Downhole oil-water-solids separation

Abstract

A technique facilitates separating fluids and solids and handling the separated solids downhole. A separator system is provided with a separator having a well fluid inlet, an oil stream passage, a water stream passage, and a solids passage. The separator operates to separate well fluid into substantially oil, water, and solids components and those components are directed to the corresponding passages. A flow restrictor may be used in cooperation with the separator to facilitate separation of the well fluid components.

1 . A downhole device, comprising:
 a separator system, having:
 a separator comprising a well fluid inlet, an oil stream passage, a water stream passage, and a solids passage; and 
 a removable flow restrictor located in at least one of the water stream passage, the oil stream passage, or the solids passage to facilitate separation of well fluid components. 
   
     
     
         2 . The downhole device of  claim 1 , wherein the removable flow restrictor has a fixed throttle orifice member having a flow passage, the size of the flow passage being changed by interchanging flow restrictors. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole device of  claim 1 , wherein the removable flow restrictor has a removable throttle orifice member having a flow passage, the size of the flow passage being changed by interchanging removable throttle orifice members. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pumping system having a submersible pump, wherein the water stream passage opens up into a wellbore at a point farther downhole than the submersible pump. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole device of  claim 1 , wherein the removable flow restrictor is removable by a downhole tool relayed downhole by a conveyance. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole device of  claim 1 , wherein the separator is a cyclone separator. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole device of  claim 1 , wherein the separator is a centrifugal separator. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole device of  claim 1 , wherein the separator system further comprises a sensor that senses a parameter of flowing fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is located downstream from the well fluid inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is located inside the separator. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is located upstream from the separator. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole device of  claim 1 , wherein the removable flow restrictor has a throttle member with a selectively variable orifice. 
     
     
         13 . A method of separating fluids and solids downhole, comprising:
 placing a separation system downhole, the separation system comprising a separator having a well fluid inlet, an oil stream outlet passage, a water stream outlet passage, and a solids outlet passage, the separator system further comprising a flow restrictor pocket located in the oil stream outlet passage or the water stream outlet passage;   determining a parameter of a downhole well fluid;   selecting a degree of flow restriction based on the determination and selecting a corresponding flow restrictor; and   placing the selected flow restrictor in the flow restrictor pocket.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising varying the flow restriction by removing the flow restrictor from the separator while the separator is downhole and then placing a different flow restrictor having a different throttle into the separator while the separator remains downhole. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining comprises determining with a sensor located downhole within the separator system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising locating the sensor inside the flow restrictor. 
     
     
         17 . A method of preparing a downhole fluids and solids separation system, comprising:
 constructing a separator with a separation portion in communication with a fluid inlet, the separation portion also being in communication with a divider having an oil stream passage, a water stream passage positioned radially outward from the oil stream passage, and a solids passage positioned radially outward from the water stream passage; and   positioning a flow restrictor in cooperation with the separator to enable selective manipulation of the separation of water and oil.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising deploying the separator downhole into a wellbore; and separating oil, water, and solids for discharge through the oil stream passage, the water stream passage, and the solids passage, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising using a downhole pumping system to pump the separated oil to a surface location. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising reinjecting the separated solids back into the separated oil above the downhole pumping system; and delivering the separated solids to a surface location.