DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING LIQUIDS ACCUMULATED IN A WELL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid evacuation device for an extraction well. The device comprises a tank presenting a liquid accumulation area. The tank is connected to a gas evacuation tubing. An insulant limits a flow of fluid between a wall of the tank and a wall of the well, from a first space formed between the insulant and the well bottom to a second space formed between the insulant and the well head. A first opening on the tank enables circulation of a gas-liquid mixture from said first space to a third space formed in the gas evacuation tubing. A second opening on the tank enables circulation of fluid from said second space to the liquid accumulation area. The first opening is made between the liquid accumulation area and the connection to the evacuation tubing.

Claims

1. A liquid evacuation device capable of being positioned in an extraction well, the well comprising a well head and a well bottom, and in which the device comprises: a tank presenting a liquid accumulation area, said tank being able to be connected to a gas evacuation tubing positioned in the extraction well; an insulant able to limit a flow of a fluid between a wall of the tank and a wall of the well, from a first space formed between the insulant and the well bottom to a second space formed between the insulant and the well head; a first opening made on said tank enabling circulation of a gas-liquid mixture from said first space to a third space formed in the gas evacuation tubing; a second opening on said tank enabling circulation of fluid from said second space to the liquid accumulation area; and in which said first opening is made between the liquid accumulation area and the connection to the evacuation tubing.

2. The device according to claim 1, in which the device is arranged to enable circulation of a liquid from said gas-liquid mixture from said third space to the liquid accumulation area.

3. The device according to claim 1, in which a first injection tubing is connected to the second opening for gas injection directed to an end of the accumulation area, this end being opposite in the well from the connection to the evacuation tubing.

4. The device according to claim 1, in which a second injection tubing is connected to the first opening for directed injection of the gas-liquid mixture to the inside of the connected evacuation tubing.

5. The device according to claim 4, in which a non-return device is disposed on the second injection tubing to limit the circulation of at least one liquid towards the first space.

6. The device according to claim 1, in which a non-return device is disposed on the first opening.

7. The device according to claim 1, in which at least one part of the tank is extractable through the inside of the connected gas evacuation tubing, said at least one extractable part comprising the first opening and the second opening.

8. The device according to claim 1, in which the tank comprises a horizontal sub-part.

9. The device according to claim 1, in which a length of a bottom of said tank at the first opening is over twice the height according to a gravity axis between said lank bottom and the first opening.

10. A method for evacuating liquid from an extraction well, the well comprising a well head and a well bottom, a tank presenting a liquid accumulation area, and a gas evacuation tubing connected to the tank; and an insulant limiting a flow of a fluid between a wall of the tank and a wall of the well, from a first space formed between the insulant and the well bottom to a second space formed between the insulant and the well head; in which the method comprises: circulating a gas-liquid mixture through a first opening made in said tank, the circulation of said mixture being done from said first space to a third space formed in the gas evacuation tubing, the first opening being made between the liquid accumulation area and the connection to the evacuation tubing; separating, at least partial, of a liquid from said mixture in said gas evacuation tubing; displacing of said separated liquid using gravitational force towards the liquid accumulation area; injecting the fluid through a second opening in said tank from said second space to the liquid accumulation area, said injecting being capable of evacuating at least part of the liquid accumulated in the accumulation area via the evacuation tubing.

11. The method according to claim 10, in which injecting the fluid through a second opening is carried out upon detection of a drop in pressure in the gas evacuation tubing.

12. The method according to claim 10, in which injecting the fluid through a second opening is carried out upon detection of a drop in pressure in the gas evacuation tubing below a predetermined pressure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0070] FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate particular realizations of the liquid accumulation and extraction device in two particular embodiments of the invention;

[0071] FIG. 2 illustrates different fluid circulations during operation in a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0072] FIG. 3 illustrates a possible pressure curve during operation in a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0073] FIG. 1a illustrates a particular realization of the liquid accumulation and extraction device in a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0074] The evacuation device of FIG. 1 is positioned in a pre-drilled extraction well 112. Most often, the walls of this well 101 are reinforced using metal or concrete structures, or casings.

[0075] In particular, for reasons of safety and/or operation, tubing 102 is inserted into this well to evacuate the production fluids (for ex., hydrocarbon or gas).

[0076] At the level of the underground hydrocarbon reserve (geological formations containing liquid/gaseous hydrocarbons), walls 101 of the well are pierced/perforated (see completion 103) to allow the fluid of interest to penetrate into the wall and thus facilitate its extraction. It is assumed in the following that this fluid of interest is a gas, but this fluid of interest may very well apply to other fluids, including liquids.

[0077] A “well head” is the area of the ground at the level of which the wall was drilled. A “well bottom” is a lower end of the well or the part that is farthest from the well head (often single, except in the event of bifurcation in the well).

[0078] In well 112, it is possible to connect an accumulation tank (104 and 105) to the evacuation tubing 102. This tank comprises a sub-part 104 comprising a liquid accumulation area 109. Advantageously, this sub-part 104 extends along the well to the bottom of the well in order to have the largest possible volume within accumulation area 109. In addition, the walls of the accumulation area (or the walls of the tank) are close to the wall 101 of the well. In fact, increasing the flow velocity of the production gas in the annular area (i.e., between the wall of the well and the wall of the tank) is useful to promote the effect of entrainment of liquids present at the well bottom by the production gas. For example, the distance between wall 101 and the wall of accumulation area 104 may correspond to 10% of the well diameter.

[0079] Advantageously, sub-part 105 of the tank can be detached from evacuation tubing 102 and sub-part 104 of the tank comprising accumulation area 109. This detachment may be carried out even while the collection and extraction device of the invention is in place in the well, thanks to tools lowered into evacuation tubing 102. Once detached, this part can be raised within evacuation tubing 102.

[0080] It is also possible to fix an insulant, or packer, 106 to the tank 105 enabling any flow of fluid between the wall of the tank (105 or 104) and the wall of well 101 to be limited.

[0081] This flow limitation can be complete or partial (for ex., presence of a valve on the insulant).

[0082] Thus the insulant defines two annular spaces in the well: A first space 107 formed between insulant 106 and the well bottom 118 and a second space 108 formed between insulant 106 and the well head.

[0083] In the extractable sub-part 105 (or upper part of the tank), it is possible to provide a first opening 117a to enable circulation of the mixture formed by the production gas and liquids from annular space 107 to the inside of the tank (105, 104) or to the inside 110 of evacuation tubing 102 connected to the tank.

[0084] Advantageously, it is possible to provide tubing 117b enabling this mixture to be directed in a vertical direction (or towards the well head). This tubing 117b penetrates into evacuation tubing 102 or stops before entering.

[0085] In addition, it is possible to install, at one end of tubing 117b or at opening 117a, a valve 119, for example a non-return valve, to limit or prevent the passage of liquid from inside the tank (104, 105) or from inside the evacuation tubing 102 to the annular area 107.

[0086] The first opening 117a is advantageously situated relatively high in the tank, but before the insulant 106. In fact, its high position enables the capacity of accumulation area 109 to be increased. Of course, if tubing 117b is installed on this opening, it is possible to increase the storage capacity of accumulation area 109 by placing the upper end of this tubing higher than the height of the first opening. In any event, one seeks to place the first opening 117a between the liquid accumulation area 109 and the connection to the evacuation tubing (represented by line 111).

[0087] A second opening 116a on the tank (for example, in extractable sub-part 105) may be provided to enable injection of gas (air, nitrogen or a gas that is neutral in relation to hydrocarbons or the gas present) from annular space 108 to the tank or more specifically to liquid accumulation area 109.

[0088] In addition, injection tubing 116b may be provided to be connected to this opening 116a. This tubing 116b may advantageously extend to the tank bottom, i.e., to the area close to bottom 118. A non-return valve 113 may be installed at one end of tubing 116b or at opening 116a or at any location on tubing 116b.

[0089] Advantageously, the first opening 117a (respectively the second opening 116a) is situated on the part of the extractable tank 105.

[0090] Evacuation tubing 102 may comprise gas injection valves or gas-lift valves (GLV) (114, 115) on its wall enabling a column of liquid rising in tubing 102 to be lightened, if necessary.

[0091] In the embodiment presented, well 112 is a deviated well. Of course, this embodiment also operates for a vertical well or a well comprising a horizontal or substantially horizontal part. The installation of such a device in a well comprising a horizontal area may prevent opening 117a from being situated too high (on the gravity, or vertical, axis) in relation to the well bottom while allowing the accumulation area 109 to be large. Preventing opening 117a from being too high in relation to the well bottom in fact limits production gas energy loss (and therefore its pressure) during entrainment of liquid into annular area 107: the higher this opening is situated in relation to the well bottom (or in relation to its lowest point), the more the production gas will have to provide energy to the suspended/entrained liquid in order to “compensate” for its potential energy and thus make it enter by opening 117a.

[0092] For example, length L.sub.R of tank bottom 118 at opening 117a (or at the upper end of tubing 117b) is advantageously greater than N times (N being a real number equal to or greater than 2) the height H.sub.R along the vertical (i.e. according to the gravity axis) between tank bottom 118 and opening 117a (or the upper end of tubing 117b).

[0093] FIG. 1b illustrates another particular realization of the liquid accumulation and extraction device in a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0094] This embodiment includes essentially all of the characteristics of FIG. 1a, but certain differences are noted. Each of the differences presented below can be found separately in different embodiments.

[0095] In this embodiment, the non-return valve 113 may be installed at opening 116a as presented above.

[0096] Also, it is possible to provide a spill point (small-diameter calibrated orifice) 120 downstream from the non-return valve 113 on tubing 116b so that the gas trapped downstream from the valve, trapped in tubing 116b, can escape when the tank and first injection tubing are filled.

[0097] In addition, in this embodiment, the device does not comprise tubing 117b. The non-return valve 119 is assembled directly on opening 117a.

[0098] Advantageously, evacuation tubing 102 has a similar diameter to the tank. In fact, in the context of this invention, the size of the evacuation tubing does not have to be particularly reduced, in advance, to have flow speeds enabling good liquid lifting by gas. A large diameter may also present several advantages during the life of the well. First (before the device that is the object of this invention is used), a large diameter can avoid an important restriction to production, during the period when the well is capable of producing alone. Then, when the device is used, a large diameter can be more favorable to separation between gas and liquids.

[0099] FIG. 2 illustrates different fluid (liquids, gaseous, mixed) circulations during operation of the device in a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0100] These circulations visualize the operation of the device as described in relation to FIG. 1. Fig. references not mentioned in FIG. 2 or identical to FIG. 1 refer to the same elements or to similar elements in both FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0101] Once the production fluids have infiltrated into the well by completions 103 (and particularly into annular space 107), these fluids displace (arrow 201) along the tank installed in the well. In this area, the gas velocity is particularly increased due to narrowing of the space available at this level of the well: Flow acceleration promotes entrainment of liquids or other particles present at the well bottom in the annular space.

[0102] Due to the presence of insulant 106, the gas (or more specifically the mixture formed by the production gas and liquids) cannot circulate in the annular space above (according to the descending z axis) this insulant and then penetrate into the first opening (arrow 202).

[0103] Following the path of tubing 117b, the gas-liquid mixture is then distributed (arrow 203) in the tank. Of course, it is possible to distribute this gas-liquid mixture directly into evacuation tubing 102. The gas-liquid mixture can be directed in one vertical direction, but it can also be directed in another direction depending on the technical implementation options. For example, if the end of tubing 117b has a non-return valve, it may be appropriate to direct the gas-liquid mixture flow directly to the evacuation tubing. If the end of tubing 117b has a “conical hat” (as represented in FIG. 2, this conical hat prevents any flow of liquid flowing by gravity into tubing 117b from evacuation tubing 102), it may be appropriate to direct the gas-liquid mixture flow downward, i.e., towards the bottom of the tank.

[0104] In the case of FIG. 1b (i.e., in which there is no tubing 117b), the method is substantially the same. Due to gravity, the liquids contained in the mixture entering at input 117a will, at least partly, be directed to accumulation area 109, the gas itself naturally being driven upward.

[0105] A liquid-gas separation device may also be installed at the end of tubing 117b or on opening 117a (whether tubing 117 exists or not).

[0106] In any case, the liquid from the liquid-gas mixture tends to separate from the mixture (either by condensation or by simple gravity applied to droplets of liquid already present in the liquid). Because of this, at least part of the liquid can be directed towards the bottom of the tank (arrow 205a), to accumulation area 109.

[0107] Gas issued from this separation (which may still include part of the liquid) is directed (arrow 204a, 204b) to evacuation well 102 due to the natural pressure at the well bottom.

[0108] Of course, the liquid still present in the gas evacuated by the evacuation tubing can form on the walls of the evacuation tubing, by condensation for example, and slide along these walls (arrows 205b). The droplets of liquid can therefore displace by gravity towards the accumulation area. Advantageously, the section of the top end of tubing 117b is small (for ex., above a ratio of 2) in relation to the section of the evacuation tubing to limit the return of liquid into tubing 117b. In addition, it may be advantageous that projection on a horizontal plane of the section of tubing 117b does not intersect with the projection of the section of tubing 102 in the same plane: in particular, the liquid droplets sliding along the wall of tubing 102 cannot go back into tubing 117b by gravity.

[0109] The accumulation area fills with liquid as the fluids circulate as described above. Advantageously, this accumulation limits pressure losses particularly connected to the friction of liquids in/on the operating gas and to the vertical entrainment of liquids. In addition, the liquids present in the accumulation area do not exert back pressure that could limit or prohibit any infiltration of gas in the well.

[0110] Of course, the capacity of the accumulation area is not limitless. If it is possible to increase this capacity, particularly by increasing the length L.sub.R of the tank (while limiting, as far as possible, increasing the height H.sub.R), there comes a time when the accumulation area is saturated (i.e., the surface of accumulated liquids is for example at height z.sub.max) and the fluids thus accumulated need to be evacuated.

[0111] Thus, when an operator wishes to evacuate the liquids accumulated in the tank, he can put, from the surface, annular space 108 under pressure using a compressor (possibly shared between several wells). This pressurization enables the gas contained in the annular space to be injected at high velocity into tubing 116b through opening 116a (arrows 206a and 206b). When the gas exits tubing 116b (arrow 206c), the gas will push the liquids from accumulation area 109 vertically in the well into extraction tubing 102. The gas flow is sufficiently high that the liquids are “swept” (arrow 207) through evacuation tubing 102. If the pressure induced in accumulation area by this sudden injection of gas exceeds the production pressure at arrow 203, it is then advantageous to have a non-return valve, or check valve, at the end of tubing 117b or at opening 117a in order to block automatically the circulation of fluid towards annular space 107.

[0112] FIG. 3 illustrates a possible pressure curve 300 during operation in a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0113] This pressure curve can be established, in particular, by using sensors in the well, in evacuation well 102 for example. Advantageously, these sensors are situated at the well head, because it can be difficult to lower and permanently install sensors at a great depth.

[0114] During the accumulation area 109 filling phase, the pressure P at the sensors remains substantially constant (level part 301) equal to P.sub.nom: In fact, liquids, which can reduce the production gas pressure, systematically accumulate in a “neutral” area, outside the gas circulation path (i.e., in accumulation area 109).

[0115] When the level of accumulated liquid exceeds height z.sub.max, the pressure P starts to drop (between points 302 and 303), since the fluids then hinder the production gas circulation. It may happen that the gas circulation completely stops if the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid present above this height exceeds the gas pressure at the end of tubing 117b (a non-return valve positioned at this location then closes).

[0116] If a sudden drop in pressure P is detected from pressure P.sub.nom, it is possible to infer that the accumulated liquids exceed height z.sub.max. In addition, it may be desirable to wait until pressure P drops (point 303) below a predetermined value P.sub.min before taking any liquid evacuation action.

[0117] When it is decided that an accumulated liquid evacuation is desirable, gas can be suddenly injected into annular space 108 as described previously, in fact causing the expulsion of liquid out of the well via the evacuation tubing, thus reducing the quantity of accumulated liquid in the tank. This sudden gas injection causes a notable “erratic” variation in pressure (curve 304, for example).

[0118] Once this evacuation is performed (point 305), the production cycle starts again with a pressure stage 306 similar to stage 301.

[0119] This control of the liquid evacuation process can also be carried out using flow supervision and not pressure supervision.

[0120] In particular, when the gas flow lowers abnormally (i.e., below a given threshold value), this can mean that the level of liquid in the well is starting to surpass the point of entry of effluents into the device and thus begins to hydrostatically bear on the gas. Emptying the tank is then useful.

[0121] The end of the gas circulation to ensure emptying of the tank can be initiated when the liquid flow becomes low (or when the volume of liquid produced during the flushing corresponds to the volume of the accumulation area).

[0122] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; the invention extends to other variants.

[0123] Other embodiments are possible.

[0124] For example, the embodiments described present tubing connected to openings in the tank, but other embodiments without the presence of this tubing can be contemplated.