Downhole flow diverter with arcuate-shaped flow conductor

Abstract

There is provided a flow diverter for coupling to a reservoir fluid conductor, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor, and a sealed interface effector for establishing a production assembly configured for disposition in a production effective orientation within a wellbore string of a wellbore, extending into a subterranean formation, for effecting production from the subterranean formation. The flow diverter includes a body and a body co-operator. The body co-operator is joined to the body at a joint with effect that at least a portion of the intermediate passage-defining outermost surface of the flow diverter is defined by the outermost surface of the body co-operator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow diverter for coupling to a reservoir fluid conductor, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor, and a sealed interface effector for establishing a production assembly configured for disposition in a production effective orientation within a wellbore string of a wellbore, extending into a subterranean formation, for effecting production from the subterranean formation, wherein the flow diverter defines:
 a reservoir fluid receiver;   a reservoir fluid discharging communicator;   a reservoir fluid conducting passage effecting flow communication between the reservoir fluid receiver and the fluid discharging communicator;   a gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver;   a gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharging communicator; and   a gas-depleted reservoir fluid conducting passage effecting flow communication between the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver and the gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharging communicator;   
       wherein:
 the reservoir fluid conductor defines a reservoir fluid conductor receiver and a reservoir fluid conductor fluid passage for conducting reservoir fluid received by the reservoir fluid conductor fluid receiver, and the coupling of the reservoir fluid conductor to the flow diverter is with effect that reservoir fluid, receivable by the reservoir fluid conductor receiver is conductible to the reservoir fluid receiver of the flow diverter; 
 the gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor defines a fluid passage, and the coupling of the gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor to the flow diverter is with effect that gas-depleted reservoir fluid, dischargeable from the gas-depleting reservoir fluid discharging communicator of the flow diverter, is conductible to the surface by the fluid passage of the gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor; 
 the production assembly is configured such that, while disposed within the wellbore string in a production effective orientation:
 the reservoir fluid receiver of the flow diverter is disposed downhole relative to the reservoir fluid discharging communicator of the flow diverter; 
 the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver of the flow diverter is disposed downhole relative to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharging communicator of the flow diverter; 
 the reservoir fluid discharging communicator of the flow diverter is disposed uphole relative to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver of the flow diverter; and 
 an intermediate fluid passage-defining outermost surface of the flow diverter co-operates with the wellbore string for establishing an intermediate fluid passage between the intermediate fluid passage-defining outermost surface of the flow diverter and the wellbore string; 
 
 the intermediate fluid passage is disposed for effecting flow communication between the reservoir fluid discharging communicator and the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver; 
 the reservoir fluid conductor receiver, the reservoir fluid conductor fluid passage, the reservoir fluid receiver of the flow diverter, the reservoir fluid conducting passage of the flow diverter, and the reservoir fluid discharging communicator of the flow diverter are co-operatively configured such that, while the production assembly is disposed within the wellbore string in the separation-effective orientation, the sealed interface effector is disposed in sealing disposition with the wellbore string such that a sealed interface is defined, and reservoir fluid flow is being received by the reservoir fluid conductor receiver, the received reservoir fluid flow is conducted to the reservoir fluid discharging communicator, via the reservoir fluid conductor fluid passage, the reservoir fluid receiver of the flow conductor, and the reservoir fluid conducting passage of the flow diverter, for discharging from the flow diverter via the reservoir fluid discharging communicator; 
 the gas-depleted reservoir fluid conducting passage of the flow diverter, the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver of the flow diverter, the gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharging communicator of the flow diverter, and the fluid passage of the gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor are co-operatively configured such that, while the production assembly is disposed within the wellbore string in the production-effective orientation, the sealed interface effector is disposed in sealing disposition with the wellbore string such that a sealed interface is defined, and gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is being received by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid communicator of the flow diverter, the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is conducted, via the gas-depleted reservoir fluid conducting passage of the flow diverter, the gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharging communicator of the flow diverter, and the fluid passage of the gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor, such that the gas-depleted reservoir fluid becomes disposed uphole relative to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver; 
 the reservoir fluid discharging communicator of the flow diverter, the sealed interface effector, and the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver of the flow diverter are co-operatively configured such that, while the production assembly is disposed within the wellbore string in the production-effective orientation, the sealed interface effector is disposed in sealing disposition with the wellbore string such that a sealed interface is defined, and reservoir fluid flow is being discharged from the reservoir fluid discharging communicator:
 the reservoir fluid becomes disposed externally of the separator within a wellbore space within the wellbore string; 
 a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the discharged reservoir fluid, within the wellbore space, in response to at least buoyancy forces; and 
 bypassing of the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver, by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid, that is being conducted downhole via the intermediate wellbore passage, is prevented by the sealed interface effector, such that the gas-depleted reservoir fluid is received by the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver; 
 
 
       the flow diverter includes a body and a body co-operator; 
       the body defines:
 the reservoir fluid receiving communicator; 
 the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiving communicator; 
 the gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting passage; and 
 the gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharging communicator; 
 
       the body co-operator includes an outermost surface;
 the body co-operator is joined to the body at a joint with effect that at least a portion of the intermediate passage-defining outermost surface of the flow diverter is defined by the outermost surface of the body co-operator; 
 the body and the body co-operator co-operate to define an externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage; 
 at least a portion of the reservoir fluid conducting fluid passage is defined by the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage. 
 
     
     
         2 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the outermost surface of the body co-operator defines a convex surface portion that is convex relative to the central longitudinal axis of the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage, such that the at least a portion of the intermediate passage-defining outermost surface of the flow diverter defines the convex surface portion.   
     
     
         3 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage is defined between the body co-operator and the body.   
     
     
         4 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage is disposed externally of the body   
     
     
         5 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage is defined, in part, by an outermost surface of the body.   
     
     
         6 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the body further defines a body-defined reservoir fluid conducting passage; and   the reservoir fluid-conducting passage further includes the body-defined flow reservoir fluid conducting passage, such that the body-defined reservoir fluid-conducting passage is disposed in flow communication with the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage.   
     
     
         7 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 6 ;
 wherein:   the body further defines an externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage communicator; and   the flow communication, between the reservoir fluid-conducting passage and the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage, is effected via the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage communicator.   
     
     
         8 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 7 ;
 wherein:   the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage communicator is defined within the body.   
     
     
         9 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 8 ;
 wherein:   the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage communicator is defined within an outermost surface of the body.   
     
     
         10 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage has a length of at least 12 inches, measured along the central longitudinal axis of the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage.   
     
     
         11 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the body and the body co-operator co-operate to define the reservoir fluid discharging communicator.   
     
     
         12 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the outermost surface of the body co-operator defines a convex surface portion that is convex relative to the central longitudinal axis of the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage, such that the at least a portion of the intermediate pas sage-defining outermost surface of the flow diverter defines the convex surface portion;   the body co-operator defines an innermost surface;   the innermost surface defines a concave surface portion; and   the concave surface portion is concave relative to the central longitudinal axis of the externally-disposed reservoir fluid conducting passage.   
     
     
         13 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 12 ;
 wherein:   relative to the convex surface portion, the concave surface portion is disposed on an opposite side of the body co-operator;   a thickness of an arcuate wall portion of the body co-operator is defined by the minimum distance from the convex surface portion to the concave surface portion, and the maximum thickness of the arcuate wall portion of the body co-operator is less than 0.1 inches.   
     
     
         14 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 12 ;
 wherein:   the innermost surface defines, in part, the external reservoir fluid conducting fluid passage.   
     
     
         15 . The flow diverter as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the joint is a weld.   
     
     
         16 . A system, for producing reservoir fluid from a reservoir, comprising the separator as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:   the separator is disposed within a wellbore in the separation effective orientation and configured for receiving at least reservoir fluids via the reservoir fluid receiver.