Downhole gas separator

Abstract

A gas separator including an outer tubular member having at least one opening extending therethrough adjacent an upper end and an inner tubular member positioned in the outer tubular member to define an annulus, and a turbine. The turbine has a hub rotatably connected to the inner tubular member below the opening of the outer tubular member and at least one blade extending outward from the hub so the blade is positioned in the annulus below the opening of the outer tubular member. The blade has a leading end and a trailing end. The leading end is positioned uphole of the trailing end, so the leading end is positioned between the opening of the outer tubular member and the trailing end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole separator, comprising:
 an outer tubular member having an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end, the sidewall having at least one opening extending therethrough adjacent the upper end, the upper end of the first outer tubular member connectable to a lower end of a tubing string positionable in a wellbore;   an inner tubular member having an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end, the first inner tubular member positioned in the first outer tubular member to define an annulus between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member, the upper end of the inner tubular member connected to the upper end of the outer tubular member so the annulus is fluidically sealed from the tubing string and the inner tubular member is in fluid communication with the tubing string when the inner tubular member is connected to the tubing string, the lower end of the inner tubular member being open to define a lower open end; and   a turbine having a hub rotatably connected to the inner tubular member below the at least one opening of the outer tubular member and at least one blade extending outward from the hub so the at least one blade is positioned in the annulus below the at least one opening of the outer tubular member, the at least one blade having a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end being positioned uphole of the trailing end so the leading end is positioned between the at least one opening of the outer tubular member and the trailing end of the at least one blade.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole separator of  claim 1 , wherein the blade has at least one opening extending therethrough adjacent to the hub. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole separator of  claim 1 , wherein the hub has at least one opening extending therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole gas separator of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine further comprises a plurality of blades, wherein each of the blades extends outward from the hub so the blades are positioned in the annulus below the at least one opening of the outer tubular member, each of the blades having a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end being positioned uphole of the trailing end so the leading end is positioned between the at least one opening of the outer tubular member and the trailing end of the at least one blade. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole separator of  claim 4 , wherein the hub has at least one opening extending therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole separator of  claim 4 , wherein the hub has a plurality of openings extending therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole separator of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tubular member has at least one spiral protrusion extending outwardly from the sidewall to cooperate with an interior side of the outer tubular member to form a spiral channel, wherein reservoir fluid passes into the annulus formed between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member via the circumferential inlet, the reservoir fluid guided downwardly into the spiral channel so the spiral channel induces a cyclonic flow that causes heavier particles to be forced outwardly and to fall to the lower end of the outer tubular member, the separated fluid flows into the lower open end of the inner tubular member so the fluid continues to travel up through the inner tubular member. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole separator of  claim 7 , wherein a lower portion of the outer tubular member includes a funnel-shaped bore. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole separator of  claim 8 , further comprising a collector section having an upper end connected to the lower end of the outer tubular member. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole separator of  claim 9 , wherein the collector section comprises a tubular member having an upper end, a closed lower end, and a sidewall defining a chamber extending between the upper end and the lower end, the upper end of the collector section connected to the lower end of the outer tubular member. 
     
     
         11 . A downhole separator, comprising:
 a tubing string positioned in a wellbore, the tubing string having an upper end and a lower end;   an outer tubular member having an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end, the sidewall having at least one opening extending therethrough adjacent the upper end, the upper end of the first outer tubular member connected to the lower end of the tubing string;   an inner tubular member having an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end, the first inner tubular member positioned in the first outer tubular member to define an annulus between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member, the upper end of the inner tubular member connected to the upper end of the outer tubular member so the annulus is fluidically sealed from the tubing string and the inner tubular member is in fluid communication with the tubing string, the lower end of the inner tubular member being open to define a lower open end; and   a turbine having a hub rotatably connected to the inner tubular member below the at least one opening of the outer tubular member and at least one blade extending outward from the hub so the at least one blade is positioned in the annulus below the at least one opening of the outer tubular member, the at least one blade having a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end being positioned uphole of the trailing end so the leading end is positioned between the at least one opening of the outer tubular member and the trailing end of the at least one blade.   
     
     
         12 . The downhole separator of  claim 11 , wherein the blade has at least one opening extending therethrough adjacent to the hub. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole separator of  claim 11 , wherein the hub has at least one opening extending therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole gas separator of  claim 11 , wherein the turbine further comprises a plurality of blades, wherein each of the blades extends outward from the hub so the blades are positioned in the annulus below the at least one opening of the outer tubular member, each of the blades having a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end being positioned uphole of the trailing end so the leading end is positioned between the at least one opening of the outer tubular member and the trailing end of the at least one blade. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole separator of  claim 14 , wherein the hub has at least one opening extending therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole separator of  claim 14 , wherein the hub has a plurality of openings extending therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole separator of  claim 11 , wherein the inner tubular member has at least one spiral protrusion extending outwardly from the sidewall to cooperate with an interior side of the outer tubular member to form a spiral channel, wherein reservoir fluid passes into the annulus formed between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member via the circumferential inlet, the reservoir fluid guided downwardly into the spiral channel so the spiral channel induces a cyclonic flow that causes heavier particles to be forced outwardly and to fall to the lower end of the outer tubular member, the separated fluid flows into the lower open end of the inner tubular member so the fluid continues to travel up through the inner tubular member. 
     
     
         18 . The downhole separator of  claim 17 , wherein a lower portion of the outer tubular member includes a funnel-shaped bore. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole separator of  claim 18 , further comprising a collector section having an upper end connected to the lower end of the outer tubular member. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole separator of  claim 19 , wherein the collector section comprises a tubular member having an upper end, a closed lower end, and a sidewall defining a chamber extending between the upper end and the lower end, the upper end of the collector section connected to the lower end of the outer tubular member. 
     
     
         21 . The gas separator of  claim 11 , wherein the pump assembly comprises:
 a pump barrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a chamber extending through the pump barrel from the upper end to the lower end, the chamber being in fluid communication with the first separator section;   a standing valve located in the pump barrel to permit one way flow of fluid into the chamber of the pump barrel;   a plunger disposed in the chamber of the pump barrel above the standing valve and below the upper end of the pump barrel and adapted for reciprocating movement through at least a portion of the chamber of the pump barrel;   a traveling valve located in the plunger to permit one way flow of fluid into the plunger; and   a pull rod having one end connected to the plunger and an opposite end connected to a sucker rod string to affect reciprocating movement of the plunger.   
     
     
         22 . The gas separator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the outer tubular is free from the inner tubular member so as to define a circumferential inlet between the upper end of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member, the circumferential inlet being in fluid communication with the lower open end of the inner tubular member. 
     
     
         23 . The gas separator of  claim 11 , wherein the upper end of the outer tubular is free from the inner tubular member so as to define a circumferential inlet between the upper end of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member, the circumferential inlet being in fluid communication with the lower open end of the inner tubular member.