System for the continuous circulation of produced fluids from a subterranean formation

Abstract

Removing water from a subterranean formation entails pumping hydraulic oil from a surface-located hydraulic oil pump through a hydraulic oil line to a downhole downhole pump piston to drive it in a first direction to pump water through a downhole water line to a water chamber of a transfer chamber at the surface. A piston separates the water chamber and an oil chamber and moves to compress the hydraulic oil in the oil chamber of the transfer chamber. The hydraulic oil pump may then pump hydraulic oil into the oil chamber causing the piston to move toward the water chamber, thereby moving water in the downhole water line and resetting the piston in the downhole water pump. A water valve in the downhole water line at the surface may open and release water when the piston in the downhole water pump reaches a predetermined or reset position.

1 . A system for the continuous circulation of produced fluids from a subterranean formation comprising:
 a. a hydraulic pump positioned at a surface of the subterranean formation;   b. a downhole pump positioned within the subterranean formation;   c. a circulating pump positioned at a surface of the subterranean formation;   d. a downhole hydraulic line operatively connected between the hydraulic pump and the downhole pump, wherein the downhole hydraulic line supplies a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the downhole pump and from the downhole pump back to the hydraulic pump;   e. a downhole removal line operatively connected between the downhole pump and the surface, wherein the downhole removal line removes produced fluids along why any entrained gas and solids from the subterranean formation via the downhole pump and delivers the produced fluid to a surface separator; and   f. a downhole supply line operatively connected between the circulating pump and the downhole pump, wherein the downhole delivery line delivers produced fluids from the surface via the circulating pump to the downhole pump.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circulating pump is a high pressure water pump. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the downhole pump is a single actuated pump. 
     
     
         4 . A system for continuous circulation of produced fluids from a subterranean formation comprising:
 a. a hydraulic pump positioned at a surface of the subterranean formation;   b. a downhole pump positioned within the subterranean formation;   c. a circulating pump positioned at a surface of the subterranean formation;   d. a transfer chamber positioned a the surface of the subterranean formation, wherein the transfer chamber includes a floating transfer piston which separates the produced fluids and a hydraulic fluid;   e. a downhole hydraulic line operatively connected between the hydraulic pump and the downhole pump, wherein the downhole hydraulic line supplies a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the downhole pump;   f. a downhole removal line operatively connected between the downhole pump and the surface, wherein the downhole removal line removes produced fluids along with any entrained gas and solids from the subterranean formation via the downhole pump and delivers the produced fluid to the surface and from the downhole pump back to the hydraulic pump;   g. a downhole supply line operatively connected between the high pressure pump and the downhole pump, wherein the downhole supply line removes produced fluids from the surface via the circulating pump and delivers produced fluids to the subterranean formation via the downhole pump; and   h. a transfer chamber line connected from the transfer chamber to the hydraulic pump.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the transfer chamber includes an internal chamber, a first inlet/outlet at a first end of the transfer chamber, a second inlet/outlet at a second end of the transfer chamber and a transfer chamber piston within the internal chamber that divides the internal chamber. 
     
     
         6 . A system for continuous circulation of produced fluids from a subterranean formation comprising:
 a. a hydraulic pump positioned at a surface of the subterranean formation;   b. a downhole pump positioned within the subterranean formation;   c. a circulating pump positioned at a surface of the subterranean formation;   d. a transfer chamber positioned a the surface of the subterranean formation, wherein the transfer chamber includes a floating transfer piston which separates the produced fluids and a hydraulic fluid;   e. a downhole hydraulic line operatively connected between the hydraulic pump and the downhole pump, wherein the downhole hydraulic line supplies a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the downhole pump;   f. a downhole removal line operatively connected between the downhole pump and a separator at the surface, wherein the downhole removal line removes produced fluids along with any entrained gas and solids from the subterranean formation via the downhole pump and delivers them to the separator;   g. a downhole supply line operatively connected between the high pressure pump and the downhole pump, wherein the downhole supply line removes produced fluids from the surface via the circulating pump and delivers produced fluids to the subterranean formation via the downhole pump; and   h. a transfer chamber line connected from the transfer chamber to the separator.