Density based downhole fluid separator that creates artificial gravity

Abstract

A fluid separator system may include a separator housing, a turbine chamber formed within the separator housing, and a fluid inlet configured to receive formation fluid and direct the formation fluid into the turbine chamber. The formation fluid may include oil and water. The fluid separator system may also include a turbine disposed within the turbine chamber and configured to rotate to at least partially separate the formation fluid into formation oil and formation water. Additionally, the fluid separator system may include an oil outlet configured to receive the formation oil separated from the formation fluid and direct the formation oil toward an upper production tubing and a water outlet configured to receive the formation water separated from the formation fluid and direct the formation water out of the separator housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid separator system, comprising:
 a separator housing;   a turbine chamber formed within the separator housing;   a fluid inlet configured to receive formation fluid and direct the formation fluid into the turbine chamber, wherein the formation fluid includes oil and water;   a turbine disposed within the turbine chamber, wherein the turbine is configured to rotate to at least partially separate the formation fluid into formation oil and formation water;   an oil outlet configured to receive the formation oil separated from the formation fluid and direct the formation oil toward an upper production tubing; and   a water outlet configured to receive the formation water separated from the formation fluid and direct the formation water out of the separator housing.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid separator system of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine is configured to rotate at a speed above a threshold speed to generate artificial gravity for the formation fluid disposed in the turbine chamber, and wherein the artificial gravity is configured to separate the formation oil of the formation fluid from the formation water of the formation fluid based on density. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid separator system of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine includes a base portion and a bladed portion, wherein a radially outer surface of the base portion includes a cylindrical shape, and wherein the bladed portion includes a plurality of blades secured to the radially outer surface of the base portion. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid separator system of  claim 3 , wherein the base portion includes a hollow central portion, and wherein the oil outlet is disposed within the hollow central portion of the base portion of the turbine. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid separator system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet includes an inlet nozzle configured accelerate the flow rate of the formation fluid passing through the fluid inlet and to direct the flow of the formation fluid toward the turbine, and wherein a force exerted on at least one blade of the turbine via the flow of the formation fluid is configured to drive rotation of the turbine within the turbine chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid separator system of  claim 5 , wherein the turbine is disposed in the turbine chamber in a position axially between the inlet nozzle and the water outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid separator system of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor configured to drive rotation of the turbine. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid separator system of  claim 1 , wherein a lower axial end of the turbine is axially offset from a bottom surface of the turbine chamber to form a lower flow path for the formation oil to flow across the turbine to the oil outlet, and wherein an upper axial end of the turbine is axially offset from a top surface of the turbine chamber to form an upper flow path for the formation oil to flow across the turbine to the oil outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid separator system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator housing is configured to be positioned within a multilateral well at a junction between a main bore and at least one lateral bore of the multilateral well. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid separator system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator housing is configured to be positioned within a vertical portion of a multilateral well. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid separator system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator housing is disposed within an assembly housing of a fluid separator assembly, wherein the assembly housing includes a hollow interior extending through the assembly housing, and wherein the separator housing is secured within the hollow interior of the assembly housing. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid separator system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid separator assembly further includes a pump disposed within the assembly housing, wherein the water outlet is fluidly coupled to the pump, and wherein the pump is configured to drive the formation water separated from the formation fluid out of the assembly housing. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid separator system of  claim 11 , wherein the assembly housing further includes at least one oil outlet line extending through the assembly housing, wherein the oil outlet line is configured to fluidly couple the oil outlet with the upper production tubing. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid separator system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet is configured fluidly connect a lower production tubing to the turbine chamber, wherein the fluid inlet is configured to receive the formation fluid from the lower production tubing and direct the formation fluid into the turbine chamber. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 an assembly housing;   a fluid separator positioned within the assembly housing, wherein the fluid separator comprises:
 a separator housing; 
 a turbine chamber formed within the separator housing; 
 a fluid inlet configured to receive formation fluid via a lower production tubing and direct the formation fluid into the turbine chamber, wherein the formation fluid includes oil and water; 
 a turbine disposed within the turbine chamber, wherein the turbine is configured to rotate above a threshold speed to generate artificial gravity for the formation fluid disposed in the turbine chamber, wherein the artificial gravity is configured to at least partially separate the formation fluid into formation water and formation oil; 
 an oil outlet configured to receive the formation oil separated from the formation fluid and direct the formation oil toward an upper production tubing secured to an uphole end of the assembly housing; and 
 a water outlet configured to receive the formation water separated from the formation fluid and direct the formation water out of the separator housing; and 
   an electrical submersible pump positioned within the assembly housing, wherein the water outlet is fluidly coupled to the electrical submersible pump, and wherein the electrical submersible pump is configured to drive the formation water separated from the formation fluid out of the assembly housing.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a second electrical submersible pump positioned within the assembly housing, wherein the oil outlet is fluidly coupled to the second electrical submersible pump, and wherein the second electrical submersible pump is configured to drive the formation oil separated from the formation fluid toward the upper production tubing. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of fluid separators disposed within the assembly housing, wherein the fluid separators of the plurality of fluid separators are connected to the lower production tubing in parallel. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of fluid separators disposed within the assembly housing, wherein the fluid separators of the plurality of fluid separators are connected to the lower production tubing in series. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a water outlet line and a one-way check valve disposed within the water outlet line, wherein the electrical submersible pump is fluidly connected to an annulus of a main bore of a multilateral well via the water outlet line, and wherein the one-way check valve is configured to prevent water from flowing back into the fluid separator. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 drawing a formation fluid into a fluid separator, wherein the fluid separator comprises:
 a separator housing; 
 a turbine chamber formed within the housing; 
 a fluid inlet configured to receive formation fluid and direct the formation fluid into the turbine chamber, wherein the formation fluid includes oil and water; 
 a turbine disposed within the turbine chamber, wherein the turbine is configured to rotate to at least partially separate the formation fluid into formation water and formation oil; 
 an oil outlet configured to receive the formation oil separated from the formation fluid and direct the formation oil toward an upper production tubing; and 
 a water outlet configured to receive the formation water separated from the formation fluid and direct the formation water out of the separator housing; 
   separating the formation oil of the formation fluid from the formation water of the formation fluid via artificial gravity generated via rotation of the turbine;   drawing the formation oil separated from the formation fluid to a surface via the upper production tubing; and   expelling the formation water from the fluid separator and into an annulus of a main bore and/or a lateral bore of a multilateral well.