Downhole separator for use in a subterranean well and method

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a downhole separation tool is provided which utilizes a downhole separation chamber with a series of fluid regulators responsive to a formation fluid and constituent components for separate desirable formation yields from the less desirable yields prior to lifting the fluids to the surface. The separation chamber has an input for the formation fluid, a production output, and a disposal output, in a tree arrangement according to the density order of the fluids in the separation chamber. The input flow regulator is coupled to the separation chamber input, the production regulator is coupled to the production output, and the disposal regulator is coupled to the disposal output. Each of the regulators are responsive to a fluid density of the formation fluid, first constituent and remainder constituent, accordingly, to regulate the flow of the respective fluid. According to a method of the present invention of separating a production fluid downhole, a production fluid is flowed from a subterranean formation into a separation chamber. The production fluid is separated over a given residence time period into a series of constituent layers. The first constituent, such as oil, is lifted in a generally continuously manner when under sufficient pressure to the surface, and the remainder constituent, such as salt water, is disposed to a disposal layer in the subterranean formation.