Downhole gas separator apparatus

Abstract

A downhole gas separator apparatus for separating gas from liquids during extraction of oil from the ground is disclosed. The apparatus can be used for high angle or horizontal wells, as well as low angle or vertical wells. The dimensions can vary to be used for extra heavy oil as well as light crude oil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole gas separator apparatus comprising:
 an external element comprising an external element outer wall, an external element inner wall, an external element top end, an external element bottom end, an external element interior cavity, a seal that prevents the flow of fluid into the external element interior cavity from the external element bottom end and a plurality of external element intake ports around the circumference of the external element substantially toward the top end of the external element; and   an internal element comprising an internal element outer wall, an internal element inner wall, an internal element top end, an internal element bottom end, an internal element interior cavity and a plurality of internal element intake ports around the circumference of the internal element substantially toward the bottom end of the internal element;   
       wherein the external element is disposed within the interior of a production casing with the external element top end below the intake of a pump that forms part of an artificial lift pumping system of a producing oil well, wherein the external element outer wall and the inner wall of the production casing form a first eccentric annulus; 
       wherein the internal element is disposed within the external element interior cavity, wherein the internal cavity outer wall and the external cavity inner wall form a second eccentric annulus, 
       wherein the internal element top end is connected to the pump intake. 
     
     
         2 . The downhole gas separator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first eccentric annulus is placed in an offset position related to the production casing. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole gas separator apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the internal element is placed in an offset position in relation to the external element to form the second eccentric annulus. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole gas separator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the internal element exterior wall comprises a plurality of elements that create turbulence in a fluid that flows through the second eccentric annulus. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole gas separator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a sucker rod pump, a progressing cavity pump or an electric submersible pump. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole gas separator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the producing oil well comprises a high angle well, a horizontal well, a low angle well or a vertical well. The dimensions can vary to be used for extra heavy oil as well as light crude oil 
     
     
         7 . A method of separating gas and liquid flowing upward through the production casing of a producing oil well, comprising:
 disposing a downhole gas separator apparatus into the interior of the production casing of a producing oil well below the intake of a pump that forms part of an artificial lift pumping system of the producing oil well, wherein the downhole gas separator apparatus comprises:
 an external element comprising an external element outer wall, an external element inner wall, an external element top end, an external element bottom end, an external element interior cavity, a seal that prevents the flow of fluid into the external element interior cavity from the external element bottom end and a plurality of external element intake ports around the circumference of the external element substantially toward the top end of the external element; and 
 an internal element comprising an internal element outer wall, an internal element inner wall, an internal element top end, an internal element bottom end, an internal element interior cavity and a plurality of internal element intake ports around the circumference of the internal element substantially toward the bottom end of the internal element; 
   wherein the external element outer wall and the inner wall of the production casing form a first eccentric annulus;   wherein the internal element is disposed within the external element interior cavity,   wherein the internal cavity outer wall and the external cavity inner wall form a second eccentric annulus,   wherein the internal element top end is connected to the pump intake;   flowing a multiphase fluid comprising gas and oil upward through the first eccentric annulus between the inner wall of the production casing and the external element outer wall, during which time gas separates from the multiphase fluid;   diverting the flowing multiphase fluid into the second eccentric annulus through the external element intake ports;   diverting the flowing multiphase fluid into the internal element interior cavity through the internal element intake ports; and   feeding the flowing multiphase fluid into the pump intake at the internal element top end;   wherein gas that separates from the multiphase fluid flows upward through the production casing and is released;   wherein the multiphase fluid that reaches the pump intake comprises less gas than the multiphase fluid that entered the first eccentric annulus.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first eccentric annulus is placed in an offset position related to the production casing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the internal element is placed in an offset position in relation to the external element to form the second eccentric annulus. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the internal element exterior wall comprises a plurality of elements that create turbulence in a fluid that flows through the second eccentric annulus. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the pump comprises a sucker rod pump, a progressing cavity pump or an electric submersible pump. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the producing oil well comprises a high angle well, a horizontal well, a low angle well or a vertical well. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the multiphase fluid comprises extra heavy oil. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the multiphase fluid comprises light crude oil.