Casing Gas Pumping System for Hydrocarbon Wells
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Solution Overview
Problem
In oil-producing wells, accumulated casing gas can reduce oil production rates by increasing pressure, and existing systems face challenges in effectively managing and transporting the gas-liquid mixture to optimize production.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a pump capable of pressurizing a liquid/gas mixture by combining casing gas with a liquid source, allowing for the separation and introduction of the pressurized fluid into a pipeline, utilizing a positive displacement or rotary pump, and optionally incorporating a separator vessel or three-port connector to manage the fluid mixture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a compressor is used to remove gas from the casing, then casing gas pressure is reduced, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the casing gas handling system with the production fluid handling system by using a single pump to handle both liquid production fluids and casing gas. The pump receives liquid from the production string and gas from the casing string through separate inlets, mixes them internally, and discharges the combined stream. This integration eliminates the need for separate compressors for gas handling, reducing system complexity while maintaining pressure reduction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a production fluid pump and a casing gas compressor. By configuring the pump with separate liquid and gas inlets and a common discharge line, it can simultaneously handle liquid production fluids and compress casing gas, eliminating the need for dedicated gas compression equipment.
2Productivity
If casing gas is accumulated in the casing, then the system is simpler, but oil production rate decreases due to increased pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of accumulated casing gas (which increases pressure and reduces oil production) into a beneficial resource. The casing gas is routed through the pump along with production liquids, where it serves as a carrier phase that helps transport liquid droplets through the discharge line. The gas that would otherwise be a problem becomes part of the fluid transport mechanism, maintaining pressure reduction while enabling continuous operation.
3Device complexity
If a pump handling liquid/gas mixture is used, then system complexity is reduced, but the pump design and operation become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The pump design incorporates an internal mixing chamber that acts as an intermediary between the liquid and gas inlet streams. This chamber allows the liquid and gas to mix and form a homogeneous slurry before discharge, preventing gas accumulation and ensuring stable pump operation. The intermediary mixing chamber simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for complex gas-liquid separation devices while maintaining pump reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces casing gas pressure, enhances fluid transport efficiency, and increases oil production rates by ensuring a suitable liquid-gas mixture is pressurized and separated for optimal pipeline injection, addressing the challenge of managing gas accumulation in the casing.
Implementation Method 1
a pump that pressurizes a combination of production fluids including gas and liquid phases
Implementation Method 2
the pump may be a positive displacement pump
Data Source
AI summary
A system for compressing casing gas from a hydrocarbon well is provided. The hydrocarbon well has a wellhead, a production string that produces fluids from a hydrocarbon formation, and a casing string that receives the production string. The wellhead is connected to a pipeline that transports the produced fluids. The system has a liquid conduit that receives liquids liquid from a source of liquid, a casing gas conduit that receives casing gas from the casing string, an outlet conduit, and a pump that is capable of pumping a liquid/gas mixture. The pump is in fluid communication with the liquid conduit and the casing gas conduit, such that the inlet receives liquid from the liquid conduit and casing gas from the casing gas conduit and an outlet connected to the pipeline.