Recirculation gas separator
View Patent ↗A submersible pumping system includes a pump, a motor that drives the pump and a separator assembly. The separator assembly is for separating gas from the fluid and includes an intake and a vent above the intake. Fluid enters the separator assembly at the intake and the vent returns a portion of the fluid into wellbore for recirculation into the intake.
1. A submersible pumping system for producing a fluid from a wellbore, comprising:
a pump;
a motor that drives the pump; and
a separator assembly for separating gas from liquid in the fluid, the separator assembly comprising:
an intake where fluid enters the separator assembly; and
a vent above the intake that returns a portion of the gas and liquid in the fluid into the wellbore for recirculation into the intake.
2. The submersible pumping system of claim 1 , wherein the separator assembly further comprises:
a shaft rotated by the motor; and
an inducer rotated by the shaft.
3. The submersible pumping system of claim 1 , further comprising an orifice positioned between the vent and the pump.
4. The submersible pumping system of claim 1 , further comprising a neck, wherein the vent is disposed in the neck.
5. The submersible pumping system of claim 1 , wherein the vent includes a one-way valve.
6. A separator assembly for use with a pump and a motor in a wellbore, the separator assembly comprising:
an intake where fluid enters from the wellbore; and
a vent above the intake that returns a portion of the gas and liquid in the fluid into the wellbore for recirculation into the intake.
7. The separator assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
a shaft rotated by the motor; and
an inducer rotated by the shaft.
8. The separator assembly of claim 6 , further comprising an orifice positioned between the vent and the pump.
9. The separator assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a neck that includes the vent.
10. The separator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the vent is a one-way valve.
11. A method for separating gas from a wellbore fluid that includes both liquid and gaseous components, the method comprising:
moving the wellbore fluid through a separator assembly;
diverting a portion of the wellbore fluid from the separator assembly into the wellbore, where gaseous components separate from liquid components in response to gravity; and
recirculating the diverted wellbore fluid into the separator assembly.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a step of increasing the pressure of the wellbore fluid in the separator assembly.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a step of pumping the portion of the wellbore fluid that is not diverted from the separator assembly through production tubing to a wellhead.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a step of regulating a flow of the wellbore fluid that is not diverted.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a step of restricting the flow of fluid into the separator assembly.