Atlantic Richfield Company

Conocophillips Company

Jerry L Brady

Mark D Stevenson

John M Klein

James L Cawvey

Steven P Petullo

David D Hearn

Robert J North

Stephen Gerlek

David L Lagerlef

Curtis G Blount

Kerry N Oliphant

Charles M Hightower

Steven Svedeman

John R Wolflick

Raymond Wydrinski

Steven J Svedeman

John R Whitworth

James J Kohring

Becky A Watson

Raymond Wydrinksi

A system (SPARC) for producing a mixed gas-oil stream wherein gas is to be separated and compressed downhole in a turbine-driven compressor before the gas is injected into a subterranean formation. A turbine bypass valve allows all of the stream to bypass the turbine during start-up until surging in the production stream has subsided. The valve then opens to allow a portion of the stream to pass through the turbine. Also, a compressor recycle valve recycles the compressor output until the surging in the stream has subsided while a check valve prevents back flow into the outlet of the compressor.

Oil and gas production with downhole separation and reinjection of gas

A system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream which contains solid particulates wherein gas is to be separated and compressed downhole in a turbine-driven compressor before the gas is injected into a subterranean formation. The stream is passed through an upstream separator to separate out the particulates which pass through a first and second set of slots into first and second passages, both of which empty into a bypass through the turbine whereby the separated particulates do not contact the rotary vanes of the turbine thereby alleviating the erosive effects of the solids in the produced stream.

A system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream which contains solid particulates wherein gas is to be separated and compressed downhole in a turbine-driven compressor before the gas is injected into a subterranean formation. The stream is passed through a first separator to separate out the particulates which are then passed through a bypass in the turbine without contacting the rotary vanes of the turbine thereby alleviating the erosive effects of the solids.

A method and system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream through a tubing wherein at least a portion of the gas is separated from the stream and flowed through a restriction in the tubing to cool the separated gas and reduce its pressure to thereby retain larger amounts of liquid (i.e. condensate) in the gas-oil stream which is to be produced to the surface. The separated gas is compressed downhole before it is injected into a downhole formation.

Oil and gas production with downhole separation and compression of gas

A method and system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream through a wellbore wherein at least a portion of the gas is separated from the stream downhole and is compressed (e.g. using a SPARC) before both the compressed gas and the remainder of the stream is brought to the surface through separate flowpaths. The system includes a string of tubing which provides the flowpath for the remainder of the stream while the annulus, formed between the tubing string and the wellbore provides the flowpath for the compressed gas.

A method and system for increasing the production of hydrocarbons from a production well producing a mixture of hydrocarbons and water through a wellbore penetrating a formation having a production zone producing a mixture of hydrocarbons and water, and a selected injection zone, by separating, in the wellbore, at least a portion of the water from the mixture of hydrocarbons and water, to produce separated water and a hydrocarbon enriched mixture; injecting, by the use of a pump drivingly connected to a turbine, at least a major portion of the separated water into the selected injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the hydrocarbon enriched mixture.

Method and system for separating and injecting water in a wellbore

A method and apparatus for injecting gas into a subterranean formation wherein the gas to be injected is mixed with a carrier fluid (e.g. water) at the surface to form a mixture which is then flowed down a wellbore. The mixture is flowed through a downhole separator to separate at least a portion of the gas from the mixture which is then injected into the formation. The carrier fluid and any unseparated gas are then returned to the surface to be separated whereby the carrier fluid can be recycled in the gas injection process.

Method and apparatus for injecting gas into a subterranean formation

A method and apparatus for operating a well which has a wellbore which passes into both an oil and gas production zone and a gas injection zone. An oil and gas stream is produced from the production zone through the wellbore to the surface where gas is separated from the oil. After production is shut-in, gas is mixed with a carrier fluid at the surface to form a dense mixture which, in turn, is flowed down the same wellbore and through a downhole auger separator wherein a portion of the gas is separated from the mixture. The separated gas is injected into the injection zone with the remainder of the mixture being returned to the surface. At the conclusion of the injection cycle, the well is returned to production and, if desired, the process is repeated.

Oil and gas production with periodic gas injection

A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone and a selected injection zone, by driving a turbine in the oil well with the mixture of oil and gas; separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas in the oil well to produce a separated gas and an oil-enriched mixture; driving a compressor with the turbine to compress at least a portion of the separated gas in the oil well to a pressure greater than a pressure in the selected injection zone to produce a compressed gas; injecting the compressed gas into the selected injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the oil-enriched mixture.

Method and system for separating and injecting gas in a wellbore

A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas at an elevated pressure through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone and an injection zone, by separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas to produce a separated gas and an oil-enriched mixture; utilizing energy from at least a portion of the mixture of oil and gas to compress at a surface at least a portion of the separated gas to produce a compressed gas having sufficient pressure to be injected into the injection zone; injecting the compressed gas into the injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the oil-enriched mixture.

Method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well

A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil, water, gas, and/or solids through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone and a selected injection zone, by separating from the mixture of oil, water, gas, and/or solids in the oil well at least a portion of the gas to produce a first separated gas and a first portion of an oil-enriched mixture; directing the first portion of the oil-enriched mixture through a bypass passageway having an outlet in fluid communication with a surface so that the first portion of the oil-enriched mixture bypasses a turbine in the oil well; driving the turbine with the first separated gas; driving a compressor in the oil well with the turbine; separating from the first separated gas in the oil well at least a portion of the gas to produce a second separated gas and a second portion of an oil-enriched mixture; compressing with the compressor the second separated gas to a pressure greater than a pressure in the selected injection zone to produce a compressed gas; injecting the compressed gas into the selected injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the first portion of the oil-enriched mixture and the second portion of the oil-enriched mixture.

A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil, water, and gas through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone, an aqueous zone, and a gas zone by separating from the mixture of oil, water, and gas in the oil well at least a portion of the water to produce a separated water-enriched portion and a separated oil/gas-enriched portion; driving a turbine with the separated oil/gas enriched portion; driving a water pump and a compressor in the oil well with the turbine; injecting the separated water-enriched portion into a water injection zone; separating from the separated oil/gas-enriched portion in the oil well at least a portion of the gas to produce a separated gas and an the oil-enriched mixture; compressing the separated gas to a pressure greater than a pressure in a gas injection zone to produce a compressed gas; injecting the compressed gas into the gas injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the oil-enriched mixture.

Method and system for separating and injecting gas and water in a

A method for generating a flow profile of a wellbore whereby a first measurement and a second measurement are collected for each point of a sequence of selected points along the wellbore. For each respective point in the sequence of points, the arithmetic difference between the first and second measurements collected for the respective point is calculated, and the summation of the arithmetic differences for the respective point and for each point which follows the respective point in the sequence of points is recorded. A flow profile of the wellbore is generated by plotting the value of the summations calculated for each point of the sequence of points, wherein the magnitude of the potential productive flow from that point in the wellbore, is substantially proportional to the magnitude of the slope of the profile corresponding to that point.

Method for generating a flow profile of a wellbore from pulsed neutron

A method for generating a flow profile of a wellbore whereby a resistivity tool is run through the wellbore, while the wellbore is being drilled, to sequentially measure and record, at each of a sequence of selected points along the wellbore, a sequential series of resistivities measured while drilling (MWD). Fluid from the wellbore is then allowed to permeate into the formation. The resistivity tool is then run through the wellbore, after the drilling mud has permeated into the formation, to sequentially measure and record, at substantially the same points at which the MWD resistivity measurements were made, a sequential series of resistivities measured after drilling (MAD). For each point, the arithmetic difference between the MWD resistivity and the corresponding MAD resistivity recorded for the respective point is calculated. For each respective point in the sequence of points, the sum of the arithmetic differences for the respective point and each point which follows the respective point in the sequence of points is recorded. A flow profile of the wellbore is generated by plotting the value of the sums calculated for each point of the sequence of points, wherein the magnitude of the permeability of a zone in the formation and, hence, of the potential productive flow from that point in the wellbore, is substantially proportional to the magnitude of the slope of the profile corresponding to that point.

Method for generating a flow profile of a wellbore using resistivity logs

A system and a method for producing increased quantities of oil from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas through a well bore penetrating an oil bearing formation containing a gas cap zone and an oil bearing zone by separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas downhole in an auger separator to produce a separated gas and an oil enriched mixture; compressing at least a portion of the separated gas downhole to a pressure greater than the pressure in the gas cap zone to produce a compressed gas; and, injecting the compressed gas into the gas cap and, recovering at least a major portion of the oil enriched mixture.

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Anchorage, AK, United States of America

Jerry L Brady