Systems and apparatuses for separating wellbore fluids and solids during production

Abstract

There is provided apparatuses, and related systems, for effecting production of oil from a reservoir. A separator is provided and configured to mitigate problems with solid debris accumulation within the wellbore. A system is also provided, including the separator, and is disposed within a wellbore. A pump is also provided, and disposed in fluid communication with, and downstream from, the separator, for receiving reservoir fluids from which gaseous and solid material have been separated by the separator.

1 - 89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . A separator for separating material from at least reservoir fluid received from a fluid conductor of a wellbore in an oil reservoir, the separator comprising:
 an inlet port for receiving reservoir fluid from the fluid conductor and an outlet port for delivering gas-depleted reservoir fluid;   a seal support member having an outer surface; and   a sealing member supported by the seal support member, the sealing member being configured to sealingly, or substantially sealingly, engage the inlet port with the fluid conductor and prevent, or substantially prevent, the reservoir fluid from bypassing the inlet port, the sealing member projecting outwardly from the outer surface by a distance of less than 2.5 mm.   
     
     
         91 . The separator as claimed in  claim 90 ;
 wherein the sealing member includes a compressible sealing member   
     
     
         92 . The separator as claimed in  claim 90 ;
 wherein the sealing member is retractable such that, in the retracted state, the sealing member projects outwardly from the outer surface by a distance of less than 2.5 millimetres.   
     
     
         93 . The separator as claimed in  claim 92 , further comprising:
 a latch seal assembly, wherein the latch seal assembly includes the o-ring.   
     
     
         94 . The separator as claimed in  claim 90 , further comprising:
 a second outlet port for delivering a gas-rich material separated from the received at least reservoir fluid.   
     
     
         95 . The separator as claimed in  claim 90 ;
 wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are, respectively, a first inlet port and first outlet port;   and further comprising:   a reservoir fluid-conducting passage extending between the first inlet port and the first outlet port;   a second inlet port, positioned relative to the first outlet port such that, when the separator is disposed within the wellbore and oriented for receiving at least reservoir fluids via the first inlet port, the second inlet portion is disposed downhole relative to the first outlet port;   a second outlet port;   a gas-depleted fluid conducting passage extending between the second inlet port and the second outlet port;   a co-operating surface portion configured for co-operating with the separator co-operating fluid conductor, when the separator is disposed within the wellbore and oriented for receiving at least reservoir fluids via the first inlet port, to define an intermediate fluid passage therebetween for effecting fluid communication between the first outlet port and the second inlet port;   a seal support portion having an outer surface; and   a sealing member supported by the seal support portion, the sealing member being configured for sealingly, or substantially sealingly, engaging the separator co-operating fluid conductor, and positioned relative to the second inlet port such that, when the separator is disposed within the wellbore and oriented for receiving at least reservoir fluids via the first inlet port, the sealing member is disposed downhole relative to the second inlet port and in sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement with the separator co-operating fluid conductor;   wherein the sealing member projects outwardly from the outer surface by a distance of less than 2.5 millimetres.   
     
     
         96 . The separator as claimed in  claim 95 ;
 wherein the first inlet port is disposed downhole relative to the second outlet port.   
     
     
         97 . A separator for effecting separation of materials from reservoir fluid within a wellbore fluid conductor disposed within a wellbore, the wellbore fluid conductor including a separator co-operating fluid conductor and a liner, the separator co-operating fluid conductor including a downhole wellbore fluid passage for receiving reservoir fluids from the reservoir and for conducting at least reservoir fluids, the liner being coupled to and disposed in sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement with the separator co-operating fluid conductor, and including a liner fluid passage, such that the downhole wellbore fluid passage includes the liner fluid passage, wherein the separator comprises:
 a first inlet port for receiving at least reservoir fluids from the downhole wellbore fluid passage;   a first outlet port;   a reservoir fluid-conducting passage extending between the first inlet port and the first outlet port;   a second inlet port, positioned relative to the first outlet port such that, when the separator is disposed within the wellbore and oriented for receiving at least reservoir fluids via the first inlet port, the second inlet portion is disposed downhole relative to the first outlet port;   a second outlet port   a gas-depleted fluid conducting passage extending between the second inlet port and the second outlet port;   a co-operating surface portion configured for co-operating with the separator co-operating fluid conductor, while the separator is disposed within the wellbore and oriented for receiving at least reservoir fluids via the first inlet port, to define an intermediate fluid passage therebetween for effecting fluid communication between the first outlet port and the second inlet port;   a sealing member configured for sealingly, or substantially sealingly, engaging the liner, and positioned relative to the second inlet port such that, when the separator is disposed within the wellbore and oriented for receiving at least reservoir fluids via the first inlet port, the sealing member is disposed downhole relative to the second inlet port and in sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement with the liner; and   a latch seal assembly, carrying the sealing member, and co-operatively configured for releasable connection to the liner.   
     
     
         98 . The separator as claimed in  claim 97 ;
 wherein the separator further includes:
 an downhole fluid conductor including:
 the first inlet port; 
 a first intermediate outlet port; 
 a downhole reservoir fluid-conducting passage extending between the first inlet port and the intermediate outlet port; and 
 the sealing member; 
 
   and
   a flow diverter including   
 a first intermediate inlet port;
 the second outlet port; 
 a uphole reservoir fluid-conducting passage extending between the intermediate inlet port and the first outlet port; 
 a second inlet port; 
 a second outlet port; and 
 the gas-depleted fluid conducting passage; 
 
 such that the reservoir fluid-conducting passage includes the downhole reservoir fluid-conducting passage and the uphole reservoir fluid-conducting passage; 
 and wherein the downhole fluid conductor is connected to the flow diverter such that the intermediate outlet port of the downhole fluid conductor is disposed in fluid communication with the intermediate inlet port of the flow diverter for supplying fluid to the intermediate inlet port. 
   
     
     
         99 . A system for processing at least reservoir fluids within a wellbore that is disposed within an oil reservoir, the system comprising a wellbore fluid conductor disposed within the wellbore, the wellbore fluid conductor comprising:
 a separator co-operating fluid conductor;   a liner, the liner being coupled to and disposed in sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement with the separator co-operating fluid conductor, and including a liner fluid passage for receiving reservoir fluids from the reservoir and for conducting at least reservoir fluids ; and   a separator including:   a first inlet port disposed in fluid communication with the liner fluid passage for receiving at least reservoir fluids from the liner fluid passage;   a first outlet port;   a reservoir fluid-conducting passage extending between the first inlet port and the first outlet port;   a second inlet port disposed downhole relative to the first outlet port;   a second outlet port;   a gas-depleted fluid conducting passage extending between the second inlet port and the second outlet port;   a co-operating surface portion co-operating with the separator co-operating fluid conductor to define an intermediate fluid passage therebetween for effecting fluid communication between the first outlet port and the second inlet port; and   a sealing surface disposed in sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement with the liner.   
     
     
         100 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 , wherein the combination of at least:
 (i) the sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement between the liner and the separator co-operating fluid conductor; and   (ii) the sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement between the separator sealing surface and the liner;   is such that the separator sealing surface is sealed, or substantially sealed, relative to the separator co-operating fluid conductor to define a sealed interface, such that fluid flow, across the sealed interface, is prevented, or substantially prevented.   
     
     
         101 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 , wherein the combination of at least:
 (i) the sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement between the liner and the separator co-operating fluid conductor; and   (ii) the sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement between the separator sealing surface and the liner;   is with effect that fluid flow, across the sealed interface, at least in a downhole direction, is prevented, or substantially prevented.   
     
     
         102 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 ;
 wherein the combination of at least:   (i) the sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement between the liner and the separator co-operating fluid conductor; and   (ii) the sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement between the separator sealing surface and the liner;   is with effect that fluid, that is being conducted in a downhole direction within the intermediate fluid passage, is directed to the second inlet port.   
     
     
         103 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 ;
 wherein the separator further includes a latch seal assembly releasably connected to the liner, wherein the latch seal assembly includes the sealing surface.   
     
     
         104 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 ;
 wherein the the sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement between the liner and the separator co-operating fluid conductor is effected by a packer disposed between the liner and the separator co-operating fluid conductor.   
     
     
         105 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 ;
 wherein the separator further includes:
 a downhole fluid conductor including:
 the first inlet port; 
 a first intermediate outlet port; 
 a downhole reservoir fluid-conducting passage extending between the first inlet port and the intermediate outlet port; and 
 the separator sealing surface; 
 
 and 
 a flow diverter including
 a first intermediate inlet port; 
 the first outlet port; 
 an uphole reservoir fluid-conducting passage extending between the intermediate inlet port and the first outlet port; 
 the second inlet port; 
 the second outlet port; 
 the gas-depleted fluid conducting passage extending between the second inlet port and the second outlet port; and 
 the co-operating surface portion; 
 
 such that the reservoir fluid-conducting passage includes the downhole reservoir fluid-conducting passage and the uphole reservoir fluid-conducting passage; 
 and wherein the downhole fluid conductor is connected to the flow diverter such that the intermediate outlet port of the downhole fluid conductor is disposed in fluid communication with the intermediate inlet port of the flow diverter for supplying fluid to the intermediate inlet port. 
   
     
     
         106 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 ;
 wherein the liner includes a polished bore receptacle, and the sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement of the separator with the liner includes sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement of the separator with the polished bore receptacle.   
     
     
         107 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 , wherein the wellbore fluid conductor further comprises
 a wellbore casing, wherein the wellbore casing includes the separator co-operating fluid conductor.   
     
     
         108 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 ;
 wherein the first inlet port is disposed downhole relative to the second outlet port.   
     
     
         109 . The system as claimed in  claim 99 , further comprising:
 a pump connected to the separator for pressurizing fluid supplied from the gas-depleted fluid conducting passage.