Coupled downhole pump for simultaneous injection and production in an oil wheel

• US 5,813,469 A
• Filed: 03/12/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texaco Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Texaco Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Inventors: Bowlin, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US08/814,918
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 166/68, 166/369, 166/105, 166/65.1, 166/106
• US Class Current: 166/369
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/18 Pipes provided with plural fluid passages E21B17/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/121 Lifting well fluids monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/08 the pumps being of different types
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/08 the motors being actuated by fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for the downhole production of hydrocarbons. The apparatus includes a first pump coupled to a second pump. The first pump is powered by injection fluid contained in the tubing string; thus, eliminating the need for electrical connection cables or rotating rods. Typically, the second pump is powered by the first pump. The apparatus is capable of simultaneous injection and hydrocarbon production in a single wellbore. The coupling of the first and second pumps may further include a cross-over piece wherein the injection fluid and hydrocarbon production bypass one another.

Claims

1. A coupled downhole pump comprising:

a driver pump;

a production pump;

coupling means for connecting the driver pump to the production pump; and

a tubing string, the tubing string containing a pressurized injection fluid and being in fluid communication with the driver pump so that at least a portion of the pressurized injection fluid is used by the driver pump to create a driving motion which is transferred to the production pump by the coupling means.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a casing string surrounding the tubing string thus forming an annulus therebetween;

a upper packer vertically positioned in the annulus above a injection formation;

a middle packer vertically positioned in the annulus below the injection formation but above a production formation, the upper and middle packer forming an injection chamber, the injection chamber being in fluid communication with the injection formation by means of a plurality of injection perforation in the casing string; and

a driver pump output tube, the driver pump output tube being in fluid connection with the driver pump and the injection annulus so that the injection fluid flows from the tubing string through the driver pump and the driver pump output tube to the injection chamber.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 2 further comprising:

a lower packer vertically positioned below the production formation so as to form a production chamber the production chamber being in fluid communication with the production formation by way of a plurality of production perforations in the casing string; and

means for fluid communication between the production chamber and the production pump.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the driver pump and the production pump are selected from the group consisting of electric submersible pumps, and progressive cavity pumps.

5. A method of using a well for injection and production comprising the steps of:

placing a driver pump downhole;

coupling the driver pump to a production pump so that the driver pump is in fluid communication with a tubing string, said tubing string containing a pressurized injection fluid for injection into an injection formation; and

at least a portion of the pressure of the injection fluid is used by the driver pump to create a driving motion and the driving motion is used by the production pump to lift a production fluid.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the driver pump and the production pump are selected from the group consisting of electric submersible pumps and progressive cavity pumps.

7. An apparatus for simultaneous injection and production in a wellbore comprising:

a first pump for injecting an injection fluid into a flood zone;

a second pump for producing hydrocarbons form a producing zone;

a tubing string; and

a means for coupling said first and second pumps to allow for simultaneous operation of said pumps on said tubing string, said means including a cross-over piece for allowing said injection fluid and said hydrocarbon production to bypass one another.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first pump is a driver pump and said second pump is a production pump.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cross-over piece is a shroud having separate passageways for said injection fluid and said hydrocarbon production such that they bypass one another without mixing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cross-over piece is a single piece.

11. An apparatus for the downhole production of hydrocarbons comprising:

a tubing string, said tubing string containing a first pump and a second pump, said first pump is powered by the flow of injection fluid, and said second pump is coupled to, and powered by, said first pump.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first and second pumps are selected from the group of electric submersible pumps and progressive cavity pumps.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a cross-over shroud, said cross-over shroud having separate passageways providing for the separate passage of injection fluid and hydrocarbon production.

14. A method of simultaneous downhole hydrocarbon production and injection comprising the steps of:

placing a tubing string downhole, said tubing string having a first pump and a second pump, said first and second pumps are coupled so that said second pump is powered by said first pump;

providing an injection fluid in said tubing string so that at least a portion of said injection fluid powers said first pump and a portion of said injection fluid is injected into a downhole formation, and wherein said second pump lifts hydrocarbon production to the surface.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein a cross-over shroud is provided to allow said injection fluid to bypasss said second pump, and allow said hydrocarbon production to bypass said first pump.

16. An apparatus for the downhole production of hydrocarbons, comprising:

a tubing string;

said tubing string containing a pressurized injection fluid;

a first pump powered by the pressurized injection fluid contained in said tubing string;

a second pump coupled to, and powered by, said first pump, said second pump produces hydrocarbon to the surface; and

a cross-over piece having non-intersecting passageways for the bypass flow of said injection fluid and hydrocarbon production such that said injection fluid is injected into a desired formation and said hydrocarbon production is lifted to the surface simultaneously without substantial mixing.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first and second pumps are selected from the group consisting of electric submersible pumps, and progressive cavity pumps.