Pressure boosting system for multi-phase crude oil

1 . A system for pumping a feed mixture, comprising:

a separation section, comprising:

a separation tank comprising a feed mixture entrance and a liquid outlet located at different axial positions along a wall of the separation tank;

a gas line extending through the separation tank from a gas inlet located in an interior of the separation tank to a gas outlet located outside of the separation tank;

a mixing section comprising a fluid suction chamber surrounding the gas outlet;

wherein a liquid line fluidly connects the liquid outlet to the fluid suction chamber;

wherein a flow control valve is positioned along the liquid line; and

a pumping section comprising a pump;

wherein a diffuser fluidly connects the fluid suction chamber to a pump inlet.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the gas outlet extends axially into the fluid suction chamber and the liquid line extends to a radial position around the fluid suction chamber.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an inlet line fluidly connecting a wellhead to the feed mixture entrance.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of nozzles provided at the gas outlet.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the separation tank is cylindrical or conical in shape.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the feed mixture entrance is positioned above the liquid outlet, the gas inlet, and the gas outlet in terms of gravimetrical direction.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the feed mixture is a two-phase mixture.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the feed mixture is a three-phase mixture.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is a multiphase, axial pump.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the feed mixture comprises hydrocarbons from a well.

11 . A method for pumping a feed mixture, comprising:

feeding the feed mixture into a separation tank of a pressure boosting system via a feed mixture entrance;

separating the feed mixture into a gas and a liquid in the separation tank;

passing the liquid through a liquid outlet, wherein the liquid outlet is located at lower position from the feed mixture entrance along a wall of the separation tank;

controlling flow of the liquid through the liquid line using a flow control valve positioned along the liquid line;

passing the gas through a gas line extending through the separation tank from a gas inlet located in an interior of the separation tank to a gas outlet located outside of the separation tank;

simultaneously flowing gas through the gas outlet and flowing the liquid from the liquid outlet through a liquid line to a fluid suction chamber surrounding the gas outlet to mix the liquid and the gas into a mixed fluid; and

flowing the mixed fluid through a diffuser to a pump.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein flow of the liquid is controlled to provide the mixed fluid with a gas-volume fraction ranging from 0 to 98%.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising fluidly connecting a wellhead to the feed mixture entrance via an inlet line.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising a nozzle provided at the gas outlet.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising one or more additional nozzles positioned at the gas outlet.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the gas line is configured to maintain a gas pressure ranging from 30 to 80 psig.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the gas is passed through the gas line at a velocity ranging from 30 to 80 m/s.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the liquid is flowed through the liquid line at a flow rate in a range from 50 to 120 BPD.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising cleaning out accumulated solids from bottom of the separation tank.