
- 21. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pump output of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump are separately controllable.
- 22. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said second progressive cavity pump.
- 23. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
- a second packer, wherein said first packer and said second packer are configured to isolate the injection zone located above the producing zone.
- 24. An apparatus for selectively lifting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without lifting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone so that produced hydrocarbons and produced water enter said casing through said first of said two spaced intervals and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a first progressive cavity pump and a second progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, each of said first and said second progressive cavity pump having a pump output;
- a first packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said first packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said first packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a second packer disposed in said casing;
- a bypass conduit coupled to one of said first and said second progressive cavity pump and extending upwardly through said casing and said first packer;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter one of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter the other of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump.
- 25. An apparatus for selectively lifting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without lifting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone so that produced hydrocarbons and produced water enter said casing through said first of said two spaced intervals and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a first progressive cavity pump and a second progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, each of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump having a pump output, and wherein said first progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said second progressive cavity pump;
- a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;
- a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said first progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said second progressive cavity pump is disposed in said tubing;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter one of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter the other of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump.
- 26. An apparatus for selectively lifting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without lifting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone so that produced hydrocarbons and produced water enter said casing through said first of said two spaced intervals and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a first progressive cavity pump and a second progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, each of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump having a pump output, and wherein said first progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said second progressive cavity pump;
- a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;
- a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said first progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said second progressive cavity pump is coupled to said tubing;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter one of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter the other of said first progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump.
- 27. An apparatus according to claim 25 or 26, wherein said first progressive cavity pump is a rod-driven progressive cavity pump and said second progressive cavity pump is an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump.
- 28. A An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is disposed within said tubing and said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed within said tubing below said rod-driven progressive cavity pump.
- 29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said first inlet is disposed in said tubing below said rod-driven progressive cavity pump and in fluid flow communication therewith and said second inlet is disposed in said tubing above said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump and in fluid flow communication therewith.
- 30. An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising:
- a tubing plug disposed in said tubing between said rod-driven progressive cavity pump and said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump.
- 31. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is coupled to said tubing and said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed within said tubing below said rod-driven progressive cavity pump.
- 32. An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:
- a second packer disposed in said casing, wherein said packer and said second packer are configured to isolate the injection zone located above the producing zone.
- 33. An apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising:
- a bypass conduit coupled to said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump and extending upwardly through said casing and said packer thereby providing a flow path for the segregated produced water into said casing between said packer and said second packer and hereafter into the injection zone.
- 34. An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:
- a motor coupled to said rod-driven progressive cavity pump for controlling the pump output of said rod-driven progressive cavity pump.
- 35. An apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:
- a sucker rod, whereby said sucker rod couples said motor to said rod-driven progressive cavity pump and is configured to impart rotation from said motor to said rod-driven progressive cavity pump.
- 36. An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:
- a variable speed drive coupled to said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump for controlling the pump output of said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump.
- 37. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said first inlet is disposed in said branch conduit and is in fluid flow communication with said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump and said second inlet is disposed in said tubing above said rod-driven progressive cavity pump and is in fluid flow communication therewith.
- 38. An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:
- a tubing plug disposed in said tubing between said rod-driven progressive cavity pump and said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump.
- 39. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the pump output of said rod-driven progressive cavity pump and said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump may be separately controlled.
- 40. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump.
- 41. An apparatus according to claim 25 or 26, wherein said first and said second progressive cavity pumps are electrical submersible progressive cavity pumps.
- 42. A downhole oil and water separation system for conducting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without conducting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the system comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a rod-driven progressive cavity pump and an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, wherein said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump;
- a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;
- a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is coupled to said tubing;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter said rod-driven progressive cavity pump; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump.
- 43. A downhole oil and water separation system for conducting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without conducting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the system comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone so that produced hydrocarbons and produced water enter said casing through said first of said two spaced intervals and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a first electrical submersible progressive cavity pump and a second electrical submersible progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, wherein said first electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said second electrical submersible progressive cavity pump;
- a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;
- a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said first electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said second electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is coupled to said tubing;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter one of said first and second electrical submersible progressive cavity pumps; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter the other of said first and second electrical submersible progressive cavity pumps.
- 44. A downhole oil and water separation system for conducting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without conducting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the system comprising:
- a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;
- a rod-driven progressive cavity pump and an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, wherein said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump;
- a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;
- a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;
- a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is coupled to said tubing;
- a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump; and
- a second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter said rod-driven progressive cavity pump.
Parent Case Info
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) to provisional application 60/059,734, filed Sep. 23, 1997, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2 194 572 |
Mar 1988 |
GBX |
2 248 462 |
Apr 1992 |
GBX |
WO 9725150 |
Jul 1997 |
WOX |