Method and system for removing fluid from a subterranean zone using an enlarged cavity
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
- drilling an articulated well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone;
forming an enlarged cavity in the articulated well bore such that the enlarged cavity acts as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the articulated well bore;
inserting a portion of a pumping unit having a pump inlet through a curved portion of the articulated well bore;
positioning the pump inlet within the enlarged cavity; and
operating the pumping unit to produce the liquid through the pump inlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for removing fluid from a subterranean zone includes drilling a well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone and forming an enlarged cavity in the well bore such that the enlarged cavity acts as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the well bore. The method includes positioning a pump inlet within the enlarged cavity and operating a pumping unit to produce the liquid through the pump inlet. The well bore may comprise an articulated well bore.
288 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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drilling an articulated well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone;
forming an enlarged cavity in the articulated well bore such that the enlarged cavity acts as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the articulated well bore;
inserting a portion of a pumping unit having a pump inlet through a curved portion of the articulated well bore;
positioning the pump inlet within the enlarged cavity; and
operating the pumping unit to produce the liquid through the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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an articulated well bore extending from a surface to the subterranean zone;
an enlarged cavity formed in the articulated well bore, the enlarged cavity configured to act as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the articulated well bore;
a pumping unit having a pump inlet, the pumping unit having a portion extending from the surface through a curved portion of the articulated well bore such that the pump inlet is positioned within the enlarged cavity; and
wherein the pumping unit is operable to produce the liquid through the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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drilling an articulated well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone;
forming an enlarged cavity in the articulated well bore;
inserting a portion of a pumping unit having a pump inlet through a curved portion of the articulated well bore;
positioning the pump inlet within the enlarged cavity such that the pump inlet is offset from a flow of gas from the subterranean zone through the well bore; and
operating a pumping unit to produce liquid through the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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drilling an articulated well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone;
forming an enlarged cavity in the articulated well bore;
inserting a portion of a pumping unit having a pump inlet through the articulated well bore;
positioning the pump inlet within the enlarged cavity such that the pump inlet is offset from a flow of gas from the subterranean zone through the well bore; and
operating a pumping unit to produce liquid through the pump inlet; and
wherein;
the articulated well bore comprises a substantially vertical portion;
the step of forming an enlarged cavity in the articulated well bore comprises forming an enlarged cavity in the substantially vertical portion of the articulated well bore; and
the step of positioning a pump inlet within the enlarged cavity such that the pump inlet is offset from the flow of gas from the subterranean zone through the articulated well bore comprises positioning the pump inlet such that the pump inlet is horizontally offset from a longitudinal axis of the substantially vertical portion of the articulated well bore.
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13. A system for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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an articulated well bore extending from a surface to the subterranean zone;
an enlarged cavity formed in the well bore;
a pumping unit having a pump inlet, the pumping unit having a portion extending from the surface through a curved portion of the articulated well bore such that the pump inlet is positioned within the enlarged cavity such that the pump inlet is offset from a flow of gas from the subterranean zone through the well bore; and
wherein the pumping unit is operable to produce liquid through the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A system for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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an articulated well bore extending from a surface to the subterranean zone;
an enlarged cavity formed in the well bore;
a pumping unit having a pump inlet, the pumping unit having a portion extending from the surface through the articulated well bore such that the pump inlet is positioned within the enlarged cavity such that the pump inlet is offset from a flow of gas from the subterranean zone through the well bore; and
wherein the pumping unit is operable to produce liquid through the pump inlet; and
wherein;
the articulated well bore comprises a substantially vertical portion;
an enlarged cavity formed in the articulated well bore comprises an enlarged cavity formed in the substantially vertical portion of the articulated well bore; and
the pump inlet is horizontally offset from a longitudinal axis of the substantially vertical portion of the articulated well bore.
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17. A method for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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drilling an articulated well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone;
forming an enlarged cavity in the articulated well bore such that the enlarged cavity acts as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the articulated well bore;
inserting a portion of a pumping unit having a pump inlet through a curved portion of the articulated well bore;
positioning the pump inlet within a portion of the well bore; and
operating the pumping unit to produce the liquid through the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A system for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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an articulated well bore extending from a surface to the subterranean zone;
an enlarged cavity formed in the well bore, the enlarged cavity configured to act as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the well bore;
a pumping unit having a pump inlet, the pumping unit having a portion extending from the surface through a curved portion of the articulated well bore such that the pump inlet is positioned within the articulated well bore; and
wherein the pumping unit is operable to produce the liquid through the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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drilling an articulated well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone;
forming an enlarged cavity in the articulated well bore apart from any intersection with any wellbore from the surface, the enlarged cavity adapted to act as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the articulated well bore;
positioning at least a portion of a pumping unit in a curved portion of the articulated well bore, the pumping unit comprising a pump inlet; and
operating the pumping unit to produce the liquid through the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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drilling an articulated well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone;
forming an enlarged cavity in the articulated well bore apart from any intersection with any wellbore from the surface, the enlarged cavity adapted to act as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the articulated well bore;
positioning a pump inlet within a portion of the articulated well bore; and
operating a pumping unit to produce the liquid through the pump inlet; and
where;
the articulated well bore comprises a substantially vertical portion;
the step of forming an enlarged cavity in the articulated well bore comprises forming an enlarged cavity in the substantially vertical portion of the articulated well bore; and
the step of positioning a pump inlet within a portion of the articulated well bore comprises positioning a pump inlet such that the pump inlet is horizontally offset from a longitudinal axis of the substantially vertical portion of the articulated well bore.
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28. A system for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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an articulated well bore extending from a surface to the subterranean zone;
an enlarged cavity formed in the articulated well bore apart from any intersection with any other well bore from the surface, the enlarged cavity configured to act as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the articulated well bore;
a pumping unit at least partially residing in a curved portion of the articulated well bore and having a pump inlet; and
wherein the pumping unit is operable to produce the liquid through the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system for removing fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
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an articulated well bore extending from a surface to the subterranean zone;
an enlarged cavity formed in the articulated well bore apart from any intersection with any other well bore from the surface, the enlarged cavity configured to act as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the articulated well bore;
a pumping unit having a pump inlet positioned within the well bore; and
wherein the pumping unit is operable to produce the liquid through the pump inlet; and
wherein;
the articulated well bore comprises a substantially vertically portion;
an enlarged cavity formed in the articulated well bore comprises an enlarged cavity formed in the substantially vertical portion of the articulated well bore; and
the pump inlet is horizontally offset from a longitudinal axis of the substantially vertical portion of the articulated well bore.
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Specification