Flow pattern enhancer system for gas wells with liquid load problems

Abstract

A flow pattern enhancer system mainly for gas-producing oil wells with liquid load problems, comprising mechanical elements that atomize the liquids accumulated at the bottom of the well facilitating their transport to the surface, by decreasing frictional pressure drops and weight of the hydrostatic column.

1 . A flow pattern enhancer system for gas wells, comprising the following elements:
 a) primary expander,   b) homogenization chamber,   c) secondary expander,   d) suction veins, and   e) anchorage and tightness system,   
       for displacing the liquids accumulated at the bottom of the well to the surface, taking advantage of the same energy of the gas produced, extending the flowing life of the wells in a continuous form and increasing its recovery factor. 
     
     
         2 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , for gas-producing oil wells with liquid load problems. 
     
     
         3 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , where the primary expander has a smaller inner diameter than the homogenization chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary expander is connected to the lower part of the homogenization chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the homogenization chamber is connected to the primary expander at the lower part and to the secondary expander at the upper part. 
     
     
         6 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary expander is attached to the homogenization chamber at the upper part of the homogenization chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary expander houses suction veins. 
     
     
         8 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary expander at the upper part has a fishing neck. 
     
     
         9 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein said suction veins are housed in low pressure zones inside the secondary expander and communicate the low pressure zones inside the secondary expander with the liquid accumulated outside the system. 
     
     
         10 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein anchorage and tightness systems are coupled in the inside to the primary expander and homogenization chamber, and on the upper extreme to the secondary expander. 
     
     
         11 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 10 , wherein said anchorage and tightness system enables installation of the flow pattern enhancer system at any depth of the production piping of the well. 
     
     
         12 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 10 , wherein the anchorage and tightness system forces the flow to take place only inside the flow pattern enhancer system. 
     
     
         13 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 10 , wherein the anchorage and tightness system has mechanical anchors which are attached to the piping and elastomeric seals which allow the system to anchor and seal the inside in order to perform completely the flow inside the system. 
     
     
         14 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow pattern enhancer system is installed in the lower extreme of the production piping. 
     
     
         15 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow pattern enhancer system can be placed below the depth to which the bubbling pressure is present. 
     
     
         16 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas velocity increases promoting the atomization of liquids, with a relatively high gas flow velocity of 4-6 m/s, achieving fog flow and a continuous flow structure having liquid droplets dispersed in the continuous gas phase. 
     
     
         17 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the calculations for each element design consider three different process: expansion, compression and mixing, and are performed through specific methods consisting primarily on determining the flow areas and geometries thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , where the drag coefficient is determined by the formula:
   Drag coefficient=Driving flow/Dragged flow.   
     
     
         19 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein said flow pattern enhancer system increased gas production over 300% from the initial production. 
     
     
         20 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow pattern enhancer system prevents formation of hydrates. 
     
     
         21 . The flow pattern enhancer system of  claim 1 , wherein said flow pattern enhancer system avoids the re-pressure of surface lines because of methane hydrate accumulation. 
     
     
         22 . A method for enhancing the flow of a gas-producing oil well with liquid load problems, which comprises passing a gas stream from the well in sequence through
 a) a primary expander;   b) a homogenization chamber,   c) a secondary expander, and   d) suction veins   
       such that gas velocity increases to 4-6 m/s, achieving fog flow with liquid drops dispersed in the continuous gas phase. 
     
     
         23 . A gas-producing oil well pipe string arrangement having a flow pattern enhancer system connected in and communicating with the lower portion of said pipe string arrangement, said flow pattern enhancer system comprising the following elements:
 a) primary expander;   b) homogenization chamber,   c) secondary expander,   d) suction veins, and   e) anchorage and tightness system   
       for displacing liquids accumulated at the bottom of the well to the surface and extending the flowing life of the wells and increasing the recovery factor.