Enhanced Artificial Lift for Oil and Gas Wells

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards a lift system for extracting a fluid from a well. The system may include a production tube and at least one bladder located inside a pump barrel which is connected to the production tube. The bladder may include a top connector configured to receive a concentric tubing. The lift system may further include a compression system connected to the concentric tubing. The compression system may be configured to provide a compressed gas through the concentric tubing to the at least one bladder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lift system for extracting a fluid from a well comprising:
 a production tube;   at least one bladder located inside a pump barrel which is connected to the production tube, wherein the bladder includes a top connector configured to receive a concentric tubing; and   a compression system connected to the concentric tubing, wherein the compression system is configured to provide a compressed gas through the concentric tubing to the at least one bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bladder is associated with a positive displacement pump. 
     
     
         3 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bladder includes at least one flow channel that runs a length of the at least one bladder. 
     
     
         4 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bladder is configured to inflate and deflate using a controllable cycle. 
     
     
         5 . The lift system of  claim 4 , wherein the controllable cycle is repeated to allow reservoir fluids to be displaced to an above ground level. 
     
     
         6 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the production tube, the pump barrel, the at least one bladder, the compression system, and at least one flow control device operate in closed loop. 
     
     
         7 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bladder includes a plurality of bladders. 
     
     
         8 . The lift system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an annular check valve associated with the positive displacement pump; and   at least one flow control device associated with the positive displacement pump to allow fluid to enter the positive displacement pump but exit only through the annular check valve.   
     
     
         9 . The lift system of  claim 3 , wherein the flow channel includes one or more of:
 a rod or other material that runs the length of the at least one bladder;   a rod shaped as a helix or some other continuous form; or   a bladder design that defines a flow channel through use of an indentation, a raised bump or ridge, or some other construction.   
     
     
         10 . The lift system of  claim 4 , wherein the controllable cycle is configured to:
 inflate to displace reservoir fluids out of the positive displacement pump into the production tube above the annular check valve; and   deflate to allow reservoir fluids to enter the positive displacement pump through at least one flow control device.   
     
     
         11 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one mechanical property of the at least one bladder changes as the length of the pump barrel increases, wherein the at least one mechanical property includes one or more of strength, ductility, hardness, tensile strength, elongation, elasticity, and density. 
     
     
         12 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift system is configured to operate in a vertical well. 
     
     
         13 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift system is configured to operate in a horizontal well. 
     
     
         14 . A method of extracting fluid from a well comprising:
 providing a downhole control valve located above a positive displacement pump;   regulating a flow of compressed gas during an inflation/deflation cycle using the downhole control valve;   providing compressed gas into and out of the at least one bladder using a plurality of exclusive flow pathways; and   pressurizing a concentric tubing throughout the inflation/deflation cycle.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 performing the operations of providing a downhole control valve, regulating a flow of compressed gas, providing compressed gas into and out of the at least one bladder, and pressurizing the concentric tubing in multiple wells simultaneously.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the downhole control valve is configured to operate in a vertical well. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the downhole control valve is configured to operate in a horizontal well. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 repeating inflating and deflating of the at least one bladder to allow reservoir fluid to be displaced to an above ground level.   
     
     
         19 . A method of extracting fluid from a well comprising:
 providing a downhole control valve located above the positive displacement pump;   regulating a flow of compressed gas during an inflation/deflation cycle using the downhole control valve;   providing compressed gas into and out of the at least one bladder using a plurality of exclusive flow pathways;   pressurizing a secondary tubing string throughout the inflation/deflation cycle;   displacing reservoir fluid above a packer in a vertical section of the wellbore; and   once the fluid is displaced above the packer, engaging a legacy artificial lift system. operating independently, to produce the fluid to an above ground level.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the well is one or more of a vertical well or a horizontal well.