Hydrocarbon production system and method of use

Abstract

The purpose of the method of the present invention is to provide an improved method and an improved apparatus, to displace light, medium, or viscous hydrocarbon fluid, which may be contaminated with earthen solids, from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir to a hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities on ground surface, by means of oil well production. The method is intended for use in cold primary hydrocarbon production or thermally stimulated hydrocarbon production from vertical, slant, whipstocked, or horizontal oil wells. The production system does not employ moving subsurface mechanical components.

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 viscous hydrocarbon fluid, which may contain contaminants including earthen solids, water and natural gas, from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of an oil well, to a hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface, comprising the steps of;
 measuring the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir pressure;   determining the hydrocarbon fluid altitude to be maintained above the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of the oil well during hydrocarbon fluid production;   placing a subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string within the wellbore, with an upper connection to the wellhead, and extending the lower open end to the desired lower wellbore depth; providing a subsurface compressed gas communication port to feed compressed gas into the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, at the elevation of the hydrocarbon fluid level to be maintained above the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of the oil well during hydrocarbon fluid production;   permitting the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir pressure, to pressurize it's output of hydrocarbon fluid into and through the lower open end of the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, and up to an elevation therein, above the compressed gas communication port;   feeding a stream of compressed gas, having sufficient volume and pressure, into the compressed gas communication port;   permitting the stream of hydrocarbon fluid and contaminants to mix and combine with the stream of compressed gas, within the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string; permitting the combined mixture of hydrocarbon fluid, contaminants and compressed gas, to decompress within the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, and form a low pressure, very low density, high velocity hydrocarbon production stream therein;   permitting the hydrocarbon production stream to decompress and displace, by means of the gas pressure differential, through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, wellhead, surface flow line, and into the very low pressure zone within the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface;   continuing the production cycle; venting or recovering gas from the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facility at surface; providing means to recover hydrocarbon fluid and contaminants from the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface.   
     
     
         2 . A method of displacing light, medium or viscous hydrocarbon fluid, which may contain contaminants including earthen solids, water and natural gas, from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of an oil well, to a hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface,
 comprising the steps of;   measuring the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir pressure;   determining the hydrocarbon fluid altitude to be maintained above the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of the oil well during hydrocarbon fluid production;   installing an annular casing packer to isolate the lower wellbore from the upper wellbore, at a suitable point below the altitude of the hydrocarbon fluid level to be maintained above the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, during hydrocarbon fluid production;   placing a subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string within the wellbore and through the annular casing packer, with an upper connection to the wellhead, and extending the lower open end to the desired lower wellbore depth; providing a subsurface compressed gas communication port to feed compressed gas into the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, at the elevation of the hydrocarbon fluid level to be maintained above the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of the oil well during hydrocarbon fluid production;   permitting the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir pressure, to pressurize it's output of hydrocarbon fluid into and through the lower open end of the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, and up to an elevation therein, above the compressed gas communication port;   feeding a stream of compressed gas, having sufficient volume and pressure, into the compressed gas communication port;   permitting the stream of hydrocarbon fluid and contaminants to mix and combine with the stream of compressed gas, within the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string; permitting the combined mixture of hydrocarbon fluid, contaminants and compressed gas, to decompress within the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, and form a low pressure, very low density, high velocity hydrocarbon production stream therein;   permitting the hydrocarbon production stream to decompress and displace, by means of the gas pressure differential, through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, wellhead, surface flow line, and into the very low pressure zone within the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface;   continuing the production cycle; venting or recovering gas from the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facility at surface; providing means to recover hydrocarbon fluid and contaminants from the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface.   
     
     
         3 . A method of displacing light, medium or viscous hydrocarbon fluid, which may contain contaminants, including earthen solids, water and natural gas, from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir depth of an oil well, to a hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface, comprising the steps of;
 measuring the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir pressure;   determining the altitude of the hydrocarbon fluid level to be maintained above the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of the oil well during hydrocarbon fluid production; providing and installing an annular casing packer to isolate the lower wellbore from the upper wellbore, at a near point below the altitude of the hydrocarbon fluid level to be maintained above the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, during hydrocarbon fluid production;   placing a pickup tubing string into the lower wellbore, with an upper connection to the annular casing packer, and extending the lower end to the desired altitude of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir; placing a subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string within the upper wellbore, with an upper connection to the wellhead, and extending the lower end to a near point above the annular casing packer; providing surface flow line means, to dispose hydrocarbon production fluid from the wellhead's hydrocarbon production fluid output connection, into the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface;   permitting the sufficient pressure of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, to pressurize hydrocarbon fluid from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, through the casing perforations, into and through the lower wellbore, and into and through the lower open end of the pickup tubing string, and up through the pickup tubing string, and into the upper wellbore above the annular casing packer, and up into the lower open end of the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string;   feeding a stream of compressed gas into and through the lower open end of the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string; permitting the stream of hydrocarbon fluid and the stream of compressed gas to mix, combine, and decompress within the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, to form a low pressure, very low density, high velocity hydrocarbon production stream within the subsurface production hydrocarbon tubing string; permitting the hydrocarbon production stream to flow, by means of the gas pressure differential, through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, wellhead, surface flow line, and into the lower pressure zone of the hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface;   permitting the increased velocity of the hydrocarbon production stream, to entrain and carry all components of itself, through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, wellhead, surface flow line, and into the lower pressure zone within the hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface;   separating gas from the hydrocarbon fluid; venting gas from the hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other facilities at surface; continuing the hydrocarbon production operation for a period of time; recovering hydrocarbon fluid and contaminants thereof, from the hydrocarbon production fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface.   
     
     
         4 . A method of displacing significant production volumes of light, medium or viscous hydrocarbon fluid, which may contain contaminants, including earthen solids, water or natural gas, from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of an oil well, up into the lower subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, to an elevation above the compressed gas communication port, the without the use of a subsurface production pump or vacuum, comprising the steps of;
 providing the method of  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3 ;   permitting the sufficient subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir pressure, to pressurize a stream of hydrocarbon fluid from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, through the casing perforations, and into the lower wellbore, and into and through the lower open end of, and up into the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, to a point above the compressed gas communication port.   
     
     
         5 . A method of displacing light, medium or viscous hydrocarbon fluid, which may contain contaminants, including earthen solids, water and natural gas, from the subterranean depth of an oil well's compressed gas communication port, to a hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground
 providing the method of  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3 ;   ensuring the compressed gas fed into the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string is of sufficient volume and pressure to entrain and carry the stream of hydrocarbon fluid through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string and surface flow line, and into the hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at surface, at a velocity above the terminal settling rate of hydrocarbon globules, water droplets and earthen solids.   
     
     
         6 . A method of displacing light, medium or viscous hydrocarbon fluid, which may contain water, natural gas, or earthen solids, from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir depth of an oil well, to a hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface, by means of hydrocarbon production system having a subsurface first production lifting stage, and a subsurface second production lifting stage, comprising the steps of;
 providing the method of  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3 .   
     
     
         7 . A method to maintain a predetermined and constant hydrocarbon fluid head pressure above the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir during oil well production periods, for the purpose of preventing excessive subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir output flow rates that may cause subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir damage, resulting in excessive or economically prohibitive production of water, earthen solids, natural gas, or any combination thereof, comprising the steps of;
 providing the method of  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3 ;   ensuring the compressed gas communication port is placed and connected at the correct altitude, to the subsurface production tubing string.   
     
     
         8 . A method to prevent earthen solids accumulations and subsequent blockages, from occurring within the lower subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, or pick-up tubing sting, comprising the steps of;
 providing the method of  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3 ;   ensuring the inside diameter of the production tubing located between the compressed gas communication port and subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, is correctly sized to permit the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir's volumetric output to flow through that section of tubing, at a velocity above the terminal settling rate of the hydrocarbon fluid's solid earthen contaminants.   
     
     
         9 . A compressed gas flow reversing device, for the purpose of reducing the compressed gas feed pressure exerted against the output of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir within that portion of the tubing located below the compressed gas communication port, and for the purpose of reducing solids abrasion within the inner subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing wall, at the point of compressed gas entry, by following the steps of;
 removing the compressed gas communication port from the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, and replacing it with the gas flow reversing device; operating the hydrocarbon production system normally.   
     
     
         10 . A method of placing subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir treating chemicals, sand suspension chemicals, or other work fluids, or carrier gas, or carrier gas and chemicals, into exact points of an oil well's lower wellbore or subsurface tubing, in order to perform a task, without the need to displace subsurface production equipment, comprising the steps of;
 providing the method and apparatus of  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3 ;   inserting a small diameter tubing string of sufficient length, into and through the wellhead access, and into and through the subsurface tubing, to the desired points of the wellbore or subsurface tubing; pumping reservoir treating chemicals, sand suspension chemicals, or other work fluids, or carrier gas, or carrier gas and chemicals, into the exact points of the oil well's subsurface tubing or lower wellbore, as desired; removing the small diameter tubing string after task completion, and replacing the wellhead access plug.   
     
     
         11 . A method of placing small tools into exact points of an oil well's subsurface tubing string or lower wellbore, and removing the same, without the need to displace subsurface production equipment, comprising the steps of;
 providing the method and apparatus of  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3 , to the oil well; inserting the tool, by means of a small diameter tubing string or wire-line, into and through the: wellhead access, and into the desired points of the subsurface tubing or wellbore; employing or setting the tool; withdrawing the tubing string or wire-line, with or without the tool, as desired, from the oil well, after use; replacing the wellhead access plug.   
     
     
         12 . A method of displacing light, medium or viscous hydrocarbon fluid, which may contain contaminants, including earthen solids, water and natural gas, from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir of an oil well, to a hydrocarbon fluid storage tank or other handling facilities at ground surface, by oil well means, without the use of activated subsurface mechanical equipment during the hydrocarbon production operation, comprising the steps of;
 providing the method and apparatus of  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3 .   
     
     
         13 . A method to utilize the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir output of natural gas to assist in preventing earthen solids from accumulating and building fluid blockages within the lower subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, by following the steps of,
 providing the method of  claim 1 ;-or  claim 2 , to the oil well;   isolating the upper wellbore from the lower wellbore, by means of an annular casing packer; installing the annular casing packer within the wellbore at an appropriate desired point below the compressed gas communication port; installing the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string with fluid communication connections through the annular casing packer, and extending the lower open end to the desired wellbore depth; permitting the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir to pressurize it's output of hydrocarbon fluid, water and solid earthen contaminants, into and through the lower subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, to a point above the compressed gas communication port;   permitting the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir to pressurize it's considerable volumetric output of natural gas, into and through the lower subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, to the subsurface elevation of the compressed gas communication port, thereby increasing the flow of hydrocarbon fluid and earthen solids through the subsurface hydrocarbon production tubing string, at an increased velocity above the terminal settling rate of the earthen solids.   
     
     
         14 . A method to utilize the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir output of natural gas to assist in preventing earthen solids from accumulating and building fluid blockages within the subsurface pick-up tubing string, by following the steps of,
 providing the method of  claim 3 , to the oil well;   isolating the upper wellbore from the lower wellbore, by means of an annular casing packer; installing the annular casing packer within the wellbore at an appropriate desired point below the compressed gas communication port; installing the subsurface pick-up tubing tubing string with a fluid communication connection through the annular casing packer, and extending the lower open end to the desired wellbore depth;   permitting the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir to pressurize it's output of hydrocarbon fluid, water and solid earthen contaminants, into and through the lower subsurface pick-up tubing string, to a point above the compressed gas communication port;   permitting the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir to pressurize it's considerable volumetric output of natural gas, into and through the subsurface pick-up tubing string, to the subsurface elevation of the compressed gas communication port, thereby increasing the flow of hydrocarbon fluid and earthen solids through the subsurface pick-up tubing string, at an increased velocity above the terminal settling rate of the earthen solids.