Inventors:
Jared C. Hall - Carlsbad NM
James A. Tomlinson - Carlsbad NM
David E. Ellwood - Spring TX
Assignee:
Marathon Oil Company - Findlay OH
International Classification:
E21B 4338
Abstract:
A gas-liquid separator positionable down hole in a well bore includes an external tube having an external tube interior and an internal tube having an internal tube interior. The internal tube is positioned in the external tube interior to form an internal annulus defining a gas flowpath and the internal tube interior defines a reduced-gas fluid flowpath. A plate at least partially encircles the external tube to form a curved flow channel, which defines a produced fluid mixture flowpath. A first internal annulus opening is provided in the external tube, which defines a gas inlet port. An internal tube interior opening is provided in the internal tube, which defines a reduced-gas fluid inlet port. A produced fluid mixture is conveyed through the flow channel, which spins the produced fluid mixture about the external tube. At least a portion of a gas in the produced fluid mixture is separated from the liquid in response to spinning, thereby producing a separated free gas which enters the gas flowpath via the gas inlet port and a reduced-gas fluid which enters the reduced-gas fluid flowpath via the reduced gas-fluid inlet port.