Gas Accumulator for Horizontal Well Liquid Lift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional artificial lift methods for horizontal wells face challenges such as high operating costs, poor liquid lift efficiency due to gas interference, and limited flow rate, especially in wells with low productivity indices, and are not suitable for horizontal wells using plunger lift systems.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing a downhole pump, a production conduit, and one-way valves to displace substances from a horizontal well by accumulating and releasing gas, which helps in efficiently pumping liquids from the annular space into the tubing, reducing pressure, and enhancing fluid removal from the heel section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a downhole pump is placed in a deviated section of a horizontal well, then hydrocarbon production can be increased, but operating costs increase due to pump failures and high back pressure on the reservoir
Solution Approach 1:
A gas accumulator section is introduced as an intermediary component between the reservoir and the downhole pump. This accumulator collects and stores gas that would otherwise interfere with pump operation, allowing the pump to maintain reliable operation in deviated horizontal sections while still achieving increased hydrocarbon production
2Productivity
If a downhowe pump is placed in a deviated section of a horizontal well, then hydrocarbon production can be increased, but back pressure on the reservoir increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas accumulator acts as a pressure buffer and intermediary chamber that decouples the high back pressure requirement from the reservoir. Gas is accumulated in this intermediate section rather than being forced directly back into the reservoir, thereby reducing the back pressure stress while maintaining production capability
3Ease of operation
If plunger lift system is used in horizontal wells, then operating costs can be reduced, but plunger performance is adversely affected by well deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is segmented into distinct functional sections: a gas accumulation section in the deviated horizontal portion and a pump section in the vertical portion. This segmentation allows the plunger to operate effectively in the vertical section while the gas accumulator handles the deviation-related gas interference, combining the advantages of both systems
4Productivity
If casing annulus pressure is cyclically decreased to increase liquid flow rate, then production can be improved, but the improvement is limited by reservoir productivity index
Solution Approach 1:
The gas accumulator section automatically and passively accumulates gas during production without requiring external pressure cycling or complex control systems. The system self-regulates by allowing gas to collect in the accumulator when produced, eliminating the need for active pressure management while maintaining improved liquid flow rates
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 solution increases hydrocarbon production by improving liquid lift efficiency, reducing operating costs, and allowing for the removal of substances from horizontal wells, including those with low productivity indices, without the need for external pressurization and without shutting in the well.
Implementation Method 1
Gas accumulates in a horizontal section of the well and a predetermined volume of the gas is discharged into the production conduit to displace a predetermined amount of one or more liquids from the production conduit through the first one way valve into the annular space
Implementation Method 2
A first one-way valve is disposed within the production conduit and that leads to the annular space
Implementation Method 3
Pump the predetermined amount of one or more substances from the annular space into the tubing via the downhowe pump
Implementation Method 4
allows a substantially amount of the first predetermined volume of gas to rise up through the annular space towards the surface
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus of removing substances from horizontal wells drilled from a surface comprises: a casing, a tubing disposed within the casing, a downhole pump connected to an end of the tubing, and a production conduit attached to the downhole pump. The apparatus has a gas containing section of the well that leads to the production conduit. The gas containing section is configured to accumulate a first predetermined volume of gas. An annular space is formed by the casing, tubing and production conduit. A first one-way valve is disposed within the production conduit and that leads to the annular space. A first vessel contains a working fluid. The first vessel is in fluid communication with the first one way valve.