System And Methodology For Supplying Diluent

Abstract

A technique facilitates various well operations by delivering a diluent to a desired location in a borehole. A completion system may be disposed in the borehole and a diluent flow path is routed along an interior of the completion system to a desired location. In some applications, the diluent is delivered to an artificial lift system, e.g. an electric submersible pumping system, to dilute a fluid being produced. A flow control unit is positioned along the diluent flow path and may be selectively actuated to control flow of the diluent to the desired location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for diluting a produced fluid, comprising:
 an artificial lift system deployed downhole in a wellbore to pump fluid along a well fluid flow path;   a diluent tubing providing a diluent flow path routed to deliver a diluent to the artificial lift system, the diluent flow path being separate from the well fluid flow path; and   a flow control unit positioned along the diluent flow path to selectively allow flow of diluent upon application of a sufficient pressure differential at the flow control unit.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flow control unit comprises a cup packer disposed along the diluent tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flow control unit comprises an inflatable packer disposed along the diluent tubing. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flow control unit comprises an inflatable balloon disposed along the diluent tubing. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flow control unit comprises a ball valve disposed along the diluent tubing. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the artificial lift system comprises an electric submersible pumping system. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the well fluid flow path is along an interior of a tubing and the diluent tubing is positioned within the interior of the tubing. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein an intake of the artificial lift system and the flow control unit are positioned on opposite sides of a packer expanded into sealing engagement with the tubing. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tubing is part of an upper completion engaged with a lower completion in a wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 positioning an artificial lift system within a tubing of a completion located downhole in a wellbore;   providing a diluent flow path along the completion so as to enable delivery of a diluent to an intake of the artificial lift system; and   using a flow control unit positioned along the diluent flow path to selectively allow or prevent flow of the diluent to the artificial lift system.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising operating the flow control unit by applying a pressure differential to the flow control unit. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein providing comprises providing the diluent flow path along a diluent tubing positioned within an interior of the tubing. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising operating the artificial lift system to produce a well fluid up through the tubing along an exterior of the diluent tubing. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein positioning comprises positioning an electric submersible pumping system within the tubing. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a completion disposed in a borehole;   a diluent tubing routed along an interior of the completion; and   a flow control unit mounted along the diluent tubing to control flow of a diluent to a desired location along the completion, the flow control unit being actuated via pressure applied along the interior of the completion.   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising an electric submersible pumping system, the diluent tubing being routed to direct the diluent to an intake of the electric submersible pumping system. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the flow control unit comprises a ball valve disposed along the diluent tubing. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the flow control unit comprises a cup packer disposed along the diluent tubing. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the flow control unit comprises an inflatable packer disposed along the diluent tubing. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the flow control unit comprises an inflatable balloon disposed along the diluent tubing.