Buoyant ball assisted hydrocarbon lift system and method
US8430172B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 7, 2012 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 7, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/121
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
As disclosed, a buoyant ball assisted hydrostatic lift system and method for lifting fluid(s) from an enclosed subterranean reservoir to the earth's surface, comprises a pipe string configured at a steady state gas pressure with any quiescent gas escape offset by an equal gas input. The system also includes a plurality of buoyant balls in the pipe string; the balls configured to at least one of displace a fluid mass and have a surface friction moving in fluid(s) therein. The system additionally includes a column of the buoyant balls in the pipe string, an aggregate weight of the balls configured to entrain the balls into a fluid in an annulus formed with an outer bore pipe. The system further includes a hydrostatic pressure differential in the annulus with respect to the reservoir via the buoyant balls, the pressure configured to lift fluid(s) in the annulus to the surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.