CONTROLLED RISE VELOCITY BOUYANT BALL ASSISTED HYDROCARBON LIFT SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A hydrocarbon lift system and method for increasing petroleum production from an enclosed subterranean reservoir to the earth's surface comprises a column of buoyant balls in an outer pipe configured to entrain the buoyant balls into a first fluid in an annulus formed with an inner pipe drill string. A pressure differential in the inner pipe with respect to the reservoir via the entrained buoyant balls in a second fluid therein lifts the second fluid and the entrained balls via the inner pipe to increase petroleum production to the earth's surface. A controlled rise velocity of the buoyant balls and the second fluid is predetermined by a ratio of a mass density of the buoyant balls to a mass density of the second fluid being greater than a mass density of the buoyant balls to a mass density of the first fluid for an increase over time in oil production.

主权项

1. A hydrocarbon lift system for lifting petroleum fluid(s) from an enclosed subterranean reservoir to the earth's surface, the system comprising:
a) a plurality of buoyant balls entrained in a first fluid in an outer pipe, the balls configured to at least one of displace a fluid mass and have a surface friction moving in the first fluid therein; b) an entrained column of the buoyant balls in the first fluid in the outer pipe, an aggregate weight thereof configured to entrain the balls into a second fluid in an inner pipe; and c) a pressure differential in the inner pipe with respect to the reservoir via the entrained buoyant balls, the pressure differential configured to lift the second fluid and the entrained balls via the inner pipe to enhance petroleum production to the surface.