Multipurpose wells: Downhole oil/water separation in the future

Promising new technologies are being advanced to reshape development strategies in your fields. It is not always necessary to dedicate wells to production or injection; now, both functions can be performed within one multipurpose wellbore. Technologies exist to reduce water-handling volumes at the surface by keeping the water downhole. The discovery of downhole oil, water, and gas gravity segregation in the wellbore and the ability to keep fluids separated makes it possible to generate revenue from a wellbore at the same time that it is injecting or disposing water. This paper will discuss: design and testing at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center of the first downhole oil-water separation artificial lift system to utilize downhole gravity segregation; evolving modeling procedures; superior environmental performance; impediments to deploying radically new technologies; and a vision of the future.