Hydrocarbon production system and method of use

Abstract

The method of the present invention provides a means to intake hydrocarbon fluid from a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir, including any accompanying ground water or earthen contaminants, into the subsurface lower end of a tubing system. Compressed gas is then used to purge the hydrocarbon fluid and earthen contaminants from within the tubing system to a hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facility at surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The purpose of the method of the present invention is to provide an improved method and an improved apparatus to displace light, medium, heavy or viscose hydrocarbon fluid that may contain earthen contaminants from subterranean hydrocarbon reservoirs, to a hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities on ground surface, by means of oil well production, wherein all currently used subsurface production pump systems are mechanically incapable of sustained or economic production. [0003] The method of the present invention provides a means to intake hydrocarbon fluid from a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir, including any accompanying ground water or earthen contaminants, into the subsurface lower end of a tubing system. Compressed gas is then used to purge the hydrocarbon fluid and contaminants from within the tubing system to a hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facility...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0032] A wellhead output gas valve may be added to close off the compressed gas and hydrocarbon fluid flow between the wellhead output and the surface flow line's input end, in order to build sufficient compressed gas pressure within the subsurface compressed gas feed tubing string, and upon opening the wellhead output gas valve, a hydrocarbon fluid column may be rapidly purged, at a considerable velocity, from and through the subsurface production tubing string, through the wellhead, surface flow line, and into the hydrocarbon storage tank. The method is advantageous when there is compressed gas loss due to bubble loss through the production tubing fluid column, or when difficult earthen particulates or r...

Problems solved by technology

Within some oil wells, subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir characteristics, hydrocarbon fluid characteristics, drilling problems or the well-bore design may present problems wherein continuous or more economical hydrocarbon production is difficult or not possible while employing current production systems including subsurface sucker rod driven plunger pumps, progressive cavity pumps or other types of subsurface production pumps.

If the hydrocarbon fluid contains considerable amounts of earthen particulates, the earthen particulates may accumulate and cause blockages within the subsurface production tubing and surface flow line.

When the accumulation of earthen particulates becomes too great, the sucker rods simply will not fall at an acceptable fall rate, through the column of hydrocarbon and earthen materials.

Production thereby fails, and well servicing is required.

The earthen particulates may also cause extreme abrasion of the sucker rods and production tubing and premature failure of each, which requires replacement of each.

Sucker rod and production tubing abrasion, mechanical wear and stress is greatly increased in oil wells that have deviations off the vertical line due to drilling problems, or in slant, whipstocked or horizontal well-bores.

These pumps inherit all the problems associated with sucker rod use, are quickly destroyed when the well-bore fluid is pumped off or the rotors and stators are often badly damaged when pumping rock fragments or pyrite balls or sand slugs.

They have a much shortened life when pumping considerable amounts of earthen particulates, especially water sand.

Within many oilsands production wells, seizure of the sucker rods by accumulations of earthen particulates packed within the subsurface production tubing string is a never ending problem that may occur daily.

The rubber stator component of the progressing cavity subsurface production pump is easily damaged by sand slugs, rock or coal fragments, pebbles, pyrite balls or the high ...

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