Marathon Oil Company

David E Ellwood

Eugene E Wadleigh

Charles F Garbutt

Jared C Hall

James A Tomlinson

Timothy A Deines

Albert C Compton

A gas-liquid separator positionable down hole in a well bore includes an external tube having an external tube interior and an internal tube having an internal tube interior. The internal tube is positioned in the external tube interior to form an internal annulus defining a gas flowpath and the internal tube interior defines a reduced-gas fluid flowpath. A plate at least partially encircles the external tube to form a curved flow channel, which defines a produced fluid mixture flowpath. A first internal annulus opening is provided in the external tube, which defines a gas inlet port. An internal tube interior opening is provided in the internal tube, which defines a reduced-gas fluid inlet port. A produced fluid mixture is conveyed through the flow channel, which spins the produced fluid mixture about the external tube. At least a portion of a gas in the produced fluid mixture is separated from the liquid in response to spinning, thereby producing a separated free gas which enters the gas flowpath via the gas inlet port and a reduced-gas fluid which enters the reduced-gas fluid flowpath via the reduced gas-fluid inlet port.

Gas-liquid separator positionable down hole in a well bore

A method and assembly for igniting a burner using a pyrophoric liquid. A quantity of pyrophoric liquid is first transported from a container to a slug launching chamber and then transporting into a fuel gas stream for the burner. The slug launching chamber is flushed with a hydrocarbon liquid to remove any of the quantity of pyrophoric liquid from the launching chamber, while the assembly can be purged with an inert gas prior to removing the pyrophoric liquid container and replacing it with a new container.

Method and assembly for igniting a burner assembly

A downhole burner that economically generates hot inert gas and injects this gas into a subterranean formation. The burner has a nipple attached to a first tubing string that carries an oxidizer to the burner. The first tubing string also contains a coil tubing string that carries fuel to a movable nozzle inside the nipple. A small orifice in the nozzle increases the velocity of the fuel, and the nozzle extends out through a small orifice in a burner shroud that increases the velocity of the oxidizer flowing around the nozzle. The high velocity of the fuel and oxidizer keeps the flame front below the shroud and nozzle. A second tubing string supplies coolant gas around the burner shroud. Injection of an oxygen containing coolant gas provides a method for enhancing in situ combustion reactions through superheating the oxygen containing mix of coolant and exhaust gas.

Apparatus and method for generating inert gas and heating injected gas

An apparatus and process for separating and producing gas and liquid from a subterranean production zone via a well in fluid communication with the zone. After separation in the well, the gas is produced to the surface, compressed, and injected into an injection zone which is also in fluid communication with the well. The liquid is pumped to a production facility at the surface.

Apparatus and process for producing and reinjecting gas

A means for taking pressure readings in a bottom-hole zone of a well without interfering with an operation in which solid material is moving through a tubing string. A pressure recorder is enclosed in a carrier attached to the outer surface of a tubing sub near the end of the tubing string. The carrier walls include ports which expose the pressure recorder to the fluid in the bottom-hole zone. This arrangement allows operations such as sand fracture stimulations and rod pumping to be unimpeded by a pressure recorder.

Pressure recorder carrier and method of use

An apparatus and method for injecting fluid into and producing fluid, including gas, from a subterranean formation via a well in fluid communication with the formation. Fluid is injected into the subterranean formation through a first generally tubular conduit in the well and fluid is produced from formation to the surface through this conduit until fluid flow ceases. Thereafter, fluid is pumped from the formation into the tubular conduit and diverted into the annulus defined between the conduit and the well. The pressure drop created by this diversion causes gas to break out of the produced fluid. The remaining fluid is diverted back into the conduit and pumped to the surface while the gas is produced to the surface via the annulus.

Fluid injection and production apparatus and method

A well unit dynamometer installation means and method. A reciprocal well unit is operated with a spacer mounted on the polish rod above the carrier bar. To install a dynamometer the unit is stopped, the loading removed from the carrier bar, the spacer removed and the dynamometer attached to the polish rod above the carrier bar. The spacer comprises nested sleeves, each having a slot. The outer sleeve rotates with respect to the inner sleeve, allowing the slots to be aligned so as to be slipped over the polish rod. End plates connected to the inner sleeve allow operating loads to be transmitted through the spacer during operation of the well unit.

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Midland, TX, United States of America

David E Ellwood