Inter-tandem pump intake

Claim 2

A downhole well pump assembly, comprising: a first pump section having an outlet and a production fluid intake for receiving a mixture of oil and water from a production zone; a second pump section having an outlet and an intake which is connected to the outlet of the first pump section; a first separator section having an inlet connected to the outlet of the second pump section for receiving and separating the oil and water, the first separator section having a water discharge and an oil outlet for discharging oil to flow to the surface; and a second separator section having an inlet connected to the water discharge for further separating oil from the water, a purer water outlet for discharging into a desired location and a less pure water outlet connected to the intake of the second pump section downstream of the first pump section for passing the less pure water back through the first and second separator sections.

Claim 3

A downhole well pump assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising: a third pump section connected to the oil outlet of the first separator section for assisting in pumping the oil to the surface.

Claim 4

A downhole well pump assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second pump sections are a located above said first and second separator sections and pump downward from the production fluid intake to the first separator section.

Claim 5

A downhole well pump assembly according to claim 1 wherein a single motor drives said first and said second pump sections.

Claim 6

A downhole well pump assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ratio (P 1 -P 3 )/(P 1 -P 2 ) is between approximately 1.7 and 4.0, wherein P 1 is defined as the pressure at the inlet to the second separator section; P 2 is defined as the pressure at the purer water outlet of the second separator section; and P 3 is defined as the pressure at the less pure outlet of the second separator section.

Claim 7

A downhole well pump assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising: a third pump section connected to the oil outlet of the first separator section for assisting in pumping the oil to the surface, wherein said third pump section is located above said first and second pump sections and pumps upward; said first pump section and said second pump section pump downward to said separators; and a single motor operates said first pump section, said second pump section, and said third pump section.

Claim 8

An assembly for use in a well containing a mixture of hydrocarbons and water wherein said assembly separates said hydrocarbons from said mixture, injects the heavier fluids into the well, and pumps the lighter fluids to the surface, said assembly comprising; a third pump section attached to a lower end of a production tubing inside of well casing; a motor operatively connected to said third pump section; a first pump section operatively connected to said motor, said first pump section having a well fluid intake for receiving well fluid; a second pump section affixed to a lower end of said first pump section, said second pump section receiving fluid from an inter-tandem intake between said first pump section and said second pump section; a first downhole separator section affixed to a lower end of said second pump section, said first downhole separator section being in communication with said third pump section by an oil bypass tube for transferring oil separated by the first downhole separating section to said third pump section for pumping the oil up the production tubing; a second downhole separator section affixed to a lower end of said first downhole separator section, said second downhole separator section having a purer water outlet discharging into a desired location and a less pure outlet connected to said inter-tandem intake downstream of the first pump section for passing the less pure water back through the first and second separator sections; and said less pure outlet of said second downhole separator section being in communication with said inter-tandem intake by a recycle tube.

Claim 9

An assembly for use in a well containing a mixture of hydrocarbons and water wherein said assembly separates said hydrocarbons from said mixture, injects the heavier fluids into the well, and pumps the lighter fluids to the surface, said assembly comprising; a third pump section attached to a lower end of a production tubing inside of well casing; a motor operatively connected to said third pump section; a first pump section operatively connected to said motor, said first pump section having a well fluid intake for receiving well fluid; a second pump section affixed to a lower end of said first pump section, said second pump section receiving fluid from an inter-tandem intake between said first pump section and said second pump section; a first downhole separator section affixed to a lower end of said second pump section, said first downhole separator section being in communication with said third pump section by an oil bypass tube for transferring oil separated by the first downhole separating section to said third pump section for pumping the oil up the production tubing; a second downhole separator section affixed to a lower end of said first downhole separator section, said second downhole separator section having a purer water outlet discharging into a desired location and a less pure outlet connected to said inter-tandem intake downstream of the first pump section for passing the less pure water back through the first and second separator sections; and said less pure outlet of said second downhole separator section being in communication with said inter-tandem intake by a recycle tube.

Claim 10

A downhole well pump assembly according to claim 7 wherein the ratio (P 1 -P 3 )/(P 1 -P 2 ) is between approximately 1.7 and 4.0, wherein P 1 is defined as the pressure at the inlet to the second separator section; P 2 is defined as the pressure at the purer water outlet of the second separator section; and P 3 is defined as the pressure at the less pure outlet of the second separator section.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 9 wherein said one of said pump sections receiving said discharge of said less pure water is said second pump section.

Claim 14

The method according to claim 9 , further comprising: connecting a third pump section to the oil outlet of the first separator section for assisting in pumping the oil to the surface.

Claim 15

The method according to claim 9 , further comprising: connecting a third pump section to the oil outlet of the first separator section for assisting in pumping the oil to the surface; pumping oil upwards to the surface from said third pump section; pumping said oil and water from said production zone downwards from said first pump section and said second pump section to said separator sections; and operating said first pump section, said second pump section, and said third pump section with a single motor.