Downhole Jet Pump Liquid Unloading System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas wells often accumulate liquid, such as hydrocarbon condensate or connate water, which impedes gas flow and requires costly and potentially risky nitrogen injection for unloading, necessitating a cost-effective and safe method for liquid unloading.
Innovation Solution
A downhole system with a submersible pump and fluids handling circuit, including one-way valves, that selectively directs pressurized liquid or gas flow to unload accumulated liquids without additional equipment, allowing for unloading and production modes based on liquid levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nitrogen injection is used to unload accumulated liquid from a well, then liquid removal is achieved, but operational cost increases and safety risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the well's own produced gas to power a compressor that drives a jet pump to unload liquids, eliminating the need for external nitrogen injection. The well serves itself by utilizing its own production to maintain liquid-free conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
A jet pump acts as an intermediary device that uses compressed gas to create a suction effect, drawing liquid from the wellbore without direct mechanical contact or chemical injection. The jet pump mediates between the compressed gas and the liquid removal function.
2Reliability
If liquid artificial lift systems are installed to unload wells, then liquid removal is effective, but device complexity and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple functions into a single integrated downhole assembly: the production tubing serves as both the production flow path and the jet pump discharge line, while the compressor also pressurizes gas for both injection and drive gas purposes. This multi-functionality reduces overall equipment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the production tubing with the jet pump discharge line, and combines the compressor function with the gas injection system. This consolidation of components reduces the number of separate equipment items needed compared to traditional liquid artificial lift systems.
3Reliability
If traditional liquid removal methods are used, then liquid accumulation is prevented, but gas production is suspended during unloading operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous gas production while simultaneously removing liquids through the jet pump mechanism. The jet pump operates continuously or intermittently without interrupting the gas flow through the production tubing, maintaining uninterrupted production.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the liquid removal function from the gas production function by using a dedicated jet pump injection line while maintaining the production tubing for gas flow. This segmentation allows independent operation of liquid unloading and gas production processes.
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
Enables efficient and safe unloading of liquids from gas wells without suspending gas production, reducing operational costs and safety risks by using existing well infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
a one-way valve in the pump discharge line, and wherein the barrier between a flow of a fluid in the pump discharge line to the inlet of the gas feed line is a one-way valve in the gas feed line. In this example, the one-way valve in the pump discharge line is selectively openable when a pressure in the pump discharge line is at least as great as a pressure in the gas feed line so that fluid discharged from the pump flows into the bore to define an unloading mode
Implementation Method 2
the one-way valve in the gas feed line is selectively openable when a pressure in the gas feed line is at least as great as a pressure in the pump discharge line so that fluid in the gas feed line flows into the bore to define a production mode
Implementation Method 3
a submersible pump having a pump inlet in communication with liquid in the well and a pump discharge selectively at a pressure that is greater than a pressure at the pump inlet
Implementation Method 4
a compressor having a compressor inlet in fluid communication with gas in the well through a compressor inlet line disposed in a lower bulkhead, and a compressor discharge that is selectively at a pressure greater than a pressure in the well
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole system and method for producing and unloading from a well unloads a first fluid through a tubular in the well while blocking flow of a second fluid into the tubular. In an alternate mode, the second fluid is produced through the tubular while the first fluid is blocked from entering the tubular. In another alternate mode, a third fluid is unloaded through the tubular at the same the second fluid is produced from the well and through the tubular. In yet another alternate mode, the second fluid is pressurized downhole. In one example, the first fluid includes water, the second fluid includes a hydrocarbon gas, and the third fluid includes a hydrocarbon liquid. Means for unloading include a pump, means for pressurizing the second fluid include a compressor, and means for selectively blocking flow includes a flow circuit with one-way valves.