Texaco Inc.

James R Stoy

Kevin Rush Bowlin

Methods for completing and producing hydrocarbon from a well having a highly permeable production formation having a water zone and a hydrocarbon zone are disclosed. In the disclosed techniques a cased well borehole is cemented in place through the production formation. A packer is set in the casing to isolate the hydrocarbon zone from the water zone. Perforations in the water zone and in the hydrocarbon zone produce a mixture of both fluids into the casing/tubing annulus at different bottom hole pressures (FBHP's) due to the installation of a flow restriction limiting the flow of either hydrocarbon or water into the tubing string. Artificial lift means are used to produce the fluid mixture to the surface.

Well completion and production techniques

A method and apparatus for the downhole disposal of the water component of production fluid while using gas lift techniques to lift the hydrocarbon component to the surface is disclosed. Separation of the hydrocarbon component and the water component takes place downhole by gravity in an annulus formed between the well casing and a tubing string. The water component may be disposed of or utilized to carry out a water-flood of either overlying or underlying subterranean formations. As a result, the lifting, handling and disposal of the water component of the production fluid on the surface is minimized.

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Javarta, Indonesia

James R Stoy