Systems for downhole separation of gases from liquids having interchangeable fluid conductors

Abstract

A reservoir fluid production system for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation is provided for mitigating gas interference by effecting downhole separation of a gaseous phase from reservoir fluids, while mitigating entrainment of liquid hydrocarbon material within the gaseous phase.

1 . A reservoir fluid production assembly for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation via a wellbore that is lined with a wellbore string, wherein the wellbore includes a wellbore space, the wellbore space includes a downhole wellbore space and an uphole wellbore space, and the uphole wellbore space is disposed uphole relative to the downhole wellbore space, wherein the assembly includes:
 a reservoir fluid-supplying conductor;   an assembly-defining flow diverter counterpart configured for co-operating with a wellbore string-defining flow diverter counterpart of the wellbore string to define a flow diverter including: (i) a reservoir fluid-diverting conductor, (ii) a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor, and (iii) a sealed interface effector for engaging the wellbore string such that a sealed interface is defined for preventing, or substantially preventing, flow communication, between the downhole wellbore space and the uphole wellbore space; and   a pump;   wherein:
 the assembly is configured for co-operation with the wellbore string such that, while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore such that an intermediate wellbore passage is disposed between the assembly and the wellbore string and such that the sealed interface is defined, and the downhole wellbore space is receiving reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation:
 the reservoir fluid is conducted by the reservoir fluid supplying-conductor to the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor; 
 the reservoir fluid that is being received by the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor is conducted by the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor to a reservoir fluid separation space of the uphole wellbore space; 
 within the reservoir fluid separation space, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the discharged reservoir fluid, in response to at least buoyancy forces, such that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is obtained; 
 the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted, via the intermediate wellbore passage, to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor; and 
 the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid that is being received by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor is conducted by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor to the pump for pressurizing by the pump; 
 
 the reservoir fluid-supplying conductor is releasably retained relative to the assembly-defined flow diverter counterpart; and 
 while the assembly is disposed within a wellbore, the reservoir fluid-supplying conductor is releasable from the retention relative to the assembly-defined flow diverter counterpart by a downhole tool. 
   
     
     
         2 . A reservoir fluid production assembly for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation via a wellbore that is lined with a wellbore string, wherein the wellbore includes a wellbore space, the wellbore space includes a downhole wellbore space and an uphole wellbore space, and the uphole wellbore space is disposed uphole relative to the downhole wellbore space, wherein the assembly includes:
 a reservoir fluid-supplying conductor;   a flow diverter body including: (i) a reservoir fluid-diverting conductor, (ii) a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor, and (iii) a sealed interface effector for engaging the wellbore string such that a sealed interface is defined for preventing, or substantially preventing, flow communication, between the downhole wellbore space and the uphole wellbore space; and   a pump;   wherein:
 the assembly is configured for co-operation with the wellbore string such that, while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore such that an intermediate wellbore passage is disposed between the assembly and the wellbore string and such that the sealed interface is defined, and the downhole wellbore space is receiving reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation:
 the reservoir fluid is conducted by the reservoir fluid supplying-conductor to the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor; 
 the reservoir fluid that is being received by the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor is conducted by the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor to a reservoir fluid separation space of the uphole wellbore space; 
 within the reservoir fluid separation space, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the discharged reservoir fluid, in response to at least buoyancy forces, such that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is obtained; 
 the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted, via the intermediate wellbore passage, to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor; and 
 the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid that is being received by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor is conducted by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor to the pump for pressurizing by the pump; 
 
 the reservoir fluid-supplying conductor is releasably retained relative to the flow diverter body; and 
 while the assembly is disposed within a wellbore, the reservoir fluid-supplying conductor is releasable from the retention relative to the flow diverter body by a downhole tool. 
   
     
     
         3 . Parts for assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation via a wellbore that is lined with a wellbore string, wherein the wellbore includes a wellbore space, the wellbore space includes a downhole wellbore space and an uphole wellbore space, and the uphole wellbore space is disposed uphole relative to the downhole wellbore space, wherein the assembly includes:
 a reservoir fluid-supplying conductor;   an assembly-defining flow diverter counterpart configured for co-operating with a wellbore string-defining flow diverter counterpart of the wellbore string to define a flow diverter including: (i) a reservoir fluid-diverting conductor, (ii) a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor, and (iii) a sealed interface effector for engaging the wellbore string such that a sealed interface is defined for preventing, or substantially preventing, flow communication, between the downhole wellbore space and the uphole wellbore space; and   a pump;   wherein:
 the assembly is configured for co-operation with the wellbore string such that, while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore such that an intermediate wellbore space is disposed between the assembly and the wellbore string and such that the sealed interface is defined, and the downhole wellbore space is receiving reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation:
 the reservoir fluid is conducted by the reservoir fluid supplying-conductor to the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor; 
 the reservoir fluid that is being received by the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor is conducted by the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor to a reservoir fluid separation space of the uphole wellbore space; 
 within the reservoir fluid separation space, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the discharged reservoir fluid, in response to at least buoyancy forces, such that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is obtained; 
 the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted, via the intermediate wellbore passage, to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor; and 
 the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid that is being received by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor is conducted by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor to the pump for pressurizing by the pump; 
 
 wherein the parts comprise:
 first, second, third, and fourth assembly counterparts; 
 the assembly-defined flow diverter counterpart includes first and second assembly-defined flow diverter counterparts; 
 the first assembly counterpart includes the first assembly-defined flow diverter counterpart; 
 the second assembly counterpart includes the second assembly-defined flow diverter counterpart; 
 the third assembly counterpart includes a reservoir fluid supplying conductor that is a first reservoir fluid-supplying conductor; 
 the fourth assembly counterpart includes a reservoir fluid supplying conductor that is a second reservoir fluid-supplying conductor; 
 each one of the second, third, and fourth assembly counterparts is configured for releasable retention relative to the first assembly counterpart; and 
 the first, second, third, and fourth assembly counterparts are co-operatively configured such that: 
 while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore and includes the first, second and third assembly counterparts, and the second and third assembly counterparts are releasably retained relative to the first assembly counterpart, interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart, by the second assembly counterpart, is prevented; and 
 while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore and includes the first, second and third assembly counterparts, and the second and third assembly counterparts are releasably retained relative to the first assembly counterpart, in response to release of the second assembly counterpart from retention relative to the first assembly counterpart, the prevention of the interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart, by the second assembly counterpart, is defeated. 
 
   
     
     
         4 . The parts for assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the first assembly counterpart includes the wellbore sealed interface effector.   
     
     
         5 . The parts for assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein:
 the releasable retention of the second assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart is independent of the releasable retention of the third assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart, such that each one of the first and second assembly counterparts, independently, is configured for releasable retention relative to the first assembly counterpart; and 
 the first, second, third, and fourth assembly counterparts are co-operatively configured such that: 
 while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore and includes the first, second and third assembly counterparts, and each one of the second and third assembly counterparts, independently, is releasably retained relative to the first assembly counterpart, interchanging of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart, is prevented by occlusion of a workstring-conducting passageway by the second assembly counterpart; and 
 while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore and includes the first, second and third assembly counterparts, and each one of the second and third assembly counterparts, independently, is releasably retained relative to the first assembly counterpart, in response to the release of the second assembly counterpart from the retention relative to the first assembly counterpart, the second assembly counterpart becomes displaceable relative to the first assembly counterpart for defeating the occlusion of the workstring-conducting passageway by the second assembly counterpart such that the prevention of the interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart is defeated. 
   
     
     
         6 . The parts for assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein:
 the preventing of the interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart includes preventing of release of the retention of the third assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart; and 
 the defeating of the preventing of the interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart includes defeating of the preventing of release of the retention of the third assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart such that the third assembly counterpart becomes releasable from the retention relative to the first assembly counterpart for effecting displacement of the third assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart such that occlusion to the workstring-conducting passageway by the third assembly counterpart is defeated with effect that the fourth assembly counterpart is conductible through the workstring-conducting passageway for effecting releasable coupling of the fourth assembly counterpart to the first assembly counterpart such that an assembly is obtained that includes the second reservoir fluid-supplying conductor. 
   
     
     
         7 . Parts for assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation via a wellbore that is lined with a wellbore string, wherein the wellbore includes a wellbore space, the wellbore space includes a downhole wellbore space and an uphole wellbore space, and the uphole wellbore space is disposed uphole relative to the downhole wellbore space, wherein the assembly includes:
 a reservoir fluid-supplying conductor;   a flow diverter body including: (i) a reservoir fluid-diverting conductor, (ii) a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor, and (iii) a sealed interface effector for engaging the wellbore string such that a sealed interface is defined for preventing, or substantially preventing, flow communication, between the downhole wellbore space and the uphole wellbore space; and   a pump;   wherein:
 the assembly is configured for co-operation with the wellbore string such that, while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore such that an intermediate wellbore space is disposed between the assembly and the wellbore string and such that the sealed interface is defined, and the downhole wellbore space is receiving reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation:
 the reservoir fluid is conducted by the reservoir fluid supplying-conductor to the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor; 
 the reservoir fluid that is being received by the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor is conducted by the reservoir fluid-diverting conductor to a reservoir fluid separation space of the uphole wellbore space; 
 within the reservoir fluid separation space, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the discharged reservoir fluid, in response to at least buoyancy forces, such that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is obtained; 
 the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted, via the intermediate wellbore passage, to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor; and 
 the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid that is being received by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor is conducted by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor to the pump for pressurizing by the pump; 
 
   wherein:
 the parts comprise first, second, third, and fourth assembly counterparts; 
 the flow diverter body includes first and second flow diverter body counterparts; 
 the first assembly counterpart includes the first flow diverter body counterpart; 
 the second assembly counterpart includes the second flow diverter body counterpart; 
 the third assembly counterpart includes a reservoir fluid supplying conductor that is a first reservoir fluid-supplying conductor; 
 the fourth assembly counterpart includes a reservoir fluid supplying conductor that is a second reservoir fluid-supplying conductor; 
 each one of the second, third, and fourth assembly counterparts is configured for releasable retention relative to the first assembly counterpart; and 
 the first, second, third, and fourth assembly counterparts are co-operatively configured such that: 
 while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore and includes the first, second and third assembly counterparts, and the second and third assembly counterparts are releasably retained relative to the first assembly counterpart, interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart, by the second assembly counterpart, is prevented; and 
 while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore and includes the first, second and third assembly counterparts, and the second and third assembly counterparts are releasably retained relative to the first assembly counterpart, in response to release of the second assembly counterpart from retention relative to the first assembly counterpart, the prevention of the interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart, by the second assembly counterpart, is defeated. 
   
     
     
         8 . The parts for assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly as claimed in  claim 7 ;
 wherein the first assembly counterpart includes the wellbore sealed interface effector.   
     
     
         9 . The parts for assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly as claimed in  claim 7 ;
 wherein:
 the releasable retention of the second assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart is independent of the releasable retention of the third assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart, such that each one of the first and second assembly counterparts, independently, is configured for releasable retention relative to the first assembly counterpart; and 
 the first, second, third, and fourth assembly counterparts are co-operatively configured such that: 
 while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore and includes the first, second and third assembly counterparts, and each one of the second and third assembly counterparts, independently, is releasably retained relative to the first assembly counterpart, interchanging of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart, is prevented by occlusion of a workstring-conducting passageway by the second assembly counterpart; and 
 while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore and includes the first, second and third assembly counterparts, and each one of the second and third assembly counterparts, independently, is releasably retained relative to the first assembly counterpart, in response to the release of the second assembly counterpart from the retention relative to the first assembly counterpart, the second assembly counterpart becomes displaceable relative to the first assembly counterpart for defeating the occlusion of the workstring-conducting passageway by the second assembly counterpart such that the prevention of the interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart is defeated. 
   
     
     
         10 . The parts for assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly as claimed in  claim 7 ;
 wherein:
 the preventing of the interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart includes preventing of release of the retention of the third assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart; and 
 the defeating of the preventing of the interchangeability of the third assembly counterpart with the fourth assembly counterpart includes defeating of the preventing of release of the retention of the third assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart such that the third assembly counterpart becomes releasable from the retention relative to the first assembly counterpart for effecting displacement of the third assembly counterpart relative to the first assembly counterpart such that occlusion to the workstring-conducting passageway by the third assembly counterpart is defeated with effect that the fourth assembly counterpart is conductible through the workstring-conducting passageway for effecting releasable coupling of the fourth assembly counterpart to the first assembly counterpart such that an assembly is obtained that includes the second reservoir fluid-supplying conductor. 
   
     
     
         11 . A process for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation comprising:
 for a first time interval, while inducing displacement of reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation into a wellbore, within the wellbore:
 via a first reservoir fluid-supplying conductor, conducting the reservoir fluid to a gas separator disposed within the wellbore; 
 via the gas separator, separating gaseous material from the reservoir fluid such that gas-depleted reservoir fluid is obtained; and 
 conducting the gas-depleted reservoir fluid to the surface; 
   after completion of the first time interval, suspending the inducing of displacement of the reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation to the wellbore;   while the inducing of displacement of reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation to the wellbore is suspended and the gas separation remains disposed within the wellbore, replacing the first reservoir fluid-supplying conductor with a second reservoir fluid- supplying conductor; and   after the first reservoir fluid-supplying conductor has been replaced with a second reservoir fluid- supplying conductor, resuming inducement of displacement of reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation to the wellbore such that, within the wellbore, the reservoir fluid is conducted, via a first reservoir fluid-supplying conductor, a gas separator, with effect that gaseous material is separated from the reservoir fluid by the gas separator such that gas-depleted reservoir fluid is obtained and conducted to the surface.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of deploying a reservoir fluid production assembly downhole within a wellbore;
 wherein the reservoir fluid production assembly is for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation via a wellbore that is lined with a wellbore string, wherein the wellbore includes a wellbore space, the wellbore space includes a downhole wellbore space and an uphole wellbore space, and the uphole wellbore space is disposed uphole relative to the downhole wellbore space, wherein the assembly includes:
 a reservoir fluid-supplying conductor; 
 an assembly-defined flow diverter counterpart which is configured to co-operate with a wellbore string-defined flow diverter counterpart, of the wellbore string, to define a flow diverter within the wellbore, wherein the flow diverter includes: (i) a reservoir fluid-conducting passage that is fluidly coupled to the reservoir fluid-supplying conductor, (ii) a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting passage, and (iii) an actuatable sealed interface effector for engaging the wellbore string for establishing a sealed interface within the wellbore for preventing, or substantially preventing, flow communication between the uphole wellbore space and the downhole wellbore space; and 
 a pump disposed in fluid communication with the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting passage; 
 wherein:
 the assembly is configured for co-operation with the wellbore string such that, while the assembly is disposed within the wellbore such that the flow diverter is defined, and the downhole wellbore space is receiving reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation:
 the reservoir fluid is conducted by the reservoir fluid supplying-conductor to the reservoir fluid-conducting passage of the flow diverter; 
 the reservoir fluid, that is being received by the reservoir fluid-conducting passage, is conducted by the reservoir fluid-conducting passage to a reservoir fluid separation space of the uphole wellbore space; 
 within the reservoir fluid separation space, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the discharged reservoir fluid, in response to at least buoyancy forces, such that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is obtained; and 
 the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting passage receives the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid, that is flowing in a downhole direction, and diverts the flow of the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid such that the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting passage in the uphole direction to the pump for pressurizing by the pump; 
 
 
   wherein the method includes:
 emplacing the assembly within the wellbore, with effect that the assembly becomes disposed within the wellbore; and 
 after the assembly has become disposed within the wellbore, actuating the sealed interface effector, with effect that the sealed interface is obtained. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 ;
 wherein:
 the flow diverter includes an intermediate wellbore passage disposed between the assembly and the wellbore string; and 
 the intermediate wellbore passage is for conducting the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-diverting conductor.