Artificial lift with additional gas assist

Abstract

Well pumping of fluids having low hydrostatic pressure is provided through a combination of jet pumping and gas assisted lifting. A jet pump is located in a borehole in a producing zone of a well, and a source of gas is introduced into the fluid returning from the production location. The gas may be injected into the fluid used to operate the jet pump, such that the gas remains compressed until exiting the jet pump, and then provides assistance in lifting the returning fluid.

1 . A method for pumping a production fluid from a wellbore, comprising: 
 injecting a pressurized liquid into a first inlet of a jet pump disposed in the wellbore, thereby drawing the production fluid into a second inlet of the jet pump from the wellbore and forming a first mixture comprising the liquid and the production fluid; and    injecting a compressed gas into the wellbore at a location adjacent to an outlet of the jet pump, thereby forming a second mixture comprising the first mixture and the compressed gas to aid recovery of the production fluid.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising separating the second mixture into a gas portion and a liquid portion.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 delivering a first portion of the gas portion to a gas production line and a second portion of the gas portion to a gas recycle line; and    delivering a first portion of the liquid portion to a liquid production line and a second portion of the liquid portion to a liquid recycle line.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is crude oil and the gas is natural gas.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid and the gas are recycled production fluid.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized liquid is highly pressurized liquid.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid and the gas are not recycled production fluid.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recovering the second mixture from the wellbore.