Apparatus and method for agitating reservoir while pumping

Abstract

An apparatus for agitating production fluid in a reservoir comprises a pump having a lower pump intake and an upper pump output. A port adapter is connected to the pump output and defines a bypass port in a wall thereof. An output conduit is connected to the port adapter and to a surface facility. A circulating conduit is secured to the pump and connected to the bypass port. A circulating nozzle is connected to the lower end of the circulating conduit and defines an orifice operative to restrict flow through the circulating conduit. The pump intake and circulating nozzle are in the reservoir when production fluid is being pumped, and production fluid flows up the output conduit to the surface facility and also through the circulating conduit and circulating nozzle into the reservoir. A method comprises re-circulating a portion of pumped fluid back into the reservoir to agitate the reservoir.

1 . An apparatus for agitating production fluid in an underground reservoir, the apparatus comprising: 
 a port adapter adapted for connection to a pump output and to an output conduit such that pumped fluid can pass through the port adapter to the output conduit;    a bypass port defined in a wall of the port adapter;    a circulating conduit connected at an upper end thereof to the bypass port and having a lower end;    at least one fastener operative to secure the circulating conduit to a pump; and    a circulating nozzle connected to the lower end of the circulating conduit;    wherein the circulating nozzle comprises an orifice operative to restrict flow through the circulating conduit; and    wherein the apparatus is configured such that when attached to a pump the circulating nozzle is in the reservoir when production fluid is being pumped, and such that production fluid flows up the output conduit and through the circulating conduit and circulating nozzle into the reservoir.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the port adapter is adapted for connection to the pump output and to the output conduit by threaded connections.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising an elbow fitting connected to the bypass port and extending from one side of the port adapter and having an outside end oriented downward.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a length of the circulating conduit is selected to orient the circulating nozzle in a desired vertical location in the reservoir.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a size of the orifice is selected to achieve the desired proportion of production fluid flowing up the output conduit and through the circulating nozzle.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the circulating nozzle comprises a primary orifice in an upper portion thereof with a size selected to allow a desired flow through the circulating nozzle, and a lower orifice connecting the primary orifice to a nozzle outlet wherein the lower orifice increases in size between the primary orifice and the nozzle outlet.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the circulating nozzle defines channels in walls thereof below the primary orifice and above the nozzle outlet, and wherein the circulating nozzle is configured such that production fluid is drawn from the reservoir through the channels into the lower orifice and then out the nozzle outlet.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for agitating production fluid in an underground reservoir and pumping the agitated production fluid to the surface, the apparatus comprising: 
 a pump having a pump intake at a lower end thereof and a pump output at an upper end thereof;    a port adapter connected at a lower end thereof to the pump output and defining a bypass port in a wall thereof;    an output conduit connected at a lower end thereof to an upper end of the port adapter and connected at an upper end thereof to a surface facility;    a circulating conduit secured to the pump and connected at an upper end thereof to the bypass port and having a lower end;    a circulating nozzle connected to the lower end of the circulating conduit and comprising an orifice operative to restrict flow through the circulating conduit;    wherein the apparatus is configured such that the pump intake and the circulating nozzle are in the reservoir when production fluid is being pumped, and such that production fluid flows up the output conduit to the surface facility and through the circulating conduit and circulating nozzle into the reservoir.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  comprising an elbow fitting connected to the bypass port and extending from one side of the port adapter and having an outside end oriented downward and connected to the upper end of the circulating conduit.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein a length of the circulating conduit is selected to orient the circulating nozzle in a desired vertical location in the reservoir.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein a size of the orifice is selected to achieve the desired proportion of production fluid flowing up the output conduit and through the circulating nozzle.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the circulating nozzle comprises a primary orifice in an upper portion thereof with a size selected to allow a desired flow through the circulating nozzle, and a lower orifice connecting the primary orifice to a nozzle outlet wherein the lower orifice increases in size between the primary orifice and the nozzle outlet.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the circulating nozzle defines channels in walls thereof below the primary orifice and above the nozzle outlet, and wherein the circulating nozzle is configured such that production fluid is drawn from the reservoir through the channels into the lower orifice and then out the nozzle outlet.  
   
   
       14 . A method for agitating production fluid in an underground reservoir and pumping the agitated production fluid to the surface, the method comprising: 
 providing a pump having a pump intake at a lower end thereof and a pump output at an upper end thereof;    connecting a lower end of a port adapter to the pump output and providing a bypass port in a wall of the port adapter;    connecting an output conduit at a lower end thereof to an upper end of the port adapter and connecting an upper end of the output conduit to a surface facility;    securing a circulating conduit to the pump and connecting the circulating conduit at an upper end thereof to the bypass port;    connecting a circulating nozzle to a lower end of the circulating conduit and providing an orifice in the circulating nozzle operative to restrict flow through the circulating conduit;    locating the pump intake and the circulating nozzle in the reservoir and operating the pump to pump production fluid up the output conduit to the surface facility, and to pump production fluid through the circulating conduit and circulating nozzle into the reservoir to agitate the reservoir.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  comprising selecting a length of the circulating conduit to orient the circulating nozzle in a desired vertical location in the reservoir.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  comprising selecting a size of the orifice to achieve the desired proportion of production fluid flowing up the output conduit and through the circulating nozzle.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  comprising drawing production fluid from the reservoir through walls of the circulating nozzle and pushing production fluid drawn in back into the reservoir through a lower nozzle outlet.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the circulating nozzle comprises a primary orifice in an upper portion thereof with a size selected to allow a desired flow through the circulating nozzle, and a lower orifice connecting the primary orifice to a nozzle outlet wherein the lower orifice increases in size between the primary orifice and the nozzle outlet.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the circulating nozzle defines channels in walls thereof below the primary orifice and above the nozzle outlet, and wherein the circulating nozzle is configured such that production fluid is drawn from the reservoir through the channels into the lower orifice and then out the nozzle outlet.