Downhole separator

Abstract

There is provided a downhole apparatus configured for integration within a gas-depleted fluid production assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly disposed within a wellbore string passage of a wellbore string that is emplaced within a wellbore, for modifying the gas-depleted fluid production assembly such that improved gas separation characteristics are obtained.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A downhole apparatus configured for integration within a gas-depleted fluid production assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly disposed within a wellbore string passage of a wellbore string that is emplaced within a wellbore, the integration is with effect that a apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration is established; 
       wherein:
 the gas-depleted fluid production assembly co-operates with the wellbore string to define a flow diverter; 
 the flow diverter defines a reservoir fluid conductor configuration, a separation zone, a downwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration, and an upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration; 
 the reservoir fluid conductor configuration, the separation zone, the downwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration, and the upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration are co-operatively configured such that:
 while reservoir fluid flow is being received within a reservoir fluid-receiving zone, of the wellbore string passage, from the subterranean formation, the reservoir fluid flow is conducted upwardly to the gas separation zone via the reservoir fluid conductor configuration, with effect that the reservoir fluid flow becomes emplaced within the separation zone; 
 while the reservoir fluid flow is disposed within the separation zone, in response to buoyancy forces, gaseous material is separated from the reservoir fluid flow, with effect that an upwardly-flowing gas-enriched reservoir fluid flow and a downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow are obtained, and such that the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is received and conducted by the downwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration; and 
 while the gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is being conducted in a downwardly direction by the downwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration, the gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is diverted such that an upwardly gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is being conducted through the upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration for suppling a pumping assembly of the reservoir fluid production assembly; 
 
 the separation zone extends through a separation zone-defining wellbore section that extends from a lower wellbore cross section to an upper wellbore cross section; 
 the apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration defines at least a portion of the upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration; 
 at least a portion of the apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration includes a flow interference-mitigating conductor configuration that extends through the separation zone-defining wellbore section; and 
 the flow interference-mitigating conductor configuration defines an eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration, wherein the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration is disposed eccentrically relative to the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore string passage. 
 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 ; 
       wherein:
 the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration has a total length “L 1 ” of at least three (3) feet, as measured along the central longitudinal axis of the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration. 
 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 ; 
       wherein:
 throughout the entirety of the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration that is extending through the separation zone-defining wellbore section, the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration is spaced-apart from the wellbore string by a maximum distance “D 3 ” of less than 0.75 inches. 
 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 ; 
       wherein:
 the flow interference-mitigating conductor configuration co-operates with the wellbore string to define a cylindrical unoccupied space, that is unoccupied by the upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration, and occupies at least 70% of the total cross-sectional area of a cross-section of the wellbore string passage which traverses the unoccupied space. 
 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 ; 
       wherein:
 the unoccupied space defines a portion of the separation zone. 
 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 ; 
       wherein:
 the cylindrical unoccupied space has a diameter “DD 1 ” of at least one (1) inch and a height “H 1 ” of at least one (1) foot. 
 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a flow receiving communicator, for receiving the upwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow;   a flow discharging communicator, for discharging the upwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow for flow to the pumping assembly;   fluid conductor branches, disposed between the flow receiving communicator and the flow discharging communicator, such that the flow receiving communicator is disposed in flow communication with the flow discharging communicator via the fluid conductor branches;   wherein:
 each one of the fluid conductor branches, independently, includes a respective one of branch portions; and 
 the branch portions co-operate to define the flow interference-mitigating conductor configuration. 
   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 ; 
       wherein:
 the integration, for which the apparatus is configured is effectuated by a downhole connection configuration and an uphole connection configuration; and 
 each one of the downhole connection configuration and the uphole connection configuration, independently, is a threaded connection configuration. 
 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 ; 
       wherein:
 the separator is packer-type separator. 
 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 ; 
       wherein:
 the separator is a poor-boy separator. 
 
     
     
         40 . A kit comprising the apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , and an elongated member for connection to a portion of the apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration and also for connection to a separator of the gas-depleted fluid production assembly, such that, while the apparatus is integrated within the gas-depleted fluid production assembly of a reservoir fluid production assembly, the separator is supported by the apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration. 
     
     
         41 . A method for producing hydrocarbon material, from an oil reservoir within a subterranean formation, via a system includes a production string, including a reservoir fluid production assembly, disposed within a wellbore string passage of the wellbore string, wherein the reservoir fluid production assembly includes:
 a gas-depleted fluid production assembly; and   a pumping assembly;   
       wherein:
 the gas-depleted fluid production assembly co-operates with the wellbore string to define a flow diverter; 
 the flow diverter defines a reservoir fluid conductor configuration, a separation zone, a downwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration, and an upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration; 
 the reservoir fluid conductor configuration, the separation zone, the downwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration, and the upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration are co-operatively configured such that:
 while reservoir fluid flow is being received within a reservoir fluid-receiving zone, of the wellbore string passage, from the subterranean formation, the reservoir fluid flow is conducted upwardly to the gas separation zone via the reservoir fluid conductor configuration, with effect that the reservoir fluid flow becomes emplaced within the separation zone; 
 while the reservoir fluid flow is disposed within the separation zone, in response to buoyancy forces, gaseous material is separated from the reservoir fluid flow, with effect that an upwardly-flowing gas-enriched reservoir fluid flow and a downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow are obtained, and such that the downwardly-flowing gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is received and conducted by the downwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration; and 
 while the gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is being conducted in a downwardly direction by the downwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration, the gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is diverted such that an upwardly gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow is being conducted through the upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration for suppling the pumping assembly; 
 
 the separation zone extends through a separation zone-defining wellbore section that extends from a lower wellbore cross section to an upper wellbore cross section; 
 the gas-depleted fluid production assembly includes a separator; 
 the separator defines a separator-defined flow conductor configuration 
 the separator-defined flow conductor configuration includes a separator-defined upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration (“separator-defined UCFCC”), and the separator-defined UCFCC defines a portion of the upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration; and 
 
       wherein the method comprises:
 producing hydrocarbon material via the system; 
 suspending the producing; and 
 while the producing is suspended, integrating a separator-co-operating apparatus within the gas-depleted fluid production assembly such that a modified system is obtained; 
 wherein:
 the separator-co-operating apparatus defines an apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration; 
 at least a portion of the apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration includes a flow interference-mitigating conductor configuration; 
 the flow interference-mitigating conductor configuration defines an eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration; 
 the integration of the separating co-operating apparatus within the gas-depleted fluid production assembly includes emplacement between the pumping assembly and the separator, and is with effect that:
 the apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration is disposed in flow communication with the separator-defined UCFCC, such that the apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration is disposed for receiving the gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow being conducted by the separator-defined UCFCC; 
 the apparatus-defined flow conductor configuration is disposed for supplying the gas-depleted reservoir fluid flow to the pumping assembly; 
 the flow interference-mitigating conductor configuration extends through the separation zone-defining wellbore section; and 
 the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration is disposed eccentrically relative to the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore string passage. 
 
 
 
     
     
         42 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 ; 
       wherein:
 the integrating includes:
 a threadably connecting the apparatus and the separator; and 
 a threadably connecting the apparatus and the pumping assembly. 
 
 
     
     
         43 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 ; 
       wherein:
 the separator is a poor boy separator. 
 
     
     
         44 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 ; 
       wherein:
 the separator is a packer-type separator. 
 
     
     
         45 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 ; 
       wherein:
 the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration has a total length “L 1 ” of at least three (3) feet, as measured along the central longitudinal axis of the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration. 
 
     
     
         46 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 ; 
       wherein:
 throughout the entirety of the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration that is extending through the separation zone-defining wellbore section, the eccentrically-disposed conductor configuration is spaced-apart from the wellbore string by a maximum distance “D 3 ” of less than 0.75 inches. 
 
     
     
         47 . The method claimed in  claim 41 ; 
       wherein:
 the flow interference-mitigating conductor configuration co-operates with the wellbore string to define a cylindrical unoccupied space, that is unoccupied by the upwardly-conducting flow conductor configuration, and occupies at least 70% of the total cross-sectional area of a cross-section of the wellbore string passage which traverses the unoccupied space. 
 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 ; 
       wherein:
 the unoccupied space defines a portion of the separation zone. 
 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 ; 
       wherein:
 the cylindrical unoccupied space has a diameter “DD 1 ” of at least one (1) inch and a height “H 1 ” of at least one (1) foot.