Patent ID: 7389816
Filing Date: 2008-06-24
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A process for downhole separation of water, oil, and gas within a well bore in a formation, the well bore having a casing and the well bore extending from a surface, comprising: providing a packing within the casing so as to provide substantial fluid isolation between a first vertical length of the casing and a second vertical length of the casing; allowing a mixture from the formation to enter the first vertical length of the casing; allowing the mixture to form a gas phase and a first liquid mixture in the first vertical length wherein the gas phase comprises a gas and the first liquid mixture comprises a liquid; providing a pump, the pump having a pump intake in the first vertical length; providing a pump discharge tubing from the pump that extends through the packing to the second vertical length; pumping the first liquid mixture from the first vertical length through the pump discharge tubing to the second vertical length so as to form a second liquid mixture in the second vertical length; allowing the second liquid mixture to form an oil phase and a water phase in the second vertical length; providing an oil tubing that extends from the oil phase to the surface to allow for production of the oil; regulating an oil flow from the oil phase to the surface so as to maintain an oil phase level; allowing water from the water phase to be discharged outside of the casing to a water disposal zone in the formation; providing a gas piping from the gas phase in the first vertical length to the surface to allow for the production of the gas to the surface; and regulating a gas flow from the gas phase in the first vertical length to the surface so as to maintain a back pressure in the first vertical length.