Abstract: Method and apparatus for assisting the flow of production fluid from a hydrocarbon wellbore (4) to a remote host facility (16) including a separation facility (6) situated close to the wellbore (4). Jetting fluid is supplied initially from the host facility (16) to a downhole jet pump (14) via the separation facility (6) for assisting the flow of production fluid from the wellbore (4) to the separation facility (6) where the resulting mixture enters one of two parallel gravity separation chambers (32). Separated jetting fluid (60) is recirculated to the jet pump (14) via a pump (38) and production fluid is routed to the host facility via a production pipeline (18). A jetting fluid supply pipe (20) can be of relatively small diameter and the production pipeline (18) does not have to be enlarged to accommodate jetting fluid returned to the host facility (16).

Abstract: A hydraulic choke for a flow stream from a well with large diameter particulate matter of a finite amount includes an inlet with a defined inlet flow area and a chamber with a defined chamber flow area. The inlet flow area is about ⅓ the size of the chamber flow area. The choke further includes a gate in the chamber surrounded by a housing separated from the chamber wall, a piston for engaging the gate against a seat, a studded outlet in communication with the chamber in the same plane as the inlet, and a studded solids removal outlet in communication with the chamber. The studded solids removal outlet is oriented approximately 90 degrees from the inlet position to permit the large diameter particulate matter to fall from the flow stream and into a solids receptacle for collecting the large diameter particulates matter. The solids receptacle is in communication with the studded solids removal outlet.

Abstract: The disclosed invention comprises an apparatus and method for producing hydrocarbons from an oil well where no production lines are in place, or where the backpressure of existing production lines is higher than the surface pressure of the oil well, preventing flow of the hydrocarbons into the production lines. The apparatus comprises a production assembly which may be mounted on either a flatbed trailer or on a liftable skid unit. The production assembly comprises a two-phase separator for separating liquid and gas phases. The production assembly further comprises a flexible flowline which is wrapped around a spooling drum. A first end of the flexible flowline receives the fluids from the two-phase separator. The second end of the flexible flowline is attached to a production facility or production line. The production assembly may further comprise pumping and compression means, liquid measurement means and gas measurement means.

Abstract: A petroleum well having a well casing, a production tubing, a source of time-varying current, a downhole chemical injection device, and a downhole induction choke. The casing extends within a wellbore of the well. The tubing extends within the casing. The current source is located at the surface. The current source is electrically connected to, and adapted to output a time-varying current into, the tubing and/or the casing, which act as electrical conductors for providing downhole power and/or communications. The injection device having a communications and control module, a chemical container, and an electrically controllable chemical injector. The communications and control module is electrically connected to the tubing and/or the casing. The chemical injector is electrically connected to the communications and control module, and is in fluid communication with the chemical container. The downhole induction choke is located about a portion of the tubing and/or the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for lifting production fluids using the heat of compression of production gas to heat injection liquids. An apparatus and process for uninterrupted production using conserved heat of compression during well maintenance. A lift gas apparatus and process controlled by wellhead pressure. A wellhead-controlled lifting system operating during well maintenance. An apparatus for multi-phase pumping for recovering oil and gas from a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering treatment chemicals to an oil and gas well. A flush pump siphons flush from the production line of a producing well and draws in a predetermined amount of treatment chemical into the siphoned flush and then discharges the combination into the well.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for recovering oil and gas from a subterranean formation wherein the production rate is controlled by the gas pressure at the well head, resulting in very slow strokes or pulses and bubbles of lift gas up to 500 feet long. An apparatus and process for well maintenance using cooled injection gas from the well and heated fluids, which also may come from the well and be mixed with the well gas during compression, may be conducted without interrupting production. An apparatus and process for heating maintenance fluids using heat generated when the lift gas is compressed.

Abstract: An automated high speed drill cuttings processing and injection module having a relatively small foot print, capable of operation in zone one hazardous environments, for injecting drill cuttings into an earth formation, capable of handling high drilling rate cuttings surges. The process including conveying systems, holding and slurry tanks, circulating pumps, high speed grinding mill, high pressure injection pump, fragmentation system and automation system for controlling electrically driven injection pump having automatic speed control regulation with torque and horsepower limiting features. Thereby allowing high-speed injection without plugging the formation while still allowing for high-pressure formation fracturing when necessary. The processing system further insures cuttings slurry homogenization and entrained particle size to less than 100 micron for both hard and soft particles. The system reduces installation cost dramatically.

Abstract: A retrievable fluid separation module (2) for a seabed processing system to which flow lines are connected includes one portion (60) of a multi-ported valve isolation connector (5) and a separator chamber (6) for separating a plurality of fluids from a received fluid mixture. The separator chamber has an inlet flow line (12) for the received fluid mixture and an outlet flow line (15, 16) for each separated fluid. The flow lines are connected to the one portion of the connector (5) which selectively isolates the module from or connects it to the flow lines by means of a second complementary portion (61) of the multi-ported valve isolation connector with which the first portion is adapted to engage. There may be a modulating valve (25) in at least one outlet flow line (16) for controlling flow therethrough and a control actuator (63) for controlling the or each modulating valve.

Abstract: A method and system for the recovery and conversion of subsurface gas hydrates is provided. This is accomplished by accessing a subsurface hydrate formation and treating the formation with a treating system so that gas is released from the hydrate formation. The released gas is then delivered and collected by means of a gas recovery system at a surface location. The gas is converted to liquid hydrocarbons in a conversion system utilizing a synthesis gas unit for producing synthesis gas from the hydrate gas, and a synthesis unit for converting the synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons. In at least one embodiment, the synthesis unit utilizes a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. Excess energy produced during the conversion of the hydrate gas can be utilized in the treating and recovery of the hydrate gas.

Abstract: Frac sand from a well completion operation is transported to a recycling facility by truck. The frac sand is passed into a washing facility where is it separated from frac sand carrier residue, clays, drilling mud and metal particles. The wash water used in the washing facility is settled and re-used. Mud from the settled wash water is removed and re-used in drilling operations. The frac sand is removed from the washing facility by an inclined dehydration screw, and discharged into a counterflow hot air drying facility. Dust from the drying facility is collected and removed. Hot frac sand from the drying facility is passed through a chiller, and collected. The collected material is sized, and stored for re-use.

Abstract: The disclosed invention comprises an apparatus and method for producing hydrocarbons from an oil well where no production lines are in place, or where the backpressure of existing production lines is higher than the surface pressure of the oil well, preventing flow of the hydrocarbons into the production lines. The apparatus comprises a production assembly which may be mounted on either a flatbed trailer or on a liftable skid unit. The production assembly comprises a two-phase separator for separating liquid and gas phases. The production assembly further comprises a flexible flowline which is wrapped around a spooling drum. A first end of the flexible flowline receives the fluids from the two-phase separator. The second end of the flexible flowline is attached to a production facility or production line. The production assembly may further comprise pumping and compression means, liquid measurement means and gas measurement means.

Abstract: Liquids recovered from a gas well processed in a ground flare for avoiding the expense of offsite disposal. Well gases are burned in first burners to form a primary combustion zone. Liquids for disposal are introduced and atomized through second burners or nozzles into the primary combustion zone. Preferably, a wellhead separator further separates liquids from gas recovered from the well. Liquids are stored in a tank and delivered to the second burners as the heat capacity in the flare permits. Supplementary commercial pilot gas can provide sufficient heat capacity if the well gas is temporarily insufficient. The liquid is incinerated and its combustion or vaporized products are discharged with the burned gas.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for cleaning out of a well in which a compressed inert gas, produced by the non-cryogenic separation of air is delivered to the region of the well where particulate matter has collected that inhibits the ability of the well to produce.

Abstract: Process for pretreating a natural gas under pressure containing hydrocarbons, acid compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, and water. The natural gas is cooled to condense part of the water. The partially dehydrated natural gas is then contacted with a liquid stream consisting of a majority of hydrogen in two successive contact zones so as to obtain a natural gas containing substantially no water any more. Finally, this dehydrated natural gas is cooled to condense and separate the acid compounds, this cooling stage being carried out by means of a heat exchanger, an expander or a venturi neck.

Abstract: The present invention provides a clean water separation system with an electric submersible pumping device and a surface separator and pumping device for the separation and transfer of different density fluids and solids. The electric submersible pumping device can be an encapsulated device that works in conjunction with a separator and pumping system that are located on the surface, to separate fluids and solids.

Abstract: Frac sand from a well completion operation is transported to a recycling facility by truck. The frac sand is passed into a washing facility where is it separated from frac sand carrier residue, clays, drilling mud and metal particles. The wash water used in the washing facility is settled and re-used. Mud from the settled wash water is removed and re-used in drilling operations. The frac sand is removed from the washing facility by an inclined dehydration screw, and discharged into a counterflow hot air drying facility. Dust from the drying facility is collected and removed. Hot frac sand from the drying facility is passed through a chiller, and collected. The collected material is sized, and stored for re-use.

Abstract: A system takes low pressure (LP) liquid and transfers them into a high pressure (HP) gas pipeline using an energy transfer system. A volume of HP gas is used as the energy source for driving a lesser volume of LP liquid into a HP downstream system. Preferably, liquids separated from wellhead effluent are separated from gases and are directed to the energy transfer pump for transfer into a HP gas pipeline. Substantially dry gases from the HP pipeline are directed to the energy transfer pump for providing the drive energy for elevating the pressure of the liquids. This system eliminates the prior art blowcase vessel system and does not require onsite utilities.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering waste production gas at an oil or gas production site using a gas-vacuum compressor, a gas-vacuum compressor cylinder or a regenerative vacuum blower to evacuate the waste production gas from the salt water tank and the oil tanks under vacuum and transporting the gas under pressure to a waste production gas recovery device without contaminating the atmosphere.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of energy from a pressurised well stream containing a gas/liquid mixture, the process comprising: treating the well stream to a pre-separation process to separate it into gaseous and liquid phases, selecting appropriate proportions of said separated gaseous and liquid phases, recombining said selected proportions, and supplying the recombined mixture to the inlet of a rotary separation turbine, wherein said components are separated and energy is recovered from the flow by rotation of the turbine, said proportions of said gaseous and liquid phases being selected to produce an optimum mixture for supply to the rotary separation turbine.

Abstract: A process and system which integrates on-site heavy oil or bitumen upgrading and energy recovery for steam production with steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) production of the heavy oil or bitumen. The heavy oil or bitumen produced by SAGD is flashed to remove the gas oil fraction, and the residue is solvent deasphalted to obtain deasphalted oil, which is mixed with the gas oil fraction to form a pumpable synthetic crude. The synthetic crude has an improvement of 4-5 degrees of API and lower in sulfur, nitrogen and metal compounds. The synthetic crude is not only more valuable than the heavy oil or bitumen, but also has substantial economic advantage of reducing the diluent requirement since it has lower viscosity than the heavy oil or bitumen. The asphaltenes, following an optional pelletizing and/or slurrying step, are used as a fuel for combustion in boilers near the steam injection wells for injection into the heavy oil or bitumen reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement in a separator, especially a gravity separator (1), to which separator is supplied with well fluid containing sand, and to avoid sand settling on walls of pipes or separators; it is according to the invention, suggested that the separator (1) comprises a conical part (5), which passes into a sloping or mainly vertical arranged bottom pipe (7), for, so to speak, continuous bottom outlet of sand (6), which is suspended in a fluid, mainly sand carrying water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the management of H2S containing gas streams and high alkalinity water streams in which process the H2S is selectively removed from the gas stream and combusted to form an SO2 rich waste gas stream. The SO2 gas stream is then scrubbed with the water stream to substantially remove the SO2 from the gas while subsequent treatment of the water such as softening or setting is improved.

Abstract: A technique is described for producing fluids from a series of wells. Production fluids from production wells are raised from the wells and deposited in a separation unit. The production fluids typically include both liquid and gas phase components. The separation unit utilizes a plurality of separation stages to separate the gas and liquid phase components in the production fluids.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gas-lift ball control device in gas-lift ball oil recovery and a method of oil recovery with the device. In the device a low pressure gas outlet, an oil-gas-ball inlet and an oil outlet are provided on casing of an oil-gas-ball separator. A spiral pipe communicating with the oil-gas-ball inlet is provided within the casing. There is a separating umbrella on the spiral pipe and a filter below the spiral pipe. There is a ball-distributing valve inside the filter. The valve body is provided with a ball-entry bore, a low pressure gas-bore, a high pressure gas-entry bore and a high pressure gas-exit bore. There is a gas path communicating with said two pairs of bore in a manner of rotation or sliding. Gas and balls can be continuously supplied to a gas transporting pipe through the ball-distributing valve. The device is efficient with less gas and simple structure. It can be easily made and be securely and reliably operated.

Abstract: A wellhead device for the isolation of solid particles carried by production fluid includes a closed housing to be integrated with a wellhead element, a lining tightly fixed on the inner wall of the body producing the fluid upstream of the side outlet(s) provided with the valves, and a cylindrical partition arranged inside the housing around the lining, from which it is separated by a second ring-shaped space. First openings are provided in the upper portion of the partition above the lining, second openings are provided in the lower portion of the partition, and a filter is arranged inside the housing at the periphery of the partition lower portion, opposite the second openings. The filter is arranged such that all the fluid entering through the first partition openings into the volume separating this partition from the housing outer portion passes through the filter before entering the second ring-shaped volume through the partition second openings.