EP0322958A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and appararus for producing viscous crudes
Assignee: Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
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Filing: 1988-12-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-12-16
Abstract
Abstract To assist submersible pumps (13) in producing highly viscous crudes (27) from oil wells, injection water (32) is conveyed to the pump assembly (10), injected into the crude, and mixed with it to form an oil-in-water emulsion. This effectively decreases the viscosity of the produced fluid and helps to control pump operating temperatures. The water injection is done in a shroud (20) at the base of the submersible pump.
Inventors
- 👤 David William Thomas
- 👤 Robert Scott Corby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:46
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/02; E21B43/00; E21B43/12; E21B43/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for producing viscous crudes from a producing wellbore, comprising: - a submersible pump lift system; - a shroud having an inlet for reservoir fluids containing such viscous crudes, said shroud substantially surrounding an inlet of said submersible pump lift system; - a water conduit for conducting water from the surface to said shroud inlet, and - means connected to said water conduit for injecting water therefrom into said shroud crude inlet for mixing such water with reservoir fluids coming in through said crude inlet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for producing viscous crudes from a producing wellbore, comprising: - a submersible pump lift system; - a shroud having an inlet for reservoir fluids containing such viscous crudes, said shroud substantially surrounding an inlet of said submersible pump lift system; - a water conduit for conducting water from the surface to said shroud inlet, and - means connected to said water conduit for injecting water therefrom into said shroud crude inlet for mixing such water with reservoir fluids coming in through said crude inlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said shroud further comprises means for conducting the mixed water and reservoir fluids in contact with the motor of said pump system to assist in cooling said motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising mixing means in said shroud for mixing such injected water with the reservoir fluids upstream from the inlet of said pump system to produce a substantially homogeneous mixture of oil dispersed in water for introduction into said pump system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said mixing means further comprises a static mixer.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of any preceding claim, comprising: - an electrical submersible pump lift system; - a substantially cylindrical shroud having an inlet on the bottom thereof for reservoir fluids containing such viscous crudes, said shroud substantially surrounding said electrical submersible pump system and extending downwardly therebeneath; and - a static mixer in said shroud for mixing injected water with the reservoir fluids above and upstream from the inlet to said electrical submersible pump system to produce a substantially homogeneous mixture of oil dispersed in water for introduction into said pump system.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
90 words
A method using a submersible pump lift system for producing viscous crudes from a producing wellbore, comprising: a) inducing an artificial water-cut into the viscous crudes to decrease the effects of viscosity on the components of the submersible pump lift system; b) by means of the induced artificial water-cut, increasing the volume and heat capacity of the fluids in contact with the motor of the submersible pump lift system to reduce its operating temperature; and c) producing the injected water and the viscous crudes through the submersible pump lift system.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
90 words
A method using a submersible pump lift system for producing viscous crudes from a producing wellbore, comprising: a) inducing an artificial water-cut into the viscous crudes to decrease the effects of viscosity on the components of the submersible pump lift system; b) by means of the induced artificial water-cut, increasing the volume and heat capacity of the fluids in contact with the motor of the submersible pump lift system to reduce its operating temperature; and c) producing the injected water and the viscous crudes through the submersible pump lift system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of Claim 6 wherein said step of inducing an artificial water-cut further comprises injecting water into the crude inlet at the base of a shroud which substantially surrounds the submersible pump lift system to mix the water with viscous crudes coming in therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of Claim 6 further comprising intimately mixing sufficient water with the viscous crudes to create a water-wet emulsion, thereby reducing viscosity effects on the pump impellers and increasing heat transfer from the motor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of Claim 8 wherein said intimate mixing step further comprises jetting the water into the viscous crude to draw the viscous crude into the inlet of the shroud.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 8 wherein said intimate mixing step further comprises causing the mixture of the viscous crude and the injected water to flow through a static mixer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of Claim 6 further comprising starting up the electrical submersible pump with a substantially 100% water-cut.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of Claim 6 further comprising adding chemicals to the injected water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of Claim 12 wherein said step of adding chemicals to the injected water further comprises adding chemicals for scale inhibition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of Claim 12 wherein said step of adding chemicals to the injected water further comprises adding chemicals for corrosion control.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of Claim 12 wherein said step of adding chemicals to the injected water further comprises adding chemicals for viscosity reduction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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