Recirculating gas separator for electric submersible pumps
First Claim
1. A gas separator apparatus for a submersible well pump, comprising:
- a rotary gas separator means for separating liquid to be directed to said pump from gas, said separator means including a separating chamber, a well fluid inlet upstream of said separating chamber, and a liquid discharge outlet downstream of said separating chamber; and
recirculating means for recirculating a portion of the liquid discharged from said discharge outlet back to said separating chamber so that a gas-to-liquid ratio in said separator means is substantially lower than a gas-to-liquid ratio of well fluid entering said well fluid inlet wherein said recirculating means comprises;
a recirculating pump means for pumping liquid from said discharge outlet to said submersible well pump;
liquid extraction chamber means for extracting a portion of the liquid discharged by said recirculating pump means before said liquid reaches said submersible well pump;
liquid injection chamber means for injecting said portion of said liquid into said separator means upstream of said separating chamber; and
conduit means for conducting said portion of said liquid from said liquid extraction chamber means to said liquid injection chamber means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A recirculating gas separator for a submersible well pump includes a rotary gas separator for separating liquid to be directed to the pump from a gas. The separator includes a separating chamber, a well fluid inlet upstream of the separating chamber, and a liquid discharge outlet downstream of the separating chamber. A recirculating system recirculates a portion of the liquid discharged from the discharge outlet back to the separating chamber so that a gas-to-liquid ratio in the separator is substantially lower than a gas-to-liquid ratio of well fluid entering the well fluid inlet. Thus, the submersible well pump with the recirculating gas separator can successfully pump wells having substantially higher gas-to-liquid ratios than can be accomplished with prior devices.
79 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A gas separator apparatus for a submersible well pump, comprising:
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a rotary gas separator means for separating liquid to be directed to said pump from gas, said separator means including a separating chamber, a well fluid inlet upstream of said separating chamber, and a liquid discharge outlet downstream of said separating chamber; and recirculating means for recirculating a portion of the liquid discharged from said discharge outlet back to said separating chamber so that a gas-to-liquid ratio in said separator means is substantially lower than a gas-to-liquid ratio of well fluid entering said well fluid inlet wherein said recirculating means comprises; a recirculating pump means for pumping liquid from said discharge outlet to said submersible well pump; liquid extraction chamber means for extracting a portion of the liquid discharged by said recirculating pump means before said liquid reaches said submersible well pump; liquid injection chamber means for injecting said portion of said liquid into said separator means upstream of said separating chamber; and conduit means for conducting said portion of said liquid from said liquid extraction chamber means to said liquid injection chamber means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A gas separator apparatus for an electric, rotary, centrifugal, submersible well pump comprising:
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a rotary gas separator means for separating liquid to be directed to said pump from gas, said separator means including a separating chamber, a well fluid inlet upstream of said separating chamber, and a liquid discharge outlet downstream of said separating chamber; and recirculating means for recirculating a portion of a liquid discharge from said discharge outlet back to said separating chamber so that a gas-to-liquid ratio in said separator means is substantially lower than a gas-to-liquid ratio of well fluid entering said well fluid inlet wherein; said separator means includes a housing having a lower end with a recirculation inlet means defined therein for directing said portion of said liquid from said recirculating means into said separating chamber, said recirculation inlet means being separate from said well fluid inlet whereby the recirculated liquid enters the housing separately from the well fluid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of pumping liquid from a well producing well fluids having a relatively high gas-to-liquid ratio, comprising:
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(a) centrifugally separating said well fluid into a liquid and a gas with a separator located downhole in said well; (b) directing said separated liquid toward an inlet of a submersible well pump; (c) recycling a portion of said separated liquid to said separator; and (d) providing an effective gas-to-liquid ratio in said separator substantially lower than a gas-to-liquid ratio of said well fluid prior to separation. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification