Gas Separator Inlet Tail Pipe Pressure Gradient Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole gas separators in oil and gas wells are inefficient in separating gas from liquid, leading to reduced pumping efficiency and reliability, especially due to the location of the separator below the pump, which causes additional gas to be drawn out of solution, and they face challenges with insertion, maintenance, and handling in deep wells.
Innovation Solution
A gas separator design that includes a seating nipple with an interior cavity to retain the pump's seating assembly, an inner barrel sealed to the tubing string, and an outer barrel defining a separation annulus with the casing, featuring a liquid passage and isolation means to prevent gas from entering the separation annulus, allowing gravity separation of gases and liquids, with optional features like a draw tube, flow diverter, and tubing anchor for improved efficiency and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gas separator is located below the pump inlet, then the pump can be properly positioned in the well, but additional dissolved gas is drawn out of solution by the negative pressure, reducing pump efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the gas separator above the pump inlet instead of below it. This reversal prevents negative pressure from drawing dissolved gas out of solution, thereby maintaining pump efficiency while still achieving reliable pump positioning through the seating assembly engagement with the seating nipple.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas separator performs gas-liquid separation before the fluid enters the pump inlet. By preliminarily removing free gas from the mixture upstream of the pump, the system prevents gas accumulation that would otherwise occur during pump operation, thereby maintaining pumping efficiency without requiring the separator to be positioned below the pump.
2Reliability
If the gas separator is located below the pump, then gas-liquid separation can occur, but the total depth required below the well's natural liquid level increases due to the combined length of pump and separator
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the position of the gas separator to be above the pump inlet, the patent reduces the total vertical distance required below the well's natural liquid level. This arrangement maintains effective gas-liquid separation while minimizing the depth occupation, allowing better utilization of the well's liquid level headroom.
3Reliability
If the gas separator uses a long differential pressure to draw liquid and gas through it, then separation occurs, but additional dissolved gas is drawn out of solution, reducing pump efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the pressure parameter profile by positioning the gas separator above the pump inlet. This changes the pressure conditions from negative pressure (suction) to near-atmospheric or positive pressure conditions, preventing the draw-out of dissolved gas while maintaining effective separation through controlled pressure differentials across the separator media.
4Reliability
If the gas separator is positioned to maximize separation efficiency, then gas removal is improved, but the complexity of insertion and removal from the well bore increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas separator is designed as a self-contained modular unit with the pump, seating assembly, and separation components integrated into a single assembly. This segmentation allows the entire gas separation system to be inserted and removed as one unit through the well bore using conventional equipment, maintaining ease of operation while achieving effective separation through the integrated design.
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 design enhances liquid concentration and pumping efficiency by minimizing gas entry into the pump, reducing pressure losses, and facilitating easier insertion and maintenance, while maintaining reliability even in deep wells with high pressure differentials.
Implementation Method 1
An isolation means is disposed about the draw tube and engages the casing to prevent the flow of well fluids upwardly through the draw tube into the separation annulus
Implementation Method 2
Gas and liquid flow into the separation annulus formed between the outer barrel and the well casing, where the liquid and gas are separated into liquid and gas portions
Implementation Method 3
The pump draws well fluids upward through the draw tube and into the gas separator
Data Source
AI summary
An oil and gas well gas separator that operates in conjunction with an isolation means and a tail pipe to reduce the pressure gradient of the well fluids flowing up the tailpipe, to thereby reduce the well's producing bottom hole pressure.