Design and Field Testing of a Decentralized, Continuous-Flow Downhole Gas Separator
J.N. McCoy, Echometer Co., A.L. Podio, The University of Texas at Austin, & M.D. Woods, Mobil Exploration and Producing, U.S. Inc.
A gas separator has been developed and successfully field tested in several beam pumped wells which were subject to severe gas interference. The new design is based on several innovations: l Decentralization of the gas separator in the casing, insures that a minimum amount of gas enters the separator. l The presence of two or more ports located on the narrow side of the annulus where the gas separator touches the casing wall. l Sizing the OD of the outer tube of the separator so that it is equal to or greater than the OD of the tubing collars. l The addition of a diverter at the bottom of the separator to direct most of the gas flow towards the wide side of the annulus. These innovations have resulted in a gas separator efficiency much greater than that of conventional designs.