System and method for de-watering of hydrocarbon production wells using electrolysis

Abstract

Systems and methods for de-watering of hydrocarbon production wells which uses electrolysis of a water fraction in downhole fluids and a reaction chamber at a distal end of a hydrocarbon production well to generate hydrogen and oxygen gases, to improve hydrocarbon inflow into the production well. The produced hydrogen and / or oxygen gases may be used in combination with hydrocarbons produced by the production well to fuel a gas turbine at surface to generate electrical power for the electrolysis, or such gases may be recombined at surface to provide purified water. A first gas collection means surrounds a region above or proximate an anode for collecting the oxygen gas, and a first production tubing extends therefrom to surface. Means are further provided for collecting and producing hydrogen gas at a cathode, either in combination with produced hydrocarbons from the production well, or separately therefrom.

Description

[0001]SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DE-WATERING OF HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION WELLS USING ELECTROLYSIS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in production of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-producing wells, and more particularly to a system and method for de- watering production wells using electrolysis which among other advantages reduces hydrostatic backpressure by such manner of de-watering and thereby improves performance of the well and avoids having to pump connate water which flows into the well, to surface. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART During production of hydrocarbons from a wellbore situated within a hydrocarbon formation connate water in the form of “formation water” within the hydrocarbon formation will typically flow into the wellbore along with hydrocarbons via pathways in the hydrocarbon formation created after “fracking” of the formation. Ingress of water into the wellbore of a producing well along with hydrocarbons is typically highly undesirable, and adds to the expense of producing hydrocarbons. Specifically, ingress of water typically in liquid form (although substantially smaller amounts of water vapour may also flow) into the wellbore undesirably displaces hydrocarbons in the wellbore itself, as water is typically denser than oil, and further increases the hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore thereby reducing the ingress of hydrocarbons from the formation into the wellbore for production to surface. In the energy field where hydrocarbons such as natural gas are produced from underground formations, water is frequently also produced along with the natural gas. Typically, as the formation fluid pressure decreases with age, a water column builds up -1- 62737679\1 in the wellbore as the gas is flowed to surface, until the hydrostatic pressure of the water column equals the reservoir pressure, and the well stops flowing gas. Only by removing the water column in the wellbore and preferably in the immediate region surrounding the wellbore will the gas begin to flow again. Accordingly, in order to maintain a differential pressure gradient between the wellbore and the surrounding reservoir and thereby be able to preserve inflow of hydrocarbons into the wellbore and reduce the pressure in the wellbore to a pressure less than the pressure of fluids in the formation surrounding the well, formation water which flows into the wellbore is typically lifted to surface in either separate repeated de-watering intervals (when production of hydrocarbons from the wellbore is stopped) or alternatively (as is more typically the case) is continually pumped to surface along with the produced hydrocarbons in a water / hydrocarbon mixture or emulsion. Problematically, therefore, increased energy need be expended in producing “wet” oil or formation water to surface, particularly where there is a high “water cut” in the produced fluids. Further problematic is that the so-called “produced water” or “formation water” (ie the “water cut” in the produced fluids) is typically brackish and frequently contains concentrated brines and other contaminates such as sulfides and often residual amounts of chemical fracking fluid and / or proppant. Its treatment and / or disposal, as more fully explained below, is problematic and costly, and where such produced water is produced with and co-mingled with produced hydrocarbons as typically occurs in the produced fluid, expensive equipment is required to further extract and separate hydrocarbons from the produced fluid / emulsion. As of 2016, approximately 21 billion bbl (barrels; 1 bbl = 42 U.S. gallons) of produced water were being generated annually in the United States from about 900,000 wells, with the states of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming alone producing approximately 430 million gallons of produced water per day. -2- 62737679\1 Produced water is typically a complex mixture of dissolved and particulate organic and inorganic materials. The physical and chemical properties of formation water vary depending on the geologic age, depth, and geochemistry of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, , as well as the chemical composition of the oil and gas phases in the reservoir, and also may contain production chemicals such as residual fracking fluids and proppants to which the formation may have been exposed. Produced water typically contains at least the same salts as seawater, with sodium and chloride the most abundant ions. The most abundant inorganic ions in high-salinity produced water are, in order of relative abundance, sodium, chloride calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfate, bromide, bicarbonate, and iodide. Produced water from sour oil / gas wells may contain also high concentrations of sulfide and elemental sulfur. Table 1 below sets out typical concentrations (mg / kg or parts per million) of several elements and inorganic ions in produced waters of different geologic ages compared with average concentrations in 35% seawater:1 11. Produced Water, Overview of Composition, Fates, and Effects, July 2011 DOI:10.1007 / 978-1-4614-0046-2_1, In book: Produced Water (p..4) -3- 62737679\1 Treatment of produced water to remove residual contaminants, including organic and inorganic chemicals and elements such as metals, is very expensive, involving further expensive equipment to treat and store such water during the treatment process, or requires shipment of such treated water over large distances to offsite treatment facilities. Shipment of such produced water elsewhere for treatment via pipeline or truck is invariably prohibitively expensive. Moreover, in cold climates where temperatures*2)15).4,7 (2 / 0 '), / 6 $:%# 42&.30 / 24&4+ / . / **3+4) +3 3+-0,7 . / 4 &. / 04+ / . / 2 6 / 5,( 2)15+2)mixing such produced water with costly antifreeze substances which may not be available at site, and which would require still-further treatment facilities at an opposite end of a pipleline to extract any such added antifreeze compounds from such produced water. Accordingly, typically the only option to deal with produced water is to re-inject such produced water back into the hydrocarbon formation using pumps as a means of disposing of such produced water and at the same time as a method of maintaining pressure in the reservoir, or alternatively injecting such produced water in a wellbore in a different hydrocarbon formation (termed a disposal well), created specifically for sisposal applications . Disadvantageously, however, additional pumping equipment and additional piping to strategically re-inject such produced water into the formation at various optimal locations therein, or into a disposal well, are required. Each alternative adds significantly to the cost of hydrocarbon production from a particular formation. Indeed, the amount of produced water from a particular hydrocarbon formation is often to such an extent and amount that the associated expense of dealing with the produced water makes hydrocarbon recovery from the formation prohibitively expensive, and thereby rendering hydrocarbon production from wellbore in such particular hydrocarbon formation economically unfeasible. Accordingly, a serious need exists in the upstream hydrocarbon production industry for new, better, and economically viable methods for dealing with produced water and which ultimately reduce the operating costs of extracting hydrocarbons from underground formations. -4- 62737679\1 In particular a serious need in the art exists for methods of de-watering wells which better enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons and overall profitability of hydrocarbon recovery from a wellbore, and which methods may further, due to ultimate reduced or eliminated costs in disposing or treating such water, increase profitability and ROI of a wellsite and render wells which would otherwise be non-profitable economically viable. Electrolysis of water using a source of DC electricity applied respectively to each of a cathode and anode electrodes immersed in water which decompose water to produce hydrogen at the negative electrode (cathode) and oxygen at the positive electrode (anode) has been known since the 18thcentury. As regards the electrodes immersed in water, a reduction reaction occurs at the negatively charged cathode with electrons (e8) from the cathode being provided at such location to proximate hydrogen cations to form hydrogen gas. At the positively charged anode, an oxidation reaction occurs with a reaction that produces oxygen gas and provides electrons to the anode to complete the electrical circuit. Specifically, two half reactions occur at each of the anode and cathode in the electrolysis of water. The water, however, for the half reactions to occur typically needs to be acidic or basic (alkaline) or in an ionized solution. In the presence of acid within the water , the equations are: Anode (oxidation): 2 9 O2(g) + 4 H+(aq) + 4e8Cathode (reduction): 4H+ + 4e8 9 2H2(g)Alternatively, in the presence of base, such as in an alkaline water electrolysis process, the equations are: Cathode (reduction): 2 H2O(l) + 2e89 H2(g) + 2 OH8(aq)Anode (oxidation): 2 OH8(aq" 9 1 / 2 O2(g) + H2O(l) + 2 e8-5- 62737679\1 Combining either half reaction pair and driving the reactions via an electrical potential and thus provision of electrical energy applied to the electrodes yields the same overall decomposition reaction of water into oxygen and hydrogen: 2H2O(l" % # $2(g) + O2(g) (1)As may be seen from the above overall decomposition reaction (1) above the number of hydrogen molecules produced in the overall electrolysis process is twice the number of produced oxygen molecules arising from electrolysis. Heterogeneous electro-catalysts, such as platinized electrodes, can also aid in the efficiency of the electrolysis reaction. Alternatively, nickel-metal / nickel-oxide plated electrodes may be used , which significantly lower the required voltage potential to drive the aforesaid electrolysis reaction. US Patent 7,326,329 describes a method to produce hydrogen via electrolysis using a diaphragm-less electrolytic cell consisting of separate anode and cathode cells that is supplied by a DC power source. US Patent 7,191,737 describes a method to produce hydrogen via electrolysis where the generated hydrogen is stored in a gas reservoir which is then directly provided to an internal combustion engine. European Patent 1,716,602 describes a method to produce hydrogen via electrolysis using sunlight where a photovoltaic power cells is connected to the electrolyzer for generation of hydrogen. US Patent 10,487,408 describes a method to produce hydrogen via electrolysis where the system consists of a first compartment with an electrode for reducing water to hydrogen and another separate second compartment with an electrode for generating oxygen with its electrode connected electrically to the electrode of the first compartment. International Patent Application Publication 2006 / 113463 describes an apparatus and -6- 62737679\1 method for production of hydrogen which uses a catalytic electrolysis cell. US Patent 8,282,811 describes a multi-cell hydrogen production and compression device. The device is fed with water, and electrolysis is used to electrochemically split the water into oxygen gas and hydrogen protons. The hydrogen protons are attracted to the first anode to form hydrogen gas. Then, the moist hydrogen is fed to the anode of the second cell to which it is split again into protons. The protons are attracted to the cathode of the second cell. Due to the ability of differential pressure operation across the proton exchange membrane, this device claims to produce high pressure hydrogen at a higher effiiency than a single differential pressure cell or a single same pressure difference cell. None of the aforementioned prior art publications teach or suggest producing hydrogen and oxygen under pressurization. Rather, each of such methods contemplate hydrogen and oxygen both being produced at atmospheric pressure, and that the hydrogen need subsequently be compressed if desired to be transported. WO 2023 / 141725 entitled “Process to Produce Hydrogen and Oxygen from underground Systems” discloses carrying out electrolysis (ie the production of hydrogen and oxygen) under pressure, namely in a subterranean formation where water is supplied from ground surface to the subternation formation, suppling at least one electrolyzer within the subterranean formation, suppplying the at least one electrolyzer in the subterranean formaiton with supply water via a supply tubing from surface, supplying electricity to the electrolyzer, and producing hydrogen gas at the electrolyzer and collecting and transporting the produced hydrogen gas to surface. The supply water may be introduced into the supply tubing and thus into the subterranean formation at at elevated temperature and / or elevated pressure to assist the electrolysis and thus assist in the produciton of hydrogen and oxygen. To like effect, US 9,273,402 entitled “System and method for the manufacture , storage, and transportation of hydrogen and oxygen gas” teaches a deeply buried sealed production chamber capable of withstanding pressures . Such production chamber is -7- 62737679\1 provided with water from surface, fed by gravity from a water source at surface to the deep sealed production chamber thereby producing water(16) in the bottom of the production chamber (10) under substantial pressure. Hydrogen and oxygen gas are produced in the water at the bottom of the production chamber (10) via electrolyis. US 2016 / 0312646 entitled: “Electricity Generation and Water Desalination in Constructed Shafts Utilizing Geothermal Heat” teaches use of one or more subterranean shafts to convey seawater down to an operatinve depth of several miles, at which location electrical generators are driven via turbines to generate electricity , and such generated electricity conveyed to surface. Water which is conveyed downhole is flashed to steam and conveyed uphole to a condensation facility at surface which condences the desalinated steam back into pure water for distribution at surface. CA 3,215,702 (AU2022 / 262094) entitled “Self-powered Downhole Electrolysis Tool” teaches a downhole a power generation system which uses inherent downhole energy (circulation of fluid or geothermal energy) to operate an electrolysis system that creates hydrogen and oxygen gas, which can be flowed to surface. Alternatively, the elecrical power can be supplied downhole to the electrolysis system from for example a solar panel situated on surface. None of the additional prior art publications of WO2023 / 11725, US 9,273,402, US 2016 / 0312646 and / or CA 3,215,702 listed above teach or disclose a system of conducting electrolysis of formation water situated at a hydrocarbon production well, where the water is ambient formation water already existing downhole and within a wellbore . Nor is there any teaching or suggestion in any of these subsequent prior art publicaitons that reducing ambient fluid pressure in a production well or wellbore in comparison by dewatering using electrolyis so as improve or maintain a pressure gradient and thereby assist in hydrocarbon flow from into the producing well. -8- 62737679\1 Still further, nowhere is there any teaching or suggestion in any one of these subsequent prior art publicaitons of producing a hydrocarbon to surface from an underground hydrocarbon formation combined with or separate from the produced hydrogen from the electrolysis process. US 11,371,329 entitled “Hydrogen Production by downhole electrolysis of Reservoir Brine for Enhanced Oil recovery” teaches use of an injection well in a hydrocarbon formation, which is used for electrolysis downhole of water so as to generate hydrogen, wherein the produced hydrogen improves flowability of oil in a formation. The method provides an electrochemical apparatus within an injection well situated in a reservoir, therein such that injection water of the injection wellbore is introduced into the interior of the electrochemical apparatus (col. 2, lines 2-4), and hydrogen produced. . Alternatively, the injection wellbore is located in a water bearing formation, where a fluid within the water bearing formation includes injection water (col. 2, lines 28, 29) . Electrical power is introduced into the electochemical apparatus such that a portion of the injection water is converted into a product gas which includes hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The product gas bubbles travel into the formation, where they react with a reservoir hydrocabon of the formaiton to form a production fluid that is produced through a separate production wellbore spaced apart and closer to the earth’s surface (col.2, lines 35-46). The wetability of the formation is altered with the product gas bubbles, reducing the viscosity of the oil and allowing it to flow easier in the formation The elctrical power can ber provided from surface via a solar photovoltaic panel. Although US 11,371,329 does incidentally dislose, as part of the concept of generating hydrogen gas bubbles in a formation to increase flowability of hydrocarbons in the formation, that “the use of water (from the formation) to form the product gas (ie hydrogen and oxygen) also reduces the adverse effect of water encroachment into oil and gas producing wells” (ref. col. 1, lines 55-58) , such disclosed method teaches use of a separate injection well, spaced apart from the production well (preferrably below it), which due to such remoteness from the location of the production well thereby fails to most efficiently prevent ingress of water in the region of the production -9- 62737679\1 wellbore. Again, therefore, this further reference fails to teach conducting electrolysis of formation water at and within a hydrocarbon production well. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND SOME OF ITS EMBODIMENTS The present invention has, as one of its objects as regards certain of its embodiments, providing a system and method for de-watering hydrocarbon production wells without having to produce (ie. pump) connate water which flows into the well to surface along with produced hydrocarbons. The present invention has as another of its objects, as regards certain of its embodiments, providing a system and method of purifying contaminated water downhole, which would otherwise have had to be produced to surface in contaminated form along with produced hydrocarbons. The present invention has as another of its objects as regards certain of its embodiments, providing a system and method which allows for the production of hydrogen gas which may alone, or in combination with produced oxygen gas and produced hydrocarbons, be used as a fuel. In a first broad embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well via electrolysis of downhole water at a distal end thereof to thereby reduce hydrostatic back- pressure of connate water at a distal end of said hydrocarbon production well so as to thereby improve flow of hydrocarbon fluids into the production well. More specifically, in a preferred embodiment the system comprises : -a source of DC electric current; - a reaction chamber situated proximate a distal end of the production well, -10- 62737679\1 having a port or aperture therein which allows ingress of fluids from a hydrocarbon-containing formation, where such fluids typically comprise liquid water and liquid and / or gaseous hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon- containing formation The reaction chamber comprises a pair of electrodes suspended in such fluids, a first of the pair of electrodes coupled to a negative polarity output from the source of DC electrical current source and forming a cathode, and a second of the pair of electrodes coupled to a positive polarity output from the source of DC electrical current source and forming an anode. The reaction chamber further comprises a semi-permeable membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode and substantially submersed in the downhole fluids, which semipermeable membrane which is permeable to ions in the fluids but is impermeable to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas and thereby prevents oxygen gas produced at the anode from flowing to or coming into contact with the cathode and the hydrogen gas, and likewise prevents hydrogen gas produced at the cathode flowing to or coming into contact with the anode and the oxygen gas produced at the anode. The reaction chamber is configured, using the source of electrical DC current supplied thereto and the pair of electrodes, to convert liquid water in the downhole fluids into its constituent components of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas via electrolysis and via the chemical reaction: 2H2O(l" % # $2(g) + O2(g)In one embodiments the source of electrical DC current may be generated uphole and provided directly downhole to the reaction chamber. In another preferred embodiment, AC power may be generated uphole and transmitted downhole, and a downhole rectifier provided to convert such AC current to DC current directly at the downhole reaction chamber. Such preferred embodiment may be used to reduce line losses in deep wells. The downhole rectifier may further be adapted to convert 3 phase AC or single phase AC into use in the electrolysis occurring in the -11- 62737679\1 reaction chamber. The system further comprises: - a first gas collection means surrounding a region above or proximate the anode for collecting the oxygen gas produced at the anode ; -first production tubing, extending from the first gas collection means to surface for transporting the oxygen gas from the first gas collection means uphole in the production well to surface; and - means for collecting said hydrogen gas produced at said cathode and hydrocarbon liquids and / or gases flowing into said production well and flowing same to surface . As may be readily now understood by those of skill in the art, advantageously the aforesaid method of de-watering avoids the need and expense of pumping all downhole fluids, including the water content of such downhole fluids, uphole, as well as the inherent problems and equipment in needing to separate such water content from produced hydrocarbons if the produced hydrocarbons and not restricted to gas such as natural gas and instead have a liquids component, as well as the attendant problem and expense of having to safely dispose of such water, which is typically contaminated with toxic compounds. Further advantageously, the produced hydrogen gas my be combined with the produced hydrocarbons, and injected into a pipeline system for transportation and sale to markets, thereby recouping some of the initial energy cost of carrying out the electrolysis of the water content of the downhole fluids. Accordingly, in a refinement of the above system the means for collecting may comprises: (i) a second gas collection means surrounding a region above or proximate the cathode, for collecting said hydrogen gas produced at the cathode; and -12- 62737679\1 (ii) a second production tubing, extending from the second gas collection means to surface for transporting the hydrogen gas uphole in the production well to surface. In an alternative refinement, the means for collecting may comprise production tubing for together conveying a mixture of the hydrogen gas produced at the cathode along with remaining downhole fluids after the water component therein has been converted to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, to surface. Due to downhole fluids being of different compositions and thus different ionic compositions and concentrations, differing electrical conductivity, and differing pH levels, provision may need be made to adjust one or more of the aforementioned characteristics of the downhole fluids in order to optimize or better carry out electrolysis of the water content of such downhole fluids. Accordingly, in a further refinement of the system of the present invention, such system may further comprise means to permit the addition, from surface, of an electrolyzer or other solution modifier such as an acidic or basis solution to modify pH of the wellbore water to the reaction chamber , in order to aid or facilitate electrolysis of the water content in such downhole fluids within the production well. By way of non-limiting examples, the electrolyzer may comprise one or more ionizing salts, acids, or bases, in liquid or crystal form, which may be delivered downhole to the electrolysis reactor, to thereby adjust the physical properties of the fluids withn the reactor to optimize the electrolysis reaction occurring therein. In yet a further refinement, the system , and in particular the downhole electrolysis reactor, may further comprise means to measure ionic concentration, electrical conductivity, or pH of the fluids in the reactor. The system may further possess means to permit, in response to measured ionic concentration, electrical conductivity, or pH of the fluids in the reactor, the addition, from surface, of an electrolyzer to the fluids in the reactor to aid or facilitate the electrolysis of the water component thereof to improve the electrolysis and thus the dewatering of the well. -13- 62737679\1 In a further refinement detection means may be provided for detecting the level of fluids or the hydrostatic pressure of fluids at a distal end of said hydrocarbon production well. Such detection means is particularly useful when the water content in downhole fluids may vary to a large extent over a given period, and it is only desired to conduct electrolysis and thus dewatering at times when water content of the downhole fluids in the production well is undesirably high and detrimentally affecting flow of hydrocarbons into the production wellbore. For example, at periods where inflow of fluids into the well are comprised primarily of only liquid hydrocarbons and / or hydrocarbon gases and liquid water content is relatively minimal, the system of the present invention allows detection via the fluids level or hydrostatic pressure at the distal end of the production well, and is capable in the manner described to stop supply of electrical power to the electrodes in such a downhole well condition. Thus in such refinement, means may further be provided for electrically actuating the electrodes to carry out electrolysis of water within the fluids within the reactor at times only when the level of or hydrostatic pressure of such downhole fluids is at or above a given level or value By way of further advantages of the system of the present invention, frequently at remote locations where production wells may be drilled, a ready external source of electrical power for conducting electrolysis of water content in downhole fluids is not available. Accordingly and advantageously, in various alternative preferred embodiments the present invention provides systems and methods which may be self-contained and not require electrical power from external sources in order to carry out electrolysis of water in downhole fluids. Such systems, particularly in systems where provision is further made to allow sale of or burning of the produced hydrogen gas, advantageously not only allow such systems being self-contained but further allow for at least some re-coupling of the initial cost of electrical power generation in carrying out electrolysis to de-water the well. Accordingly in one of such embodiments the system of the present invention further comprises: -a burner for heating water to produce steam; -14- 62737679\1 - a steam turbine; -an electrical generator coupled to said steam turbine; where the DC electrical power for carrying out the electrolysis of water content in downhole fluids is provided by the electrical generator powered by the steam turbine, or alternatively by an AC-DC power inverter coupled to the generator which converts AC power from said generator to DC power. In a further refinement of the aforesaid self-contained system, the burner is fueled by hydrocarbons such as hydrocarbon gases produced by the production well. In a still- further refinement of the aforesaid self-contained system, the burner may advantageously be fueled by the hydrogen gas produced at the cathode. Alternatively, in an alternative self-contained system, a gas turbine may be provided and an electrical generator coupled to the gas turbine. The electrical source of DC power is directly provided by the gas-turbine powered generator or alternatively by an inverter coupled to said generator which converts AC power from the generator to DC power. In a refinement , the gas turbine is fueled by hydrocarbon gases flowing into said production well and produced to surface from the production well . In a further refinement, the gas turbine is additionally or alternatively fueled by hydrogen gas produced at the cathode of the downhole reactor. In yet a further alternative self-contained system,thesource of electrical DC power may be provided by a wind turbine and / or a solar panel array, or by a wind turbine and / or solar panel array in combination with a rectifier to convert AC power to DC electrical power. Due to the systems and methods of the present invention utilizing a combination of electricity and potentially explosive gases, safety is paramount, and to that extent certain features may additionally be incorporated to enhance safety and reduce the chances of potentially igniting hydrcarbons during their production from the downhole production well when electrolysis of water content is taking place. -15- 62737679\1 Accordingly, in a further refinement of the system the system further comprises an oxygen sensor configured to sense levels of oxygen in said production well. IN such further refinement the oxygen sensor may configured in the system to sense and warn of the (improper) presence of oxygen gas in the means for collecting, which due to the presence of hydrocarbons and / or hydrocarbon gases and also in some embodiments hydrogen gas, would mean the undesired creation of a potentially explosive mixture. In a refinement, the system is further configured to stop supply of electrical current to the electrodes in the event that presence of oxygen gas is detected by the oxygen sensor in said means for collecting, and thereby cease the electrolysis and thus the production of further oxygen, until the condition causing improper mixing of the oxygen and hydrocarbon gases can be rectified. In another embodiment , the invention comprises a method for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well via electrolysis to reduce water content in hydrocarbon fluids being produced to surface from the hydrocarbon production well, comprising the steps of: (i) placing a reaction chamber downhole and proximate a distal end of the hydrocarbon production well; (ii) providing a means for ingress of a fluid mixture comprising liquid water and hydrocarbons from the production well into the reaction chamber; (iii) proving a pair of electrodes in said reaction chamber and suspending them in said fluid mixture in said reaction chamber; (iv) providing a semi-permeable membrane between said pair of electrodes which is permeable to ions in said fluid mixture but impermeable to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; (v) coupling a first of said pair of electrodes to a negative DC electric current source and forming a cathode, and coupling a second of said pair of electrodes to a positive DC electrical current source and anode; -16- 62737679\1 (vi) collecting oxygen gas formed at said anode and sending said oxygen gas to surface via dedicated tubing ; (vii) transporting said fluid mixture containing hydrocarbons from said reaction chamber having reduced water content due to said water having been decomposed in said reaction chamber to hydrogen and oxygen, to surface via production tubing in said production well. In one refinement of the above method, such method further comprises the steps of collecting hydrogen gas formed at said cathode, and directing said hydrogen gas to surface via dedicated tubing. In yet a further refinement, such refinement comprises the step, at surface, of combusting or combining the hydrogen gas which has been collected with the oxygen gas which has been collected to produce water vapour, and thereafter condensing such water vapour to obtain purified liquid water. This refinement clearly has the advantage of simultaneously solving the prior art problem of dealing with contaminated water, as the resulting produced water produced by the aforesaid method is clearly purified, and not contaminated. In an alternative refinement of the method for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well, such method may further comprise collecting hydrogen gas formed at the cathode, and thereafter directing the hydrogen gas produced during the electrolysis process to surface mixed with the hydrocarbon fluids or gases being production via the same production tubing used to produce the hydrocarbon liquids or gases to surface. An additional step in the above method may comprise the step of directing an electrolyzer in the form of an acid or a base downhole into said fluid mixture in said reaction chamber to aid or assist in the electrolysis of water in said fluids. Such additional step may further comprise :: -detecting an ionic concentration or electrical conductivity of the fluid mixture in the reaction chamber ; -determining whether the ionic concentration or electrical conductivity of -17- 62737679\1 the fluid mixture is sufficiently ionic or sufficiently electrically conductive; and - if the ionic concentration or electrical conductivity of the fluid mixture is determined to be insufficiently ionic or insufficiently electrically conductive, directing the electrolyzer in the form of an acid or a base downhole into the fluid mixture in said reaction chamber and enhancing the speed or efficiency of the electrolysis process being carried out in the reactor chamber. In one refinement the method may include steps to allow for the self-contained generation of electrical power for the electrolysis process and eliminate the need to rely on external sources of electrical power. Accordingly, in such further refinement such method further comprises the steps of : -providing a boiler for generating steam, wherein the boiler is fueled by either: (i) said fluid mixture containing hydrocarbons having reduced water content due to said water having been decomposed to hydrogen and oxygen; : (ii) said hydrogen gas produced at said cathode; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); -using the boiler to generate steam and directing said steam to a steam turbine, -using the steam turbine to power an electrical generator; and - providing electrical current generated by said electrical generator to the pair of electrodes to effect electrolysis of the water component in downhole fluids. In another alternative refinement embodiment which includes steps to allow for the self-contained generation of electrical power electrolysis process a the method may -18- 62737679\1 comprise the alternative steps of : -providing a gas turbine, wherein gas turbine is fueled by either: (i) said fluid mixture containing hydrocarbons having reduced water content due to the water content having been decomposed to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; (ii) the hydrogen gas produced at the cathode; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); -using the gas turbine to power an electrical generator; and - providing electrical current generated by the electrical generator to the pair of electrodes. In another alternative refinement embodiment which includes steps to allow for the self-contained generation of electrical power for the electrolysis process a the method may comprise the alternative steps of : -providing at surface and proximate a proximal end of said production well a wind turbine and / or a solar panel array; and -providing electrical power provided by said wind turbine and / or said solar panel array to said pair of electrodes; In a further refinement of each of the methods of the present invention, the method may further comprising the steps of providing an oxygen sensor and determining via the oxygen sensor if said fluid mixture having reduced water content due to said water having been decomposed to hydrogen and oxygen which is being pumped to surface contains oxygen gas. As a still-further refinement, such method may further comprise the steps of: -determining if the said fluid reduced water content due to said -19- 62737679\1 water having been decomposed to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas and which is being pumped to surface contains oxygen of a level or concentration sufficient to cause a risk of ignition or explosion of said fluid mixture; and -shutting off electrical current being provided to said electrodes if the level or concentration of oxygen therein is sufficient to cause a risk of ignition or explosion of said fluid mixture. For further explanation and description of the scope of the aforementioned embodiments of the invention, reference is to be had to the remainder of this specification. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further advantages and permutations and combinations of the invention will now appear from the above and from the following detailed description of various particular embodiments of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings each of which are intended to be non-limiting, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the system and method of the present invention for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well shown schematically in cross-section via electrolysis of water to reduce hydrostatic backpressure of said water at a distal end of thereof well so as to thereby improve flow of hydrocarbon fluids into the production well; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a refinement of the system and method of the present invention for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well shown schematically in cross-section via electrolysis of water to reduce hydrostatic backpressure of said water at a distal end of thereof well so as to thereby improve flow of hydrocarbon fluids into the production well; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a refinement of the system and method of the -20- 62737679\1 present invention for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well, which further provides for self-contained generation of electrical power for carrying out the electrolysis process of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the system and method of the present invention for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well, which further provides for an alternative embodiment for self-contained generation of electrical power for carrying out the electrolysis process of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a refinement of the system and method of the present invention for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well which advantageously provides for the creation at surface of purified water; Fig. 6 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the system and method of the present invention for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well, which further provides for alternative manners and apparatus for self-contained generation of electrical power; Fig. 7 in a schematic view of the system and method of the present invention for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well, which uses co-axial production tubing for production of respectively oxygen gas and hydrogen gas, wherein respective exterior and interior co-axial tubing serves respectively as electrodes for the electrolytic reaction; Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional view on plane A-A of Fig. 7; Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view on plane B-B of Fig.7; Fig. 7C is an enlarged view of circled area ‘C’ in Fig.7; Fig. 7D is an enlarged view similar to that shown in Fig. 7C, but where there is a downhole rectifier provided, to covert AC current generated uphole and conveyed -21- 62737679\1 to the rectifier downhole, where it is converted to DC electrical current; and Fig. 8 is a modified view of the system and method of Fig. 4 for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well, which further provides for an alternative embodiment for self-contained generation of electrical power for carrying out the electrolysis process of the present invention. To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used where possible in each of the appended figures to designate identical elements that are common to each of the figures. It is further contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment shown in one of the aforesaid figures may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments shown in the above figures, without specific recitation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figs. 1-8 each depict, in various embodiments and refinements, systems 10 incorporating methods for carrying out de-watering of a hydrocarbon production well 9 situated in a hydrocarbon-containing formation 12 via electrolysis of water contained in downhole fluids 8 which flow into production well 9, so as to thereby maintain inflow of downhole fluids 8 ( including hydrocarbon fluids in the form of liquids and gases 15) into the production well 9 for subsequent production. As explained earlier herein, and with reference in particular to Fig. 1, substantial quantities of connate water within a hydrocarbon formation 12 may be mixed with downhole fluids 8 which flow or are forced (through hydrostatic pressure) into a distal end 7 of a hydrocarbon production well 9. This particularly occurs as downhole fluids 8 are pumped to surface 11, thereby lowering the level of fluids 8 a distance “d” from a level 14 of fluids 8 existing in formation 12, thereby creating a hydrostatic pressure differential. The present systems 10 and methods uses electrolysis to eliminate water portion -22- 62737679\1 in fluids 8 at a distal end 7 of a production well 9, thereby preserving a “delta” distance “d” between the level 14 of fluid in the formation 12 and the level of fluids 17 in the production well 9 thereby beneficially creating a hydrostatic differential and causing such fluids 8 to flow into the production well 9. Advantageously, however, and at that same time, the system 10 of the present invention eliminates the need to pump a water component within such downhole fluids 8 to surface 11 due to such water component having been converted downhole to oxygen gas 23 and hydrogen gas 25 . The hydrogen and oxygen gas may be directed to surface 11 with much less energy (or no energy) than if such water content needed to be pumped to surface. Moreover, problems with disposal of (contaminated and unpurified) produced water are thereby eliminated. As may be seen from the embodiment of the dewatering system shown in Fig. 1, a reaction chamber 18 is provided proximate a distal end 7 of production well 9. The well casing 6 of such production well 9 is provided with apertures 19 therein which allow ingress of fluids 8 from the hydrocarbon-containing formation 12 into the production well, where such fluids 8 comprise liquid water mixed with and entrained in liquid and / or gaseous hydrocarbons 15. The reaction chamber 18 itself has apertures or ports 36, 35 therein (eg.ref. Fig. 5) , typically situated in a lower portion thereof, to allow inflow of downhole fluids 8 from the distal end 7 of the production well 9 into reaction chamber 18 . The reaction chamber 18 further comprises a pair of electrodes 32 suspended in the downhole fluids 8 in the reaction chamber 18. A first electrode 34 of the pair of electrodes 32 is coupled to a negative polarity output 22 from said source of DC electrical current source 20 and forming a cathode , and a second electrode 33 of the pair of electrodes 32 is coupled to a positive polarity output 21 from said source of DC electrical current source 20 and forms an anode. Electrodes 34 may comprise platinum, but other metals or admixtures of metals may be used. -23- 62737679\1 Since hydrogen gas produced at the cathode and oxygen gas produced at the anode, if combined, would generate a potentially explosive mixture, a low-cost semi- permeable membrane 40 (impermeable to oxygen gas and hydrogen gas, but permeable to ions within a liquid solution) is preferably situated between the electrodes. Semi-permeable membrane 40 prevents oxygen gas 23 produced at the anode from flowing toor coming into contact with the cathode and produced hydrogen gas 25, and likewise prevents hydrogen gas 25 produced at said cathode from flowing to or coming into contact with the anode and the oxygen gas 23 produced at the anode. Suitable semi-permeable membranes 40 may comprise porous white asbestos (Mg3Si2O5(OH)4), but there are several drawbacks by using a white asbestos diaphragm, the obvious being its toxicity leading to asbestosis and lung cancer. In a basic solution, the corrosion rate of white asbestos is dependent on temperature—higher temperatures leading to faster corrosion—which means that increasing the efficiencies of the electrolyzer by elevating the temperature is a problem when using such material. Due to these issues, other materials are preferred for the semi-permeable membrane 40, such as potassium titanate (K2TiO3) fibers and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyphenylene sulfide, PTFE (as felt and as woven), polysulfone, and asbestos coated with polysulfone. A first gas collection means 59 surrounds a region above or proximate the anode for collecting oxygen gas 23 produced at the anode. A first production tubing 24 which extends from said first gas collection means 59 to surface 11, is provided for transporting the oxygen gas 23 from the first gas collection means 59 uphole in the production well 9 to surface 11. With reference to Fig. 2, a means 59 for collecting both the hydrogen gas 25 produced at the cathode and the hydrocarbon gases 15 flowing into production well 9 may be provided. Alternatively, and with reference to a means 58 for collecting the hydrogen -24- 62737679\1 gas 25 may be provided as part of the reaction chamber 18, and dedicated production tubing 26 may be provided to direct and transport the produced hydrogen gas 25 from means 58 to surface 11 separately from hydrocarbon gases 15, the latter of which may be collected within well casing 6 and directed via casing 6 from the production well 9 to a hydrocarbon transportation pipeline 82. Unless a large electrical potential is applied across electrodes to increase the auto- ionization of pure water, electrolysis of pure water proceeds slowly, limited by the overall conductivity of the water. Pure water has an electrical conductivity that is about one- millionth that of seawater, which is ionized due the presence of salt (NaCl) which exists in solution in disassociated state in the form of Na+and Cl- ions. By the presence of ionizing salts in the water, such as NaCl, or by the water having the water initially basic (by the addition of or presence of hydroxide ions which may be increased by addition of a base such as KOH or NaOH), or the presence of acidic water which contains increased hydrogen ions due to the presence of acids in the water such as H2S04 or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) , can improve the rate of the electrolysis reaction. Fortunately , connate water within oil formations usually contains large amounts of dissolved salts, which completely dissociate into cations and anions in water, and hence increase the ionic concentration for increasing conductivity . Disadvantageously, however, cations and anions from the salt(s) also will be attracted towards the electrodes 32, and hence may, depending on their standard electrode potential, become competitors to the decomposition of water to produce hydrogen gas 25 and oxygen gas 23. Accordingly, the wise selection of salts for use as an additive electrolyzer having non-competing ions becomes necessary and advantageous . Salts containing lesser standard electrode potentials than hydrogen and hydroxide ions are thus accordingly more suitable for the electrolysis of water. -25- 62737679\1 Specifically, salts which form ions of first and second periodic table group elements (Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ba, etc.) have lower standard potential than hydrogen ions, and will not be reduced, thereby allowing hydrogen ions in aqueous water, in the presence of acid within the downhole fluids, to be oxidized to form hydrogen gas . Similarly, non-reactive anions from salts which disassociate in solution, such as for example salts that disassociate into nitrate and sulphate ions , have a lesser standard reduction potential than the hydroxide (OH-) ions , and are thus advantageous to use as an electrolyzer additive in conditions where it is desired to better facilitate such as in an alkaline water electrolysis process, where the equations are: Cathode (reduction): 2 H2O(l) + 2e89 H2(g) + 2 OH8(aq)Anode (oxidation): 2 OH8(aq" 91 / 2 O2(g) + H2O(l) + 2 e8 and thereby make a downhole fluid within the reactor more basic. Alkaline electrolyzers such as those that contain caustic water solution and 25%– 30% of potassium hydroxide (KOH), or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium chloride (NaCl) for use as a catalyst are examples of electrolyzers which may be added to improve performance of electrolysis of water in downhole fluids within the reactor at the distal end of the wellbore. Accordingly, to assist and improve on electrolysis of the water content of the downhole fluids 8 being carried out in the reaction chamber 18, Fig. 2 shows a further refinement of the system 10 and method whereby means in the form of dedicated tubing 84 and a pump “P” are provided to allow the supply, when desired, of an electrolyzer 83 to the reactor chamber 18 to selectively adjust the relative concentrations of ions in the particular downhole fluids 8 so as to enhance and improve the electrolysis of the water component of the downhole fluids 8 occurring in the reaction chamber 18, and further provide a means to alter, from surface, the known chemistry of the downhole fluids 8 in the reaction chamber 18 to a chemistry that is more amendable to electrolysis of the water component in the downhole fluids 8. -26- 62737679\1 In a preferred embodiment and as shown in Fig. 2, means in the form of a sensor 60 is provided to measure one or more of the ionic concentration, electrical conductivity, or pH of the fluids 8 in the reaction chamber 18 is provided. Means in the form of an electrical controller 62 for pump “P” may be further provided to permit, in response to measured ionic concentration, electrical conductivity, or pH of the fluids 8 from the sensor 60, the supply of electrical power to pump “P” to allow the addition from surface 11 of an electrolyzer 83 via tubing 84 to the reaction chamber 18 to aid or facilitate the electrolysis reaction occurring in reaction chamber 18. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention providing for self-contained electrical power generation for use in downhole electrolysis in reaction chamber 18. A burner 87 is provided for heating water to produce steam which flows via steam line 89 to steam turbine 77. Steam turbine 78 is coupled to an electrical generator 65, the former providing mechanical energy to generator 65 to produce electrical power 20 to electrodes 32. In the embodiment shown in Fig.3 , burner 87 is fueled by both hydrocarbon gases 15 flowing from production well 9 via hydrocarbon production tubing 30, by hydrogen gas 25 produced by electrolysis occurring in reaction chamber 18, and by oxygen gas likewise produced by electrolysis occurring in reaction chamber 18. Alternatively, although not shown, burner 87 may instead be fueled only by a portion of the hydrocarbon gas 15 produced by production well 9. Still further alternatively, burner 87 may be fueled by a combination of the hydrocarbons 15 produced by the production well 9 and by hydrogen gas 25 produced byelectrolysis in reaction chamber 18. Still further alternatively, burner 87 may be fueled at times solely by hydrogen gas 15 produced by electrolysis in reaction chamber 18, although, due to energy losses,storage of hydrogen produced during times of combined dual fuel source would be needed, as sustained generation of electrical power provided solely by burning ofhydrogen gases produced by electrolysis would not be possible due to such energy losses and supplemental fuel source would need to be provided to burner 87 if continuous -27- 62737679\1 generation of electrical power was needed. Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention providing for self- contained electrical power generation for use in downhole electrolysis in reaction chamber 18. In such alternative embodiment system 10 further comprises a gas turbine 77, and an electrical generator mechanically coupled to gas turbine 77, where the electrical source of DC power is provided by generator 77. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 , gas turbine 77 is fueled by both hydrocarbon gases 15 flowing from production well 9 via tubing 30, by hydrogen gas 25 produced by electrolysis occurring in reaction chamber 18, and by oxygen gas 23 likewise produced by electrolysis occurring in reaction chamber 18. Alternatively, although not shown, gas turbine 77 may instead be fueled only by a portion of the hydrocarbon gas 15 produced by production well 9. Still further alternatively gas turbine 77 may be fueled by a combination of the hydrocarbons 15 produced by the production well 9 and by hydrogen gas 25 produced byelectrolysis in reaction chamber 18. Still further alternatively, gas turbine 77 may be fueled at times solely by hydrogen gas 15 or as shown in Fig. 8 by hydrogen gas 25 and oxygen gas 23, which is / areproduced by electrolysis in reaction chamber 18, although, due to energy losses, storageof hydrogen gas produced during times of combined dual fuel source would be needed, as sustained generation of electrical power provided solely by burning of hydrogen gases produced by electrolysis would not be possible due to such energy losses and supplemental fuel source would need to be provided to gas turbine 77 if continuous generation of electrical power was needed. Fig. 5 shows a system 10 where, during production of hydrocarbon gases 15 from production well 9 and simultaneous production of hydrogen gas 25 and oxygen gas 23 via electrolysis wherein such two gases 25, 23 are flowed to surface 11 via respective tubing 26, 24, a reactor 95 may be provided at surface 11 to re-combine the produced hydrogen -28- 62737679\1 gas 25 and oxygen gas 23 into water vapour. Such water vapour may then be directed through a condenser 96 to produce purified liquid water 97 free of contaminants which fluids produced from hydrocarbon production wells typically contain. Fig. 6 shows yet another alternative embodiment of the invention providing for self-contained electrical power generation for use in downhole electrolysis in reaction chamber 18. A wind turbine 93 and / or a solar panel array 92 may be instead used to provide electrical power to electrodes 32 in reaction chamber 18 to carry out the desired electrolysis. If both a wind turbine 93 and solar panel array 92 are used, a controller 105 may be provided to regulate or apportion the electrical power provided at times by one or both of such wind turbine 93 and solar panel array 92 to electrodes 32 in reaction chamber 18. Well casings 6 of the present invention typically contains both liquid hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon gases 15 , as well as potentially such as in the system 10 shown in Fig. 2, hydrogen gas 25 produced in reaction chamber 18. Due to the risk of explosion if oxygen gas 23 produced in the electrolysis process were to leak from tubing 24 and come into contact with hydrocarbon gases 15 and / or hydrogen gases 25, the system 10 of the present invention may provide safety systems to enhance safety and reduce the risk of explosion. In one such safely system as shown for example in the system 10 depicted in Fig. 6, an oxygen gas sensor 61 may be provided . A controller 73 may be provided, which controls switch 74 to interrupt DC electrical power supply 21 and / or 22 being provided to electrodes 32 in reaction chamber 18 in the event that oxygen gas 23 is detected in well casing 6. Other features not necessarily related to safety but rather to assist in the ease and control of operation may be added to system 10 of the present invention with respect to control of the electrolysis process . -29- 62737679\1 For example, as seen from Fig. 6, a level sensor / liquid detection means 101 within well casing 6 may be provided for detecting the level 17 or hydrostatic pressure of water-containing fluids 8 at a distal end 7 of the hydrocarbon production well 9. Means may further be provided, in the form of electrical controller 105, to only provide electrodes 32 with electrical power 21, 22 to effect electrolysis of water in reaction chamber 18 when the level 17 as sensed by sensor 101, or hydrostatic pressure of said water-containing fluids 8 in well casing 6 as sensed by sensor 101, are at or rise above a given value. Likewise, as may be seen from Fig. 7 showing an alternative system 10, pressure valves 41 may be provided to sense pressures in respectively hydrogen gas production tubing 26 and oxygen gas production tubing 24 to regulate and control the times desired release of said gases from their respective production lines and to sense any overpressure in such lines which could possibly lead to leaks from such tubing 26, 24 and thus a potentially explosive situation. Pressure valves 41 may also be controlled by an electrical controller 105, the latter being powered by the source of electrical power be it a solar array 92, an electrical generator 65 powered by a gas turbine 77 or steam turbine 78, or by a wind turbine 93. With reference to Fig. 7 , 7A, 7B & 7C, such figures collectively depict an alternate configuration for providing electrical DC power to electrodes 32 in reaction chamber 18. In such configuration a co-axial tubing arrangement as best seen in Fig. 7A is used, whereby electrically conductive oxygen gas tubing 24 is co-axially centered within, via non-electrically conductive spacer elements 31, electrically conductive hydrogen gas production tubing 26. In such configuration, as best seen in Fig.7 and 7A, negative electrical DC current 20 may be provided to the hydrogen gas producing electrode (cathode) 34 via hydrogen gas production tubing 26, and positive electrical DC current may be provided to oxygen gas production tubing 24 and to anode 32 , as best shown in Fig.7. Where electrical power is provided co-axially via concentric tubing 24, 26, such may necessitate a cylindrical semi- membrane 40 within reaction chamber 18 as -30- 62737679\1 best shown in cross-section in Fig. 7B so as to effectively separate oxygen gas 23 when produced and collected in co-axial tubing 24 and ensure such oxygen gas 23 remains isolated and separate from the hydrogen gas 25 which is being produced in reaction chamber 18 and collected and transported via co-axial hydrogen gas tubing 26 to surface thereby. Likewise, where co-axial concentric tubing 24, 26 is used, an aperture 36 may be provided in reaction chamber 18 to ensure downhole fluid 8 containing water is in contact with the cathode, and likewise an aperture 37 may be provided in the base of the reaction chamber 18 to ensure downhole fluid 8 containing water is likewise in contact with the anode, as best seen in Fig.7 and Fig. 7C. Fig. 7D is an enlarged view similar to that shown in Fig. 7C, but where there is a downhole AC-DC rectifier 55 further provided . AC-DC rectifier 55 is adapted to covert AC electrical current generated uphole to DC electrical current , for subsequent direct provision to the respective electrodes (anode and cathode) in reaction chamber 18. Such feature advantageously allows for potential reduction of electrical power losses in deep wells which may otherwise result from transmitting DC power downhole the entire depth of the wellbore, or from having to generate DC power uphole when sources of AC power may be available uphole. Fig. 8 is a modified view of the system and method of Fig. 4 for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well, which further provides for an alternative embodiment for self-contained generation of electrical power via a gas turbine 77 coupled to an electrical generator 65, for carrying out the electrolysis process of the present invention. A portion of the produced hydrocarbons 30 may be used to provide a source of fuel for the turbine 77 or to augment the produced hydrogen gas 25 and optionally the oxygen gas 23 that may be further supplied as fuel source(s) via respective lines 24, 26 to turbine 77. It is to be noted that the configuration as shown in Fig. 8 would only be a temporary situation relying on stored hydrogen gas to fuel the turbine 77 , and not continually self- sustaining configuration due to energy losses. To be self-sustaining configuration produced hydrocarbons from line 30 from would further need to augment the -31- 62737679\1 hydrogen gas 25 fuel source to turbine 77 to allow continued operation of the turbine to generate the necessary electrolysis to continue to produce the hydrogen gas 25. For a complete definition of the invention and its intended scope, reference is to be made to the summary of the invention and the appended claims read together with and considered with the disclosure and drawings herein. -32- 62737679\1

Claims

Claims We claim:

1. A system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well via electrolysis of water to reduce hydrostatic backpressure of said water at a distal end of said hydrocarbon production well so as to thereby improve flow of hydrocarbon fluids into said production well, comprising: -a source of DC electric current; - a reaction chamber situated proximate a distal end of said production well, having a port or aperture therein which allows ingress of fluids from a hydrocarbon-containing formation, said fluids comprising liquid water and liquid and / or gaseous hydrocarbons from said hydrocarbon-containing formation; -said reaction chamber comprising: (i) a pair of electrodes suspended in said fluids, a first of said pair of electrodes coupled to a negative polarity output from said source of DC electrical current source and forming a cathode, and a second of said pair of electrodes coupled to a positive polarity output from said source of DC electrical current source and forming an anode; (ii) a semi-permeable membrane interposed between said anode and said cathode and substantially submersed in said fluids, which is permeable to ions in said fluids but impermeable to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas and thereby prevents oxygen gas produced at said anode from flowing to or coming into contact with said cathode and said hydrogen gas, and likewise prevents hydrogen gas produced at said cathode flowing to or coming into contact with said anode and said oxygen gas produced at said anode; -said reaction chamber configured, using said source of electrical DC current supplied thereto and said pair of electrodes, to convert liquid water in said fluid to its constituent -33- 62737679\1components hydrogen gas and oxygen gas via electrolysis and via the chemical reaction: 2H2O(l" % # $2(g) + O2(g)- a first gas collection means surrounding a region above or proximate said anode for collecting said oxygen gas produced at said anode ; -first production tubing, extending from said first gas collection means to surface for transporting said oxygen gas from said first gas collection means uphole in said production well to surface; and - means for collecting said hydrogen gas produced at said cathode and hydrocarbon liquids and / or gases flowing into said production well .2.The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 1, wherein : - said means for collecting comprises: (i) a second gas collection means surrounding a region above or proximate said cathode for collecting said hydrogen gas produced at said cathode; (ii) a second production tubing, extending from said second gas collection means to surface for transporting said hydrogen gas uphole in said production well to surface.

3. The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 1,wherein - said means for collecting comprises: (i) production tubing for together conveying a mixture of the hydrogen gas produced at the cathode and remaining fluids after the water component there has been -34- 62737679\1converted to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, to surface.

4. The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises : - means to permit the addition, from surface, of an electrolyzer to said reaction chamber to aid or facilitate the electrolytic reaction recited in claim 1.5.The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: - means to measure ionic concentration, electrical conductivity, or pH of the fluids in said reaction chamber ; and - means to permit, in response to measured ionic concentration, electrical conductivity, or pH of the fluids in the reaction chamber, the addition, from surface, of an electrolyzer to fluids in the reaction chamber to aid or facilitate the electrolytic reaction recited in claim 1 in the reaction chamber.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising; -liquid level detection means for detecting the level or hydrostatic pressure of water- containing fluids at a distal end of said hydrocarbon production well, and -means for actuating said electrodes to effect electrolysis of water in said reaction chamber when said level or hydrostatic pressure of said water-containing fluids are at or above a given level.

7. The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 1, wherein said source of DC electrical current comprises a source of AC electrical current at surface of the hydrocarbon production well, which source of AC electrical current is rectified into said source of DC electrical current by a downhole AC-DC rectifier situated downhole in the hydrocarbon production well proximate said reaction chamber, which rectifier rectifies the AC electrical current downhole into the DC electrical current .

8. The system for de-watering a production well as claimed in claim 1, -35- 62737679\1further comprising: -a burner for heating water to produce steam; - a steam turbine; -an electrical generator coupled to said steam turbine; wherein said electrical source of DC power is provided by said generator, or by an inverter coupled to said generator which converts AC power from said generator to DC power.

9. The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 8,wherein said burner is fueled by hydrocarbon gases produced by said production well .

10. The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said burner is fueled by said hydrogen gas produced at said cathode.

11. The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising: -a gas turbine; -an electrical generator coupled to said gas turbine; wherein said electrical source of DC power is provided by said generator or by an inverter coupled to said generator which converts AC power from said generator to DC power.

12. The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 11, wherein said gas turbine is fueled by hydrocarbon gases flowing into said production well and produced to surface from said production well .13.The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 11, wherein said gas turbine is fueled by said hydrogen gas produced at said cathode.

14. The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 1, wherein said source of electrical DC power by a wind turbine and / or a solar panel -36- 62737679\1array, or by a wind turbine and / or solar panel array in combination with a rectifier to convert AC power to DC electrical power.15.The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises an oxygen sensor configured to sense levels of oxygen in said production well.16.The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 15, wherein said oxygen sensor is configured to sense and warn of presence of oxygen gas in the means for collecting.

17. The system for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 16, wherein said system is further configured to stop supply of electrical current to said electrodes in the event that presence of oxygen gas is detected by said oxygen sensor in said means for collecting.

18. A method for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well via electrolysis to reduce water content in hydrocarbon fluids being produced to surface from said hydrocarbon production well, comprising the steps of: (i) placing a reaction chamber proximate a distal end of said hydrocarbon production well; (ii) providing a means for ingress of a fluid mixture comprising liquid water and hydrocarbons from said production well into said reaction chamber; (iii) providing a pair of electrodes in said reaction chamber and suspending them in said fluid mixture in said reaction chamber; (iv) providing a semi-permeable membrane between said pair of electrodes which is permeable to ions in said fluid mixture but impermeable to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; (v) coupling a first of said pair of electrodes to a negative DC electric current source and forming a cathode, and coupling a second of said pair of electrodes to a positive DC electrical current source and forming an anode; -37- 62737679\1(vi) collecting oxygen gas formed at said anode and sending said oxygen gas to surface via dedicated tubing ; (vii) transporting said fluid mixture containing hydrocarbons from said reaction chamber having reduced water content due to said water having been decomposed in said reaction chamber to hydrogen and oxygen, to surface via production tubing in said production well.

19. The method for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the steps of : -collecting hydrogen gas formed at said cathode; and -directing said hydrogen gas to surface via dedicated tubing.20.The method for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the step, at surface, of combusting or combining said hydrogent gas which has been collected with said oxygen gas which has been collected to produce water vapour and condensing said water vapour to obtain purified liquid water.

21. The method for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the steps of : -collecting hydrogen gas formed at said cathode; and -directing said hydrogen gas to surface via said production tubing and mixed with said hydrocarbon fluids or gases being produced to surface..

22. The method for de-watering a hydrocarbon production well as claimed in claim 18 further comprising the steps of : - directing an electrolyzer in the form of an acid or a base downhole into said fluid mixture in said reaction chamber to aid or assist in the electrolysis of water in said fluids. -38- 62737679\1

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