University of Tulsa

Hong-Quan Zhang

Jose Luis Arellano

James P Brill

Cem Sarica

An eccentric pipe-in-pipe downhole gas separator apparatus for separation of gas from liquid in a downhole well. The separator apparatus includes an outer tube having an inner diameter and an inner tube having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube. The inner tube is eccentric to the outer tube wherein a conduit having a crescent shaped cross-section is formed between the inner diameter of the outer tube and the outer diameter of the inner tube.

Eccentric pipe-in-pipe downhole gas separator

A system and method for creating a controlled geyser well with sustained periodical production includes a cap () which prevents gas from entering a well tubing () while allowing liquid to enter and accumulate in the tubing, means for compressing the gas, and means for injecting the gas in the annulus so that the gas enters the bottom end of the well tubing (), thereby creating a controlled geyser effect which blows out most of the liquid residing in the well tubing (). The gas being compressed can be a produced gas or a supplied gas.

Controlled geyser well

A self-stabilizing gas lift valve apparatus for oil and gas production. The apparatus includes a valve body having at least one gas inlet in communication with an elongated gas chamber in the valve body. An impingement disk is moveable in the elongated gas chamber. A conical plug extends from the impingement disk with the conical plug having a valve plug extending axially therefrom. A conical cup terminates in a valve seat wherein the conical cup receives the conical plug therein. A valve closure force mechanism urges the valve plug toward the valve seat. Gas injected through the gas inlet provides a force upon the impingement disk to overcome the force of the valve closure force mechanism in order to open the valve plug. When the gas injected exceeds a predetermined force, the impingent disk is moved and a conical space between the conical plug and the conical cup is reduced.

Self-stabilizing gas lift valve

A process for extracting hydrocarbon gases from marine sediment hydrates. In one embodiment, the process includes drilling from a sea floor into a hydrate rich subsea sediment to form at least one opening therein. Electrical heaters are inserted into the opening or openings. The hydrate rich subsea sediment is heated with the electrical heaters in order to release hydrocarbon gas therefrom. The released hydrocarbon gas is collected in an overhead receiver. The hydrocarbon gas forms hydrates again when moving through the cold sea water and inside the overhead receiver. The overhead receiver is raised to a sea depth where pressure and temperature permit the hydrates to dissociate and to release the hydrocarbon gas. The hydrocarbon gas is then gathered from the top of the overhead receiver.

Growing community of inventors

Tulsa, OK, United States of America

Hong-Quan Zhang