Combination well kick off and gas lift booster unit

• US 20030085036A1
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Curtis, Glen A., Chitty, Gregory H.
• Application Number:
  US10/269,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085036A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/267
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/065 Separating solids from drilling fluids
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/122 Gas lift
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/35 specially adapted for separating solids down-hole drilling fluid separation systems E21B21/002; separating solids from drilling fluids E21B21/065
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/40 Separation associated with re-injection of separated materials E21B43/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 31/00 Pumping liquids and elastic fluids at the same time

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a system and method for using a gas in a well. In one aspect, the system includes a source of fluid and at least one multiphase pump for transporting the fluid. The system further includes a separator for separating phases in the fluid and an injector for injecting the gas into the well. The gas may be used for kicking off a shut-in well by the simultaneous injection of the gas into the shut-in well and the reduction of the wellhead pressure. The gas may also be used for maintaining production of the well, cleaning out the well or lightening the wellbore fluid in riser system. In another aspect, the invention provides a portable multiphase pump system. In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for recycling gas from a wellbore fluid.

Claims

1. A system for utilizing a gas in a well, comprising:

a source of fluid;

at least one multiphase pump for transporting the fluid;

a separator for separating phases in the fluid; and

an injector for injecting the gas into the well.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one multiphase pump is a wet screw compressor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one multiphase pump is a ram pump.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the ram pump consists of a pair of plungers, each plunger movable between an extended position and a retracted position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the plungers are moved by a fluid operated cylinder.

6. The system of claim 3, further including a wet screw compressor to increase the volume of fluid to the at least one multiphase pump.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wet screw compressor may pump a wet gas to an export line.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the well is a shut-in well and the gas is used to kick off the shut-in well.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a first portion of the gas is injected into the shut-in well and a second portion of the gas is sent to an export line.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the source of fluid is an alternative source in selective communication with the at least one multiphase pump.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the alternative source consists of wellbore fluid from at least one wellhead.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the alternative source consists of gas from a gas reservoir.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the alternative source provides fluid to the at least one multiphase pump, whereby the fluid is pressurized and pumped to the separator.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one multiphase pump is in communication with the shut-in well to reduce a wellhead pressure in the shut-in well.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the gas injected into the shut-in well and the simultaneous reduction of the wellhead pressure by the multiphase pump stimulate the shut-in well.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the injector includes a gas lift assembly and the gas is used to increase production from the well.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the source of fluid comprises the well.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the fluid is communicated to the at least one multiphase pump and thereby pressurized and pumped to the separator.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the separator removes solids and liquids from the fluid.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the gas is injected into the gas lift assembly to increase production of the well.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the well contains deposits of sand and the gas is used to clean out the well.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the source of fluid comprises the well.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the source of fluid comprises a gas line.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the fluid is communicated to the separator.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the gas is a wet gas.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the wet gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, and combinations thereof.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein a first portion of the wet gas is communicated to the at least one multiphase pump to be pressurized and a second portion of the wet gas communicated to an export line.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the wet gas is pumped into the well to remove the sand from the well.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the well comprises a riser system, whereby the gas is used to lighten the fluid in the riser system.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the source of fluid comprises the well.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the fluid is communicated to the separator.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the gas is a wet gas.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the wet gas is communicated to the at least one multiphase pump to be pressurized and pumped through a gas distribution line to lighten the fluid flowing up the riser system.

34. A portable multiphase pump system, comprising:

a support member;

a multiphase pump operatively connected to the support member; and

a power unit operatively connected to the multiphase pump, the power unit provides energy to the multiphase pump.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the power unit operatively connection comprises a pressure compensated pump.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the pressure compensated pump operatively connected to the multiphase pump, the pressure compensated pump supplies fluid to the multiphase pump.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the multiphase pump is a ram pump.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the ram pump consists of a pair of plungers, each plunger movable between an extended position and a retracted position.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the plungers are moved by a fluid operated cylinder.

40. The system of claim 34, further including a wet screw compressor operatively connected to the multiphase pump to increase the volume of fluid to the multiphase pump.

41. A method for recycling gas from a wellbore fluid, comprising:

communicating the wellbore fluid to a separator;

separating a gas from the wellbore fluid;

delivering a portion of the gas to at least one multiphase pump; and

pumping the gas to a well.

42. The method of claim 41, further including the step of recycling the wet gas.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the wet gas comprises one or more phases.

44. The method of claim 41, further including the step of delivering the wet gas to an export line.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one multiphase pump is a ram pump.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the ram pump consists of a pair of plungers, each plunger movable between an extended position and a retracted position.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the plungers are moved by a fluid operated cylinder.

48. The method of claim 41, further including a wet screw compressor to increase the volume of fluid to the at least one multiphase.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the wet screw compressor may pump a wet gas to an export line.

50. The method of claim 41, further including the step of stimulating the production of the well.

51. The method of claim 41, further including the step of operating a gas lift injection system by forcing the wet gas into the gas lift injection system.

52. The method of claim 41, further including the step of cleaning sand out of the well.

53. The method of claim 41, further including the step of drilling a deep water well using a floating vessel, a riser system and a gas distribution line.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the wet gas is communicated from floating vessel through the gas distribution line into the riser system to lighten the wellbore fluid flowing up the riser system.