Patent ID: 6079491
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A downhole oil and water separation system for conducting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and injecting, without conducting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water below the ground surface, the system comprising:a casing having two spaced intervals and extending from the ground surface downwardly such that a first of said two spaced intervals communicates with a producing zone and a second of said two spaced intervals communicates with an injection zone;a rod-driven progressive cavity pump and an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump disposed in said casing, wherein said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is not drivingly coupled to said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump;a packer disposed within said casing between said first of said two spaced intervals and said second of said two spaced intervals, wherein said casing and said packer are configured to permit the produced fluids to collect above said packer whereby the produced hydrocarbons and produced water segregate under influence of gravity;a tubing extending from the ground surface downwardly within said casing;a branch conduit coupled to said tubing, wherein said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump is disposed in said branch conduit and said rod-driven progressive cavity pump is disposed in said tubing;a first inlet for permitting the segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of the produced water to enter said rod-driven progressive cavity pump; anda second inlet for permitting the segregated produced water to enter said electrical submersible progressive cavity pump.