System and method for enhanced conditioning of well fluids circulating in and around artificial lift assemblies

Abstract

An artificial lift assembly is suspended from a string of conduit in a well inside a well casing. An encapsulation module is independently suspended from the conduit and encases the pump assembly with a jacket. A series of well fluid conditioning tools are mounted to the lower end of the jacket, including a tubular screen, a desander located behind the screen, a string of disposal conduit extending below the desander, and a nucleation device located above the desander. The entire weight of this fluid conditioning equipment is completely supported by the jacket and the conduit. The encapsulation module is completely sealed so that the well bore fluid is limited to entering the module and pump through the screen. The screen removes larger contaminants from the fluid such as rubber and trash. After the fluid passes through the screen, it enters the desander where solid matter such as sediment is removed from the fluid and eliminated through the disposal conduit. Finally, the fluid enters the nucleation device where its scale is decomposed. After these three clarifying phases, the fluid enters the pump assembly and is pumped to the surface.