Downhole Separator Water Disposal System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrocarbon production systems face challenges in efficiently disposing of water from multiple wells, including high capital and operational costs, and efficiency issues due to scaling in downhole separators, which increase electric power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a downhole separator, multiple pumps, and surface separators to segregate hydrocarbon-rich and water-rich streams within a well-pad, with a closed-loop system for efficient water disposal, reducing the need for separate gathering lines and pumping equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water separated from well fluids is distributed and transported to a plurality of locations for disposal, then water disposal is achieved, but capital investment and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple water disposal functions into a single centralized injection well. Instead of transporting separated water to multiple disposal locations, the system merges all water streams from multiple production wells into one injection well for unified disposal, reducing infrastructure complexity and operational costs while maintaining effective water disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection well serves multiple functions: it receives water from multiple production wells, acts as a centralized disposal location, and enables pressure maintenance for the hydrocarbon reservoir. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate disposal wells for each production well, reducing capital investment and operational complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a downhole separator is used within the hydrocarbon well for separation of oil and water, then water disposal is simplified, but scaling occurs leading to reduction in efficiency and increased electric power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the separator function from the downhole environment and relocates it to the surface. By removing the separator from the wellbore and placing it at the surface facility, the system eliminates the scaling problem that occurs in downhole separators while maintaining the benefit of simplified water disposal through separation at the production source.
3Reliability
If a downhole separator is used within the hydrocarbon well, then water separation is achieved, but electric power consumption increases leading to additional operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical downhole separator system with a surface-based separation system. By eliminating the need for powered separation equipment in the wellbore and using passive separation or surface processing, the system achieves water separation without the high electric power consumption associated with downhole mechanical separators.
4Productivity
If separate gathering lines and pumping equipment are used for water disposal, then water transport is achieved, but system complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple water transport streams into a single injection well infrastructure. Instead of maintaining separate gathering lines and pumping equipment for each production well, the system combines all water flows into one centralized disposal pathway, eliminating redundant infrastructure and reducing operational complexity while maintaining full water transport capability.
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
This approach enhances the efficiency of water disposal from multiple wells, reduces operational costs, and minimizes the impact of scaling, thereby optimizing the operation of downhole separators.
Implementation Method 1
The downhole separator is configured to receive a first production fluid from a first production zone and generate a hydrocarbon rich stream and a water stream from the first production fluid
Implementation Method 2
The first surface separator is configured to receive the hydrocarbon rich stream from the downhole separator, using the first pump and a second production fluid from a second production zone, using the second pump. The first surface separator is further configured to generate oil and a water rich stream from the hydrocarbon rich stream and the second production fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes a downhole separator, a first pump, a second pump, a surface separator, a first tube, and a second tube. The downhole separator is disposed within a first wellbore of a well-pad and configured to generate hydrocarbon stream and water stream from a first production fluid received from first production zone. First pump is disposed within first wellbore and second pump is disposed within a second wellbore of the well-pad. The surface separator is coupled to first and second pumps and configured to receive hydrocarbon stream from downhole separator, using first pump and a second production fluid from second production zone, using second pump and generate oil and water rich stream. First tube is coupled to downhole separator and configured to dispose water stream in a first disposal zone. Second tube is coupled to surface separator and configured to dispose water rich stream in a second disposal zone.