Ultrasonic wellbore dewatering device, system and method

Abstract

An ultrasonic device and system is provided for specific application to unloading non-gaseous production (typically mineralized water which may or may not be associated with produced solids and/or hydrocarbon liquids) from gas producing wells. In one embodiment, the system comprises an ultrasonic particle generator bank, including a transformer as needed (geometry of bank varies depending on down hole configurations) with multiple ultrasonic sources for redundancy/longevity and particle formation rate control. The multiple ultrasonic sources may be powered electrically from the surface, or by other means, with a length management conveyance system. The ultrasonic sources may be buoyed at substantially optimal depth below the surface of the non-gaseous production being particlized.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ultrasonic dewatering system for use in a gas producing well to particlize non-gaseous production for removal from a wellbore, the ultrasonic dewatering system comprising:
 an ultrasonic particle generator bank for positioning in the non-gaseous production for particlizing at least a portion of the non-gaseous production, the ultrasonic particle generator bank comprising:
 an ultrasonic source for positioning at or below the surface of the non-gaseous production for particlizing at least a portion of the non-gaseous production; and 
 a power source in communication with the ultrasonic source. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic particle generator bank further comprises a buoyancy control for positioning the ultrasonic source a desired depth below the surface of the non-gaseous production. 
     
     
         3 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 2 , wherein the desired depth is between about 0 mm and 4 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 2 , wherein the desired depth is about 1.0 mm or less. 
     
     
         5 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrical conveyance electrically connecting the power source and the ultrasonic particle generator bank.   
     
     
         6 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 5 , wherein the electrical conveyance further comprises a length management system for controlling the length of the electrical conveyance to maintain a length of the electrical conveyance at a length suitable to maintain the buoyancy of the ultrasonic source at the desired depth. 
     
     
         7 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic particle generator bank comprises multiple ultrasonic sources and a transformer in communication with each ultrasonic source. 
     
     
         8 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore further includes a velocity string mounted at a height that is raised above the surface of the non-gaseous production relative a typical velocity string. 
     
     
         9 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic source is a directly coupled ultrasonic atomizer, a horn nebulizer, or a mesh nebulizer. 
     
     
         10 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore is a horizontal wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . An ultrasonic dewatering system for use in a gas producing well comprising a wellbore to particlize non-gaseous production for removal from the wellbore, the ultrasonic dewatering system comprising:
 an ultrasonic particle generator bank in the non-gaseous production for particlizing at least a portion of the non-gaseous production, the ultrasonic particle generator bank comprising:   an ultrasonic source below the surface of the non-gaseous production for particlizing at least a portion of the non-gaseous production; and   a power source in communication with the ultrasonic particle generator bank.   
     
     
         12 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 11 , wherein the ultrasonic particle generator bank further comprises a buoyancy control positioning the ultrasonic source a desired depth below the surface of the non-gaseous production. 
     
     
         13 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 12 , wherein the desired depth is between about 0 mm and 4 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 13 , wherein the desired depth is about 1.0 mm or less. 
     
     
         15 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an electrical conveyance electrically connecting the power source and the ultrasonic particle generator bank.   
     
     
         16 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrical conveyance further comprises a length management system for controlling the length of the electrical conveyance to maintain a length of the electrical conveyance at a length suitable to maintain the buoyancy of the ultrasonic source at the desired depth. 
     
     
         17 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 11 , wherein the ultrasonic particle generator bank comprises multiple ultrasonic sources and a transformer in communication with each ultrasonic source. 
     
     
         18 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 11 , wherein the wellbore further includes a velocity string mounted at a height that is raised above the surface of the non-gaseous production relative a typical velocity string. 
     
     
         19 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 11 , wherein the ultrasonic source is a directly coupled ultrasonic atomizer, a horn nebulizer, or a mesh nebulizer. 
     
     
         20 . The ultrasonic dewatering system according to  claim 11 , wherein the wellbore is a horizontal wellbore. 
     
     
         21 . A method of dewatering a gas producing well comprising:
 positioning a ultrasonic particle generator bank in the non-gaseous production of the wellbore; and   particlizing at least a portion of the non-gaseous production for upward flow with the gas and eventual evacuation of the wellbore.   
     
     
         22 . Use of an ultrasonic device at a wellhead of a producing well, the ultrasonic device comprising
 an ultrasonic source for positioning at the wellhead; and   a power source in communication with the ultrasonic source;   wherein the ultrasonic source is for particlizing water condensing at the wellhead into ultrafine particles for re-vaporization.