Anti-coning well intake
First Claim
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1. An anti-coning well intake for extracting hydrocarbons from geological formations, said well intake comprising:
- a down-tube, said down-tube configured to penetrate a geological surface and a hydrocarbon, deposit located below the surface;
an anti-coning end portion at a distal end of said down-tube, said anti-coning end portion comprising an inner wall defining an intake mouth through which the hydrocarbons are removed from the hydrocarbon deposit, and at least one baffle at said distal end of said tube, wherein said end portion comprises a non-circular cross section;
wherein said at least one baffle projects inwardly from said inner wall of said anti-coning end portion; and
wherein said anti-coning end portion is configured to substantially limit the intake of water into said down-tube during removal of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon deposit via said down-tube when said anti-coning end portion is located in a pool of hydrocarbons at a level above an underlying pool of water.
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Abstract
A well intake with an anti-coning end portion provides for withdrawal of fluid hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, from pockets that contain an underlying layer of water. The anti-coning end portion may include a tube having an upwardly turned or upwardly facing end or mouth, a tube having a non-circular cross section, a tube having one or more baffles, or a combination thereof, in order to prevent or block the formation of cyclonic or swirling flow patterns of water in the vicinity of the well intake.
41 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An anti-coning well intake for extracting hydrocarbons from geological formations, said well intake comprising:
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a down-tube, said down-tube configured to penetrate a geological surface and a hydrocarbon, deposit located below the surface; an anti-coning end portion at a distal end of said down-tube, said anti-coning end portion comprising an inner wall defining an intake mouth through which the hydrocarbons are removed from the hydrocarbon deposit, and at least one baffle at said distal end of said tube, wherein said end portion comprises a non-circular cross section; wherein said at least one baffle projects inwardly from said inner wall of said anti-coning end portion; and wherein said anti-coning end portion is configured to substantially limit the intake of water into said down-tube during removal of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon deposit via said down-tube when said anti-coning end portion is located in a pool of hydrocarbons at a level above an underlying pool of water. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An anti-coning well intake for extracting hydrocarbons from geological formations, said well intake comprising:
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a down-tube, said down-tube configured to penetrate a geological surface and a hydrocarbon deposit located below the surface; an anti-coning end portion at a distal end of said down-tube, said anti-coning end portion comprising a non-circular end portion having an upwardly-facing mouth, wherein said upwardly-facing mouth is configured to initially draw hydrocarbons substantially downwardly; and wherein said anti-coning end portion is configured to substantially prevent the intake of water into said down-tube during removal of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon deposit via said down-tube when said anti-coning end portion is located in a pool of hydrocarbons at a level above an underlying pool of water. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An anti-coning well intake for extracting hydrocarbons from geological formations, said well intake comprising:
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a down-tube, said down-tube configured to penetrate a geological surface and a hydrocarbon deposit located below the surface; an anti-coning end portion at a distal end of said down-tube, said anti-coning end portion having an inner wall, said inner wall defining an intake mouth through which hydrocarbons are removed from the hydrocarbon deposit; at least one longitudinally-extending rigid baffle, said at least one baffle projecting inwardly from and fixedly attached to said inner wall of said anti-coning end portion; wherein said anti-coning end portion comprises a non-circular cross section; and wherein said anti-coning end portion is configured to substantially prevent the intake of water into said down-tube during removal of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon deposit via said down-tube when said anti-coning end portion is located in a pool of hydrocarbons at a level above an underlying pool of water. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An anti-coning well intake for extracting hydrocarbons from geological formations, said well intake comprising:
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a down-tube, said down-tube adapted to penetrate a geological surface and a hydrocarbon deposit located below the surface; an anti-coning end portion at a distal end of said down-tube, said anti-coning end portion comprising a non-circular cross section; and wherein said anti-coning end portion is adapted to substantially prevent the intake of water into said down-tube during removal of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon deposit via said down-tube when said anti-coning end portion is located in a pool of hydrocarbons at a level above an underlying pool of water. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of extracting hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon deposit overlying a pool of water, said method comprising:
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providing an anti-coning well intake for extracting hydrocarbons from geological formations, said well intake comprising a down-tube, said down-tube configured to penetrate a geological surface and a hydrocarbon deposit located below the surface; providing an anti-coning end portion at a distal end of said down-tube, said anti-coning end portion comprising an inner wall defining an intake mouth through which the hydrocarbons are removed from the hydrocarbon deposit, and at least one baffle at said distal end of said tube, said at least one baffle projecting inwardly from said inner wall of said anti-coning end portion, and wherein said anti-coning end portion comprises a non-circular cross section; wherein said anti-coning end portion is configured to substantially prevent the intake of water into said down-tube during removal of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon deposit via said down-tube; extracting hydrocarbons through said anti-coning well intake without extracting water therewith when said anti-coning end portion is located in a pool of hydrocarbons at a level above an underlying pool of water; and substantially preventing cyclonic flow of the hydrocarbons and the water in the vicinity of said anti-coning end portion with said baffle during removal of the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon deposit through said intake mouth. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification