Patent ID: 6080312
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: B04C,E21B

Abstract:
Apparatus disposed downhole in a well, comprising:a tubular housing having a production fluid chamber which is in fluid communication with, and at least partially flooded with, production fluids produced in the well, wherein the housing has an outside diameter which is at least substantially equal to the difference between the diameter of an oil well casing and a running clearance of approximately one-eighth of an inch for insertion of the housing within the well casing;a hydrocyclone assembly disposed within the production fluid chamber for separating the production fluids into a more dense overflow fluid stream and a less dense underflow fluid stream, said assembly having a separation chamber with a head portion in the form of an axially extending surface of revolution of substantially uniform configuration and a contiguous tail portion in the form of an axially extending surface of revolution of generally tapered configuration, said head portion being of greater diameter than said tail portion and having a tangential production fluid inlet for the flow of production fluids into the separation chamber and an overflow outlet for the flow of the overflow fluid stream from the separation chamber, said tail portion having an underflow outlet for flow of the underflow fluid stream from said separation chamber;an overflow fluid manifold extending through said housing and connected to said overflow outlet for receiving the overflow fluid stream from said hydrocyclone assembly;an underflow fluid manifold extending through said housing and connected to said underflow outlet for receiving the underflow fluid stream from said hydrocyclone assembly.