Hydrocarbon production system and method of use

Abstract

The method of the present invention employs a subsurface production pump to displace hydrocarbon fluid, including any and all accompanying ground water and/or earthen contaminants, from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir depth of an oil well to surface storage and handling facilities via the subsurface production tubing, wellhead and surface flow line. As the subsurface production pump operates, compressed gas, or a mixture of compressed gases of sufficient volume and force is fed into the lower end of the subsurface production tubing in proximity to, or at a point above the subsurface production pump to mix into the hydrocarbon production fluid column. The resultant and considerably reduced density of the subsurface hydrocarbon production fluid column provides a reduction of subsurface production pump loading with all types of subsurface production pumps, and an improvement of sucker rod fall time when sucker rod activated subsurface plunger pumps are employed. Due to the additional cubic volume of the injected compressed gas, the increased hydrocarbon production fluid and gas velocity within the subsurface production tubing and the surface flow line improves hydrocarbon fluid shear from the conduit walls and sucker rod surfaces, and prevents earthen contaminants such as sand, clay, shale, coal or other rock fragments, from precipitating, accumulating and blocking the flow of hydrocarbon production fluid within the subsurface production tubing and the surface flow line.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of displacing light, medium or very viscose hydrocarbon fluid which may contain solid earthen contaminants and water, from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of an oil well to a hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface, by means of an oil well, a compressed gas conveyance tubing system and a subsurface production pump, comprising the steps of;
 constructing a compressed gas conveyance tubing system extending from a source of compressed gas at surface, through the wellhead and down the well bore to the approximate subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir depth of the well bore and returning up out of the well bore, through the wellhead and into a hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface; connecting a subsurface production pump to the lower end of the compressed gas conveyance tubing system, including means to activate said subsurface production pump;   flooding hydrocarbon fluid from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir by means of subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir pressure, through the casing perforations and into the well bore; pumping hydrocarbon fluid from the well bore into and through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, wellhead and surface flow line, and into the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface;   feeding a sufficient volume and pressure of compressed gas from a source at surface, through the compressed gas conveyance tubing system, and into the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface; separating gas and hydrocarbon fluid therein; venting gas from the hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities; continuing the hydrocarbon production system's production cycle; recovering hydrocarbon fluid and contaminants from the hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other facilities at ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . A method of significantly reducing the operating load upon the subsurface production pump and prime mover, comprising the steps of;
 providing the apparatus and method of  claim 1 ; ensuring that the compressed gas fed and mixed into the hydrocarbon fluid column flowing to surface storage through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string and surface flow line is of sufficient volume to decompress and expand therein, to a degree that sufficiently displaces and reduces the density of the said hydrocarbon fluid column above the subsurface production pump.   
     
     
         3 . A method of significantly decreasing the sucker rod fall time of subsurface reciprocating plunger pumps, comprising the steps of;
 providing the method and apparatus of  claim 1 ; ensuring that the compressed gas fed and mixed into the hydrocarbon fluid column flowing to surface storage through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string and surface flow line is of sufficient volume to decompress and expand therein, to a degree that sufficiently displaces and reduces the density of the said hydrocarbon fluid column, as to permit unimpeded lowering of the sucker rods and subsurface pump plunger through the said hydrocarbon fluid column.   
     
     
         4 . A method to eliminate the precipitation and accumulation of earthen particulates or small rocks or sharp edged rock fragments or pyrite balls within the subsurface production tubing string and surface flow line, while displacing hydrocarbon fluid containing such earthen contaminants from the output end of the subsurface production pump of an oil well to a hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface, comprising the steps of;
 providing the apparatus and method of  claim 1 ; ensuring that the compressed gas fed and mixed into the hydrocarbon fluid column flowing to surface storage through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string and surface flow line is of sufficient volume and pressure to permit the resulting enhanced velocity of the stream of combined cubic volumes of hydrocarbon fluid, earthen contaminants and decompressed gas, to flow from the subsurface production pump to the hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface.   
     
     
         5 . A method to significantly reduce premature wear and failure of progressing cavity subsurface production pumps caused by pumping high hydrocarbon fluid pressures, or by pumping hydrocarbon fluid containing earthen particulates or small rocks, while displacing hydrocarbon fluid containing such earthen contaminants from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of an oil well to a hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface, comprising the steps of;
 providing the apparatus and method of Claim  2 .