US 11,746,629 B2
Autonomous separated gas and recycled gas lift system
Ali Saleh Rabaa, Dhahran (SA); Raul Leal Martinez, Dhahran (SA); and Abdullah M. Alhabah, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/246,420.
Prior Publication US 2022/0349283 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 43/12 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/123 (2013.01) 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
9. A method for producing a well having an annulus completed across a gas reservoir and an oil reservoir, the method comprising:
deploying a gas lift system into the well, the gas lift system comprising:
tubing configured to be a conduit for production fluids having a weight;
an inflow control valve;
a gas-separator compressor turbine device;
at least one sensor fixed to an outlet of the gas-separator compressor turbine device;
a gas lift valve installed within the tubing;
wherein the inflow control valve, the gas-separator compressor turbine device, and
the gas lift valve, are configured to be installed within the tubing;
opening the inflow control valve to allow gas to flow from the gas reservoir into the tubing;
separating the gas from the production fluids using the gas-separator compressor turbine device;
compressing the gas using the gas-separator compressor turbine device;
injecting the gas into the annulus using the gas-separator compressor turbine device;
flowing the gas through the gas lift valve into the tubing;
measuring a volume of gas being injected into the annulus using the at least one sensor;
closing the inflow control valve when a predetermined volume of gas is reached;
mixing the gas and the production fluids to lower the weight of the production fluids; and
flowing the production fluids through the tubing to be produced at a surface location.