Fluid homogenizer system for gas segregated liquid hydrocarbon wells and method of homogenizing liquids produced by such wells
A method of homogenizing a production fluid from an oil well having one or more wellbores includes separating gas from the production fluid in a vertical or horizontal section of a well casing at a first location spaced from a heel portion of a wellbore, and injecting the separated gas into the production fluid at a second location spaced from the heel portion of the wellbore and provided downstream of the first location.
1. A method of homogenizing production fluid from an oil well having one or more wellbores, the method comprising the steps of:
separating the gas from the production fluid in a vertical or horizontal section of a well casing at a first location spaced from a heel portion of a wellbore;
injecting the separated gas into a vertical or horizontal flow tube through which the production fluid flows and which is provided at a second location spaced from the heel portion; and
wherein the second location is downstream of the first location.
2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising the step of providing a gas separation device for separating the gas from the production fluid.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the gas separation device comprises a tortuous flow path located in the wellbore.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the tortuous flow path comprises a spiral baffle.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the tortuous flow path comprises an auger which defines a spiral path.
6. An apparatus for homogenizing a production fluid from an oil well having one or more well-bores, the apparatus comprising:
a gas separation device provided in a vertical or horizontal section of a well casing at a first location spaced from a heel portion of a well bore for separating gas from the production fluid;
a vertical or horizontal flow tube through which the production fluid flows and which is provided at a second location spaced from the heel portion of the wellbore, the second location being downstream of the first location; and
an injector for injecting the separated gas into the flow tube.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the gas separation device comprises a tortuous flow path located in the wellbore.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the tortuous flow path comprises a spiral baffle.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the tortuous flow path comprises an auger which defines a spiral path.