Downhole Sand Separating Apparatus with Erosion Resistant Centrifugal Separator

Abstract

A sand separating apparatus for use with a production tubing string includes (i) a housing assembly forming an outer tubular and (ii) an inner tubular within the housing assembly to define an annular passage between the inner tubular and the housing assembly. A helical member occupies part of the annular passage below production openings in the housing assembly whereby a flow of production fluids entering from the wellbore is directed downwardly along a helical path within the annular passage as dictated by the helical member and subsequently upwardly through the inner tubular. The helical member extends radially outwardly from the inner tubular beyond a boundary surface at an outer perimeter of the annular passage to prevent formation of a gap at the tip of the helical member as it wears. A fluid passage in alignment with the helical member extends radially from inside the inner tubular to the annular passage.

Claims

1. A sand separating apparatus for use with a production tubing string within a production wellbore, the apparatus comprising: a housing assembly arranged to be suspended from the tubing string, the housing assembly including a tubular passage extending axially through the housing assembly between a top end and a bottom end of the housing assembly, the bottom end being arranged to support an enclosed sand collector thereon; an inner tubular extending axially through the tubular passage between a top end of the inner tubular and a bottom end of the inner tubular in proximity to the bottom end of the housing assembly such that the inner tubular defines (i) an inner passage extending through the inner tubular and (ii) an annular passage between the inner tubular and the housing assembly; the inner passage of the inner tubular being arranged to communicate with the tubing string above the housing at the top end of the inner tubular and being in communication with the annular passage at the bottom end of the inner tubular; a helical member occupying a portion of the annular passage between the inner tubular and the housing assembly; and one or more production openings communicating between the annular passage above the helical member and a surrounding portion of the production wellbore whereby a flow of production fluids entering the one or more production openings from the wellbore is directed downwardly through the annular passage along a helical path dictated by the helical member and subsequently upwardly through the inner passage; the helical member extending radially outwardly from the inner tubular beyond an outer boundary surface defined on a boundary portion of the housing assembly.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the boundary portion of the housing assembly that defines the outer boundary surface of the annular passage at a location of the helical member includes a helical groove formed therein that receives an outer edge of the helical member therein.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the boundary portion of the housing assembly that defines the helical groove therein is an exterior boundary wall of the housing assembly.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the boundary portion of the housing assembly that defines the helical groove therein comprises a sleeve lining an exterior boundary wall of the housing assembly.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the sleeve is formed of a material that is harder than a material of the exterior boundary wall of the housing assembly.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the sleeve is readily replaceable relative to said exterior boundary wall of the housing assembly.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the sleeve is retained relative to said exterior boundary wall of the housing assembly by a threaded connection.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the helical groove extends radially fully through the sleeve such that the outer edge of the helical member is flush with an outer side surface of the sleeve.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein an axial thickness of the outer edge of the helical member forms an interference fit with a corresponding axial thickness of the helical groove.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the helical member is formed continuously and seamlessly as a unitary structure with the outer boundary surface on the boundary portion of the housing assembly.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the helical member, the outer boundary surface of the annular passage at the helical member and the inner tubular at the helical member comprise a singular casting.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid passage extending radially through the inner tubular in communication between the inner passage and the annular passage in proximity to the helical member.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the fluid passage is located in alignment with the helical member.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the fluid passage is elongated in a circumferential direction of the inner tubular.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the fluid passage is elongated in an axial direction of the inner tubular.

16. A sand separating apparatus for use with a production tubing string within a production wellbore, the apparatus comprising: a housing assembly arranged to be suspended from the tubing string, the housing assembly including a tubular passage extending axially through the housing assembly between a top end and a bottom end of the housing assembly, the bottom end being arranged to support an enclosed sand collector thereon; an inner tubular extending axially through the tubular passage between a top end of the inner tubular and a bottom end of the inner tubular in proximity to the bottom end of the housing assembly such that the inner tubular defines (i) an inner passage extending through the inner tubular and (ii) an annular passage between the inner tubular and the housing assembly; the inner passage of the inner tubular being arranged to communicate with the tubing string above the housing at the top end of the inner tubular and being in communication with the annular passage at the bottom end of the inner tubular; a helical member occupying a portion of the annular passage between the inner tubular and the housing assembly; one or more production openings communicating between the annular passage above the helical member and a surrounding portion of the production wellbore whereby a flow of production fluids entering the one or more production openings from the wellbore is directed downwardly through the annular passage along a helical path dictated by the helical member and subsequently upwardly through the inner passage; and a fluid passage extending radially through the inner tubular in communication between the inner passage and the annular passage in proximity to the helical member.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the fluid passage is located in proximity to a bottom end of the helical member.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the fluid passage is located in alignment with the helical member.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the fluid passage is elongated in a circumferential direction of the inner tubular.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the fluid passage is elongated in an axial direction of the inner tubular.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Various embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the sand separating apparatus supported on a production tubing string within a hydrocarbon wellbore according to a first embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a partly sectional, perspective view of the sand separating apparatus according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower section of the internal tubular of the sand separating apparatus according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an erosion sleeve received with the lower housing of the housing assembly of the sand separating apparatus according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the lower section of the internal tubular of the sand separating apparatus;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the lower section of the internal tubular of the sand separating apparatus;

[0043] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the lower section of the internal tubular of the sand separating apparatus;

[0044] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the lower section of the internal tubular of the sand separating apparatus;

[0045] FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the sand separating apparatus supported on a production tubing string within a hydrocarbon wellbore according to a further embodiment; and

[0046] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the helical member at a bottom end of the sand separating apparatus according to the embodiment of FIG. 9.

[0047] In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a downhole sand separating apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 is particularly suited for use within a hydrocarbon production wellbore 12 lined with an outer casing 14 including perforations therein in communication with a surrounding hydrocarbon formation so that produced hydrocarbon fluids flow into the wellbore. The produced fluids can include a mixture of gases, liquids and solids, in which the solids may include dense particles such as sand.

[0049] The apparatus 10 is typically supported on a production tubing string 16 supported within the outer casing 14 of the wellbore. The tubing string may comprise jointed tubing or a coiled tubing string extending downwardly into the wellbore from a wellhead at surface from which the tubing string is suspended in the usual manner. In the illustrated example, the production tubing string includes a downhole submersible pump 18 for lifting produced fluids up the tubing string for collection at the surface. The submersible pump 18 is connected in series with the tubing string in proximity to a bottom end of the tubing string.

[0050] According to the illustrated embodiment, the sand separating apparatus 10 is connected in series with the tubing string below the downhole pump 18 at the bottom end of the tubing string for separating out some of the denser solids such as sand before the produced fluids enter the pump to be pumped up to surface. The apparatus 10 generally includes a housing assembly that is connected in line with the tubing string 16. According to the illustrated embodiment, the housing assembly includes an upper housing 20 forming an upper portion of the apparatus, a lower housing 22 forming a lower portion of the apparatus, and a housing connector 24 forming a connection between the upper housing above and the lower housing below at an intermediate location along the apparatus. Each section of the housing assembly is a tubular body open at opposing top and bottom ends for communication of a tubular passage longitudinally through the housing assembly. Both ends of each portion of the housing assembly form a suitable threaded connection for joining to adjacent components of the housing assembly and/or the tubing string.

[0051] When the various components of the housing assembly are joined together, a top end of the upper housing 20 defines an upper connector 26 at a top end of the housing assembly. The upper connector 26 is an internally threaded collar arranged to be joined by threaded connection to the externally threaded male end at the bottom of the tubing string below the pump 18. Likewise, a bottom end of the lower housing 22 defines a lower connector 28 at the bottom end of the housing assembly. The lower connector 28 is an internally threaded collar arranged to be joined by threaded connection to the externally threaded male end at the top end of a series of one or more collector joints 30 below the apparatus. The overall connected components of the housing assembly define a tubular passage extending axially along a full length of the housing assembly between the upper connector 26 at the top end and the lower connector 28 at the bottom end.

[0052] The one or more collector joints 30 collectively define a sand collector supported below the apparatus 10. Each collector joint comprises a tubular housing having open top and bottom ends and a through passage communicating therethrough between the opposing ends. Threaded connections at opposing ends of each collector joint 30 allow multiple joints to be connected and joined in series with one another at the bottom end of the tubing string. A lowermost one of the collector joints 30 includes a lower plug 32 threaded therein which fully encloses the bottom end of the series of collector joints 30. In this manner the series of collector joints 30 define an enclosed volume suitable for collection and storage of separated solids therein during operation of the sand separating apparatus above. When the tubing string is periodically pulled up to surface for servicing, the one or more collector joints 30 can be removed and/or the lower plug 32 can be removed to allow removal and emptying of collected solid particles within the sand collector, followed by reassembly and reinsertion of the tubing string into the wellbore for continued use of the sand separating apparatus. More collector joints 30 can be connected in series with one another to increase the enclosed storage volume within the joints and therefore increase the capacity to collect sand between servicing operations of the tubing string if required.

[0053] The upper housing 20 is a straight section of tubular body locating the upper connector 26 at the top end thereof. A counterbore 34, that is reduced in diameter relative to the upper connector 26, extends downwardly through the upper housing 20 from the upper connector 26 so that an upper plug 36 can be inserted into the top end of the upper housing.

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment, a bottom end of the upper housing is externally threaded to form a male connector that forms a threaded connection with the internally threaded collar forming an upper connector 38 at the top end of the connector housing 24 as described in further detail below.

[0055] The upper housing includes a pair of production openings 39 located in diametrically opposed boundary walls of the housing at an intermediate location spaced longitudinally inward from both opposing ends of the housing. Each of the production openings is elongated in the axial direction and provides open communication from the interior passage of the housing assembly to the surrounding space between the tubing string and the outer casing. In this manner, produced fluids entering the wellbore from the hydrocarbon formation are in turn communicated into the interior of the housing assembly through the production openings 39 in the upper housing.

[0056] The upper plug 36 is a cylindrical body received within the counterbore 34 and locating a central passage 40 communicating axially therethrough as described in further detail below. The upper plug 36 is thus generally annular in shape. A set of annular perimeter seals 42 are received within corresponding grooves in the outer surface of the upper plug to provide a fluid tight seal between the upper plug 36 and the surrounding counterbore 34 of the upper housing.

[0057] The lower housing 22 is a straight section of tubular body locating the lower connector 28 at the bottom end thereof. A top end of the lower housing is externally threaded to form a male connector that forms a threaded connection with an internally threaded collar forming a lower connector 44 at the bottom end of the connector housing 24 as described in further detail below.

[0058] In the illustrated embodiment, an erosion sleeve 46 lines the inner surface of the lower housing 22 as described in further detail below.

[0059] The apparatus 10 further includes an inner tubular member that is suspended within the tubular passage extending axially through the housing assembly.

[0060] In the illustrated embodiment the inner tubular includes an upper section 48 primarily located within the upper housing 20 and a lower section 50 primarily located within the lower housing 22. The top end of the upper section 48 is externally threaded, forming a male connector for threaded connection into the central passage 40 within the upper plug 36. The opposing bottom end of the upper section 48 is also externally threaded, forming a male connector for threaded connection into a corresponding internally threaded collar formed at the top end of the lower section 50 therebelow. The lower section includes the internally threaded collar at the top end thereof and extends as a straight tube below the lower section such that an internal diameter of the lower section is approximately equal to the internal diameter of the upper section. The bottom end of the lower section 50 is an open end that remains in open communication with the tubular passage within the housing assembly therebelow.

[0061] When suspended within the housing assembly, the inner tubular effectively defines (i) an inner passage 52 of the apparatus which extends axially along a full-length of the inner tubular between an open top end and an open bottom end thereof, and (ii) an annular passage 54 surrounding the inner tubular in the space between the inner tubular and the surrounding housing assembly so as to be annular in shape while extending axially along a full length of the inner tubular. In the mounted position, the inner passage 52 within the interior of the inner tubular communicates through the central passage in the upper plug 36 for open communication with the interior of the tubing string extending above the apparatus. The bottom ends of both the inner passage 52 and the annular passage 54 are in open communication with the interior of the housing assembly therebelow such that the bottom ends of the inner and annular passages openly communicate with one another at the bottom end of the inner tubular.

[0062] The connector housing 24 includes (i) the upper connector 38 at the top end for connection to the upper housing 20 and (ii) the lower connector 44 at the bottom end for connection to the lower housing 22 as described above. The connector housing 24 further includes an annular inner collar 56 integral with the body of the connector housing and protruding radially inward from an inner surface of the connector housing immediately below the upper connector 38 to form an upper shoulder at the top side thereof against which the bottom end of the upper housing 20 can be abutted in the assembled configuration. An inner diameter of the inner collar 56 may be approximately equal to the inner diameter of the upper housing.

[0063] A counterbore 58 which is internally threaded is formed within the connector housing from the bottom end of the housing above the lower connector 44. The internal threading on the counterbore of reduced diameter relative to the lower connector defines an intermediate connector above the lower connector but below the inner collar 56. In this manner, when the lower housing 22 of the housing assembly is threaded into the lower connector 44, the erosion sleeve 46 that lines the lower housing can protrude upwardly above the top end of the lower housing so that an externally threaded connector at the top end of the erosion sleeve can be threaded into the internal threading of the counterbore 58 forming the intermediate connector of the connector housing.

[0064] The erosion sleeve 46 is a straight tubular sleeve having an outer diameter closely matching the inner diameter of the lower housing while spanning a majority of the length of the lower housing. The erosion sleeve is made of a harder material which is more wear resistant than the material forming the various sections of the housing assembly. In this manner the upper and lower housings of the housing assembly can be formed of a material having a greater tensile strength for carrying the weight of the apparatus and the sand collector therebelow while the erosion sleeve is relied on primarily for wear resistance.

[0065] The erosion sleeve 46 includes a helical groove 60 formed therein adjacent a bottom end of the sleeve 46 that corresponds approximately to the elevation of the lower end portion of the lower section 50 of the inner tubular. The helical groove is open to the inner surface of the sleeve while penetrating the full radial thickness of the sleeve.

[0066] The lower section 50 of the inner tubular includes a corresponding helical member 62 formed thereon. The helical member is a flange protruding radially outward from the inner tubular along a helical path forming two complete turns about the inner tubular. The helical member has a uniform thickness in the axial direction along the length and radial width thereof. The helical member spans a radial distance to an outer edge of the helical member corresponding to the radial dimension of the annular passage between the outer diameter of the inner tubular and the inner diameter of the lower housing 22.

[0067] The helical member 62 is mated with the helical groove 60 such that the helical member protrudes radially outward across the full thickness of the erosion sleeve. The pitch and length of the helical member matches the pitch and length of the helical groove. The thickness in the axial direction of the helical member is approximately equal to or slightly greater than the axial thickness of the groove to receive the outer edge of the helical member 62 within the helical groove 60 along the full length thereof by interference fit in the axial direction. The helical member thus forms a tight seal with the surrounding erosion sleeve along the full length of the helical flow path defined by the helical member 62. The helical member is a unitary body which is seamless and continuous with the lower section 50 of the inner tubular. The helical flow path defined by the helical member within the annular passage of the apparatus communicates openly with the annular passage of the upper housing 20 thereabove that is in open communication with the production openings 39 and communicates openly with the tubular passage within the housing assembly therebelow.

[0068] In the assembled configuration, an overall flow path is defined to allow produced fluids to enter the tubular housing through the production openings 39 in the upper housing 20 so that the produced fluids entering the annular passage of the upper housing are blocked from upward flow by the upper plug but communicate openly with the helical flow path of the helical member 62 therebelow. As the produced fluids flow downwardly through the helical flow path centrifugal forces urge denser solid particles including sand and the like to flow along an outer boundary surface 64 of the helical flow path. Upon exiting the bottom of the helical flow path, denser sand particles tend to settle by gravity along the outer boundary surface of the housing assembly and the sand collector below while the lighter gasses and liquids nearer to the inner tubular are more likely to be drawn upwardly through the inner passage of the inner tubular.

[0069] To assist lighter fluid in entering the bottom end of the inner passage more readily, an additional fluid passage 66 is provided as an open port communicating radially through the wall of the lower section 50 of the inner tubular in axial alignment with the helical member between the top and bottom ends of the helical member. The fluid passage 66 in the first embodiment of FIG. 3 is elongated in an axial direction and is located directly adjacent to the bottom end of the helical member and the bottom end of the inner tubular. As the produced fluids follow the helical path defined by the helical member 62, the lighter gases and liquids within the produced fluids tend to be located closer to the inner tubular due to centrifugal forces as noted above such that the lighter gases and liquids are more readily drawn into the fluid passage 66 and into the inner passage extending up the inner tubular. In this manner gases and lighter liquids are more easily directed into the inner tubular away from the turbulence of sand and denser solid particles at the outer boundary.

[0070] According to the first illustrated embodiment, the helical member and the lower section 50 of the inner tubular are formed as a unitary single body of material. The groove in this instance is formed in the erosion sleeve 46 such that it is the inner cylindrical surface of the erosion sleeve that defines an outer boundary surface 64 of the helical flow path while the erosion sleeve itself forms a boundary portion of the overall housing assembly that locates the helical flow path therein. Due to the groove in the erosion sleeve, the material of the body forming the helical member 62 protrudes radially outward to beyond the outer boundary surface 64.

[0071] The apparatus 10 is assembled by threading the helical member into the helical groove of the erosion sleeve separate from the connection of the upper and lower housings onto the housing connector 24. The upper plug 36 is supported within the upper housing with the upper section 48 of the inner tubular suspended therefrom. The assembled lower section 50 of the inner tubular and surrounding erosion sleeve 46 can then be inserted upwardly through the bottom end of the lower housing 22 for simultaneously threading the erosion sleeve into the intermediate connector 58 on the connector housing 24 and threading the internally threaded collar at the upper end of the lower section 50 of the inner tubular onto the externally threaded bottom end of the upper section 48. The collector joints and lower plug 32 can then be supported on the bottom end of the apparatus to complete the assembly of the apparatus before insertion on the bottom end of a tubing string into a wellbore. Operation of the pump will draw produced fluids into the upper housing 20 along the flow path prescribed above to separate sand for collection in the collector joints 30 while separated gases and liquids flow up the inner passage of the inner tubular.

[0072] In one alternative embodiment of the lower section 50 of the inner tubular, as shown in FIG. 5, the additional fluid passage 66 that communicates radially through the wall of the inner tubular between the inner passage in the inner tubular and the surrounding annular passage is instead located at a location spaced upwardly from the bottom end of the helical member at an intermediate location along the helical member. The passage 66 may also be located immediately below a section of the helical member so as to be spaced above a subsequent section of the helical member therebelow to optimally shield the passage 66 from any sand falling to the bottom of the fluid flow. The passage 66 in this instance can also be elongated in a circumferential direction. As the produced fluids follow the helical path defined by the helical member 62, the lighter gases and liquids within the produced fluids tend to be located closer to the inner tubular and close to the underside of the helical member due to centrifugal forces and gravity such that the lighter gases and liquids may be more readily drawn into the fluid passage 66 according to FIG. 5.

[0073] In a further alternative embodiment of the lower section 50 of the inner tubular, as shown in FIG. 6, the additional fluid passage 66 that communicates radially through the wall of the inner tubular between the inner passage in the inner tubular and the surrounding annular passage instead comprises more than one aperture or slot in alignment with different sections of the helical path at different elevations. Each passage 66 in this instance may again be located directly below the underside of a respective section of the helical member, including an uppermost passage 66 directly below the top end portion of the helical member. Again, as the produced fluids follow the helical path defined by the helical member 62, the lighter gases and liquids within the produced fluids tend to be located closer to the inner tubular and close to the underside of the helical member due to centrifugal forces and gravity such that the lighter gases and liquids may be more readily drawn into the fluid passages 66 according to FIG. 6.

[0074] In an alternative embodiment of the overall apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 8, no erosion sleeve 46 is provided such that the helical groove 60 is instead formed into the inner surface of the exterior boundary wall of the lower housing 22 directly. In this instance the inner surface of the exterior boundary wall of the lower housing defines the outer boundary surface 64 of the helical flow path while the exterior wall of the housing assembly itself defines a boundary portion upon which the outer boundary surface is defined. By forming a groove in the boundary wall of the housing and sizing the helical member 62 such that the outer edge of the helical member is received within the helical groove embedded partway into the boundary wall of the housing, a tight seal between the helical member 62 and the surrounding boundary portion of the closing remains even as the inner surface of the boundary portion of the housing begins to wear away slightly.

[0075] In yet a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, (i) the lower housing 22 forming the boundary portion of the housing that defines the outer boundary surface 64 of the helical flow path thereon, (ii) the helical member 62, and (iii) the lower section 50 of the inner tubular may be formed as a single casting comprising a single body of material which is continuous, seamless and unitary throughout. In this instance, the portion of the casting forming the lower housing 22 comprises the boundary portion of the housing assembly that defines the outer boundary surface 64 of the helical flow path thereon. As in previous embodiments, the body of material forming the helical member again protrudes integrally radially outward beyond the outer boundary surface 64 by extending as a unitary body into the surrounding lower housing 22.

[0076] In yet a further embodiment, (i) the erosion sleeve 46 forming the boundary portion of the housing that defines the outer boundary surface of the helical flow path thereon, (ii) the helical member 62, and (iii) the lower section 50 of the inner tubular may be formed as a single casting comprising a single body of material which is continuous, seamless and unitary throughout. The resulting casting would appear similarly to FIG. 7, but with the outer boundary being defined by the erosion sleeve 46 instead of the lower housing 22 according to the embodiment of FIG. 7. The erosion sleeve is then inserted into the lower housing 22 in the same manner as the first embodiment. In this instance, the portion of the casting forming the erosion sleeve comprises the boundary portion of the housing assembly that defines the outer boundary surface 64 of the helical flow path thereon. As in previous embodiments, the body of material forming the helical member again protrudes integrally radially outward beyond the outer boundary surface 64 by extending as a unitary body into the surrounding lower housing 22.

[0077] Turning now to FIGS. 9 and 10, a further embodiment of the sand separating apparatus 10 will now be described. The apparatus 10 again includes an elongate housing assembly 100 which is arranged to be suspended within the wellbore casing 14 that lines a wellbore 12 receiving produced fluids therein from a surrounding hydrocarbon formation. The apparatus is suspended within the casing 14 at the bottom end of a tubing string 16 extending longitudinally within the wellbore and which includes a pump 18 connected in series with the tubing string above the apparatus to draw fluid upwardly through the tubing string to a wellhead at the surface of the wellbore.

[0078] The housing assembly 100 includes an upper connecting member 102 at the top end having an internally threaded connection at the top end for forming a threaded connection to a bottom of the tubing string similarly to the function of the upper connector of the previous embodiment. The housing assembly further includes a lower connector 104 at the bottom end which provides a threaded connection for a sand collector. The sand collector at the bottom end of the assembly may be formed of one or more collector joints 30 which are enclosed at the bottom end thereof by a suitable plug 32 similarly to the previous embodiment.

[0079] The apparatus 10 is again provided with an inner tubular assembly 106 received concentrically within the housing assembly to extend along a length of the housing assembly. The inner tubular assembly 106 thus defines an inner passage 52 extending longitudinally and internally through the inner tubular assembly between opposing top and bottom ends thereof. The inner tubular assembly 106 mounted within the housing assembly 100 further defines an annular passage 54 extending radially between the inner tubular assembly 106 and the surrounding housing assembly 100 which also spans along a length of the assembly between opposing top and bottom ends of the inner tubular assembly.

[0080] Like the previous embodiment, the lowermost section 50 of the inner tubular assembly is aligned with a corresponding surrounding sand separator section 108 of the housing while supporting the helical member 62 about the lower section 50 to define the helical sand separating flow path at the bottom of the apparatus 10 which functions substantially identically to the previous embodiments. The sand separator section 108 of the surrounding housing supports an erosion sleeve 46 therein forming a helical groove 60 within the erosion sleeve to receive the peripheral edge of the helical member 62 therein according to the first embodiment described above.

[0081] In further embodiments, the helical member 62 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may also be configured in the manner according to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0082] Similarly to the previous embodiments, the lower section 50 of the inner tubular assembly remains open at the bottom end for open communication with the surrounding annular passage 54 which is also open at the bottom end. A fluid passage 66 may again be provided in communication through the boundary wall of the inner tubular assembly in alignment with the helical member 62 in proximity to the bottom end of the inner tubular assembly similarly to any of the previous embodiments. In this manner, when a mixture of produced fluids including heavier solid sand particles flows downwardly within the annular passage 54 and subsequently through the helical path defined by the helical member 62, the heavier solid particles tend to gather at the outer peripheral wall against the erosion sleeve 46 while the lighter fluids gather about the inner tubular assembly for being subsequently drawn upwardly into the inner passage 52 through the open bottom end of the lower section 50 and/or through the fluid passage 66.

[0083] Produced fluids within the wellbore enter into the annular passage 54 through a plurality of production openings 39 formed in the boundary wall of the housing assembly 100 at a location spaced above the helical member 62 in proximity to a top end of the housing assembly 100.

[0084] The apparatus according to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 differs from the previous embodiments by the inclusion of an additional gas separator device incorporated within the annular passage 54 at a location spaced above the helical member 62. The gas separator device is described in further detail below.

[0085] According to the illustrated embodiment, the housing assembly in this instance includes a first annulus member 112 secured about a bottom end of the upper connecting member 102 to support an upper housing section 114 mounted thereon to span longitudinally between the upper connecting member 102 at the top end of the housing assembly and the gas separator device at a central location along the housing assembly. The upper section 114 of the housing assembly is an elongate tubular member locating the production openings 39 therein.

[0086] A gas separator section 116 of the housing assembly is mounted at the bottom end of the upper housing section 114 using a second annulus member 118 spanning the radial dimension between the outer diameter of the gas separator section 116 and the inner diameter of the upper housing section 114. The gas separator section 116 forms the outer boundary of the gas separator device. The gas separator section of the housing comprises a tubular sleeve spanning longitudinally between the second annulus member 118 about the top end thereof and a third annulus member 120 about the bottom end thereof.

[0087] A lower housing section 122 is mounted at its top end about the second annulus member 120 to span longitudinally from the gas separator section 116 at the longitudinally central location of the housing to a bottom end in proximity to the bottom end of the housing assembly. The lower section 122 of the housing assembly is an elongated tubular member supporting a fourth annulus member 124 within the bottom end thereof.

[0088] The sand separator section 108 of the housing assembly is connected at the top end within the fourth annulus member 124 at the bottom end of the lower housing section 122 and is aligned longitudinally with the lower section 50 of the inner tubular assembly therein. The bottom end of the sand separator section 108 of the housing assembly forms an externally threaded connection that defines the lower connector 104 at the bottom end of the housing assembly onto which the sand collector is supported by a threaded connection.

[0089] The inner tubular assembly received within the housing assembly is similarly formed in longitudinal sections spanning approximately along corresponding sections of the tubular housing. The sections of the inner tubular assembly include a top section 128 spanning a length of the upper section 114 of the housing assembly. The top end of the top section 128 of the inner tubular assembly forms a threaded connection through the bottom end of the upper connecting member 102 such that the surrounding portion of the upper connecting member 102 acts as a plug to enclose the top end of the annular passage 54 similarly to the function of the plug 36 described in the previous embodiment.

[0090] The inner tubular assembly further includes an intermediate section 130 received within the gas separator section 116 of the surrounding housing. The intermediate section 130 supports a gas helical member 132 within the annular passage between the intermediate section 130 of the inner tubular assembly and the surrounding gas separator section 116 of the housing to provide a gas separating function as described in further detail below.

[0091] The inner tubular assembly also includes a bottom section 134 which spans a length of the lower housing section 122 between the intermediate tubular section 130 above and the lower tubular section 50 below. The lower tubular section 50, as described above, supports the helical member 62 thereon and spans a height of the sand separator section 126 of the surrounding housing assembly.

[0092] The gas helical member 132 is shaped to define a first helical path 136 extending helically downwardly within the annular passage. An internal passage within the gas helical member 132 defines a second helical path 138 spiraling upwardly in nested arrangement within the first helical path 136. The internal passage forming the second helical path 138 is an open communication at the bottom end thereof with an inlet port within the annular passage immediately below the gas helical member 132 and adjacent to the inner tubular member. A top end of the internal passage forming the second helical path 138 communicates with a gas tube 140 mounted concentrically about the inner tubular assembly within the annular passage 54 directly above the gas helical member 132 to extend upwardly partway along the length of the upper housing section 114 of the assembly.

[0093] In operation, a flow of produced fluids A including a mixture of gas, liquids, and suspended solid particles initially enters the wellbore annulus between the casing 14 and the housing assembly 100 for subsequent flow into the annular passage 54 through the production openings 39 in proximity to the top end of the housing assembly. This flow of produced fluids A is communicated downwardly through the first helical path 136 of the gas helical member 132 to cause some separation between lighter gaseous fluids and the remaining produced fluids. The separated gaseous fluids which are gathered about the inner tubular member then flow upwardly through the internal passage in the gas helical member 132 to follow the second helical path upwardly into the bottom end of the gas tube 140 for being subsequently discharged as a gaseous flow B for collection at the top end of the annular passage 54. The collected gaseous fluids collect at the closed top end of the annular passage 54 and will then overflow back through the uppermost production openings 39 to be redirected upwardly into the wellbore annulus above the apparatus 10.

[0094] The remaining fluids separated from the gaseous fluids at the gas helical member 132 continue downwardly through the annular passage as a mixed flow C that is subsequently directed through the helical path of the bottom helical member 62 within the sand separator section of the housing assembly. The denser solid particles in suspension within the flow C tend to gather at the outer periphery of the annular passage 54 for subsequently falling out of suspension for collection as sand D within the sand collector at the bottom of the assembly, similarly to the previous embodiments. The remaining separated fluids are communicated upwardly through the inner tubular member as a produced flow E that is subsequently drawn by the pump 18 upwardly through the tubing string to the surface of the wellbore.

[0095] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.