초록 ▼

Apparatus for solution mining and gas storage in a salt cavern formed by solution mining comprises a flow diverting conduit string is provided in fluid communication with two or more concentric conduits within the single main bore, with at least one lateral opening from an internal passageway with a

Apparatus for solution mining and gas storage in a salt cavern formed by solution mining comprises a flow diverting conduit string is provided in fluid communication with two or more concentric conduits within the single main bore, with at least one lateral opening from an internal passageway with an outer annular passageway communicating with the surface under a single valve tree. Flow control devices, flow diverters and/or isolation conduits can be inserted into the flow diverting conduit string, enabling a dissolution zone in the salt cavern to be varied to control the shape of the cavern. Furthermore the flow diverting conduit string used to form the cavern can also be used for dewatering and gas storage.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A flow diverting conduit string for injecting fluid into or extracting fluid from a subterranean borehole in salt or a subterranean salt cavern, said conduit string comprising: an inner conduit string disposed within an outer conduit string, with an inner passageway within said inner conduit stri

1. A flow diverting conduit string for injecting fluid into or extracting fluid from a subterranean borehole in salt or a subterranean salt cavern, said conduit string comprising: an inner conduit string disposed within an outer conduit string, with an inner passageway within said inner conduit string and a first annular passageway between said inner and outer conduit strings, wherein said conduit string comprises at least one lateral opening in said inner or outer conduit string, said at least one lateral opening communicating with at least one of said passageways and with said borehole or cavern, and a flow control apparatus arranged to control flow of said fluid between or along said passageways to enable said conduit string to be used for storage and extraction of gases, hydrocarbon liquids, or combinations thereof, in and from said cavern and at least one of solution mining operations, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations;wherein said flow diverting conduit string uses a subsurface valve arrangement formed with said flow control apparatus that isolates opposing fluid flows within or about said flow diverting conduit string for controlling fluid flows during said solution mining operations, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations; andwherein said flow control apparatus is removable or replaceable from within said inner passageway to bring said subsurface valve arrangement of said flow diverting conduit string into communication with said fluid flows of said solution mining operations, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations. 2. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 1, wherein said at least one lateral opening is formed in said outer conduit string and is usable during solution mining to direct a flow of water to or receive a flow of brine from a dissolution zone in said subterranean borehole or salt cavern. 3. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 2, wherein a flow diverter is disposed in said inner passageway of said inner conduit string and has a bore communicating between said inner passageway and said at least one lateral opening, said flow diverter allowing flow past said flow diverter through said first annular passageway. 4. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 3, wherein an exit conduit extension projects into said borehole or said cavern through said bore of said flow diverter and a cable carrying tools for deployment in said borehole or cavern extends through said exit conduit extension. 5. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 3, wherein at least one further opening is formed in the wall of said inner conduit string below said flow diverter to allow flow of fluid to cross over between said inner passageway and first annular passageway. 6. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 2, wherein a removable plug is disposed in said inner passageway of said inner conduit string, said plug allowing flow past said plug through said first annular passageway. 7. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 2, wherein upper and lower flow diverters, plugs, or combinations thereof, are disposed within said inner passageway, each plug blocking said inner passageway and each flow diverter having a bore communicating with said inner passageway and terminating in a respective lateral opening, at least one further opening being formed in the wall of said inner conduit string between said upper and lower flow diverters, plugs, or combinations thereof to allow flow to or from the lower flow diverter or to or from a lateral opening of the inner passageway blocked by a lower plug to cross over between the inner passageway and the first annular passageways. 8. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of lateral openings provided at different subterranean depths within said bore or cavern in said inner conduit string, said plurality of lateral openings being selectively openable and closable to vary the disposition of the dissolution zone. 9. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 8, comprising at least one isolation conduit, said isolation conduit being placeable from the inner passageway of said flow diverting conduit string and being movable in an axial direction to open or close a lateral opening, open or close said at least one further lateral opening, bridge a discontinuous section of said inner passageway, or combinations thereof. 10. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 1, further comprising an isolation subassembly at an upper end thereof for engaging a casing, said isolation subassembly comprising: an annular isolation device that defines a second annular passageway around said outer conduit string below said annular isolation device; anda flow control apparatus including a bypass passageway which communicates with said second annular passageway and enables fluid to be injected through said bypass passageway into said second annular passageway to control a water level in said subterranean borehole or salt cavern whereby said water level can be varied during a solution mining operation. 11. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 10, wherein said bypass passageway is disposed within said first annular passageway and communicates between orifices in said inner and outer conduit strings and said control apparatus is accessible from said inner passageway for controlling flow through said bypass passageway. 12. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 1, wherein said flow control apparatus is movable and forms a protective member comprising a conduit which is removably located in a differential pressure bearing sealing arrangement within said inner passageway or within an exit bore communicating therewith. 13. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 12, wherein said conduit is removably located in a sealing arrangement by at least one engagement mandrel engaging an end of said conduit and providing a differentially pressure bearing continuation of said inner conduit string or exit bore. 14. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 1, wherein a third inner conduit is disposed within said inner conduit string or between said inner conduit string and said outer conduit string and defines a third annular passageway between said third inner conduit and said inner conduit string or between said inner conduit string and said outer conduit string. 15. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 1, wherein the flow diverting conduit string is formed from sections each comprising: a) an inner conduit string section having threaded ends for screwing to complementary threaded ends of adjacent inner conduit string sections, andb) an outer conduit string section having ends which abut adjacent outer conduit string ends when the inner conduit string section is screwed to its adjacent inner conduit string ends, wherein the inner conduit string ends being screwed together and the abutting outer conduit string ends being welded together. 16. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 1, wherein the flow diverting conduit string is formed from sections each comprising: a) an outer conduit string section having threaded or snap fitting ends for engagement to complementary threaded or snap fitting ends of adjacent outer conduit string sections, andb) an inner conduit string section having mandrel ends which are resiliently sealed to adjacent inner conduit string receptacle ends when the outer conduit string mandrel section is snapped or screwed to its adjacent outer conduit string ends. 17. The flow diverting conduit string according to claim 1, further comprising a further conduit string communicating with and branching from said at least one lateral opening of said flow diverting string, said further conduit string having at least one downhole opening locatable in a production zone or dissolution zone associated with said borehole and comprising an inner conduit string disposed within an outer conduit string, with an inner passageway in said inner conduit string being disposed within a first annular passageway between said inner and outer conduit strings thereof. 18. A flow diverting conduit string for injecting fluid into or extracting fluid from a subterranean borehole in salt or a subterranean salt cavern, said flow diverting conduit string comprising: an inner conduit string disposed within an outer conduit string, with an inner passageway within said inner conduit string and a first annular passageway between said inner and said outer conduit strings, wherein said flow diverting conduit string comprises at least one lateral opening in said inner or outer conduit string, said at least one lateral opening communicating with at least one of said passageways and with said borehole or cavern, and a flow control apparatus arranged to control flow of said fluid between or along said passageways to enable said flow diverting conduit string to be used for storage and extraction of gases, hydrocarbon liquids, or combinations thereof, in and from said cavern and at least one of solution mining operations, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations; andan isolation subassembly at an upper end of said flow diverting conduit string for engaging a casing, said isolation subassembly comprising: an annular isolation device that defines a second annular passageway around said outer conduit string below said annular isolation device, anda flow control apparatus including a bypass passageway which communicates with said second annular passageway and enables fluid to be injected through said bypass passageway into said second annular passageway to control a water level in said subterranean borehole or salt cavern, whereby said water level can be varied during a solution mining operation, andwherein said bypass passageway is disposed within said first annular passageway and communicates between orifices in said inner and said outer conduit strings and said flow control apparatus is accessible from said inner passageway for controlling flow through said bypass passageway. 19. A flow diverting conduit string for injecting fluid into or extracting fluid from a subterranean borehole in a salt or a subterranean salt cavern, said flow diverting conduit string comprising: an inner conduit string disposed within an outer conduit string, with an inner passageway within said inner conduit string and a first annular passageway between said inner and said outer conduit strings, wherein said flow diverting conduit string comprises at least one lateral opening in said inner or outer conduit string, said at least one lateral opening communicating with at least one of said passageways and with said borehole or cavern, and a flow control apparatus arranged to control flow of said fluid between or along said passageways to enable said flow diverting conduit string to be used for storage and extraction of gases, hydrocarbon liquids, or combinations thereof, in and from said cavern and at least one of solution mining operations, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations,wherein said at least one lateral opening is formed in said outer conduit string and is usable during solution mining to direct a flow of water to or receive a flow of brine from a dissolution zone in said subterranean borehole or said salt cavern,and wherein upper and lower flow diverters, plugs, or combinations thereof, are disposed within said inner passageway, each plug blocking said inner passageway and each flow diverter having a bore communicating with said inner passageway and terminating in a respective lateral opening, at least one further opening being formed in a wall of said inner conduit string between said upper and lower flow diverters, plugs, or combinations thereof, to allow flow to or from the lower flow diverter or to or from a lateral opening of the inner passageway blocked by a lower plug to cross over between the inner passageway and the first annular passageways. 20. A flow diverting conduit string for injecting fluid into or extracting fluid from a subterranean borehole in a salt or a subterranean salt cavern, said flow diverting conduit string comprising: an inner conduit string disposed within an outer conduit string, with an inner passageway within said inner conduit string and a first annular passageway between said inner and said outer conduit strings, wherein said flow diverting conduit string comprises at least one lateral opening in said inner or outer conduit string, said at least one lateral opening communicating with at least one of said passageways and with said borehole or cavern, and a flow control apparatus arranged to control flow of said fluid between or along said passageways to enable said flow diverting conduit string to be used for storage and extraction of gases, hydrocarbon liquids, or combinations thereof, in and from said cavern and at least one of solution mining operations, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations, wherein said at least one lateral opening is formed in said outer conduit string and is usable during solution mining to direct a flow of water to or receive a flow of brine from a dissolution zone in said subterranean borehole or salt cavern;a plurality of lateral openings provided at different subterranean depths within said bore or said cavern in said inner conduit string, said plurality of lateral openings being selectively openable and closable to vary the disposition of the dissolution zone; andat least one isolation conduit, wherein said at least one isolation conduit is placeable from the inner passageway of said flow diverting conduit string and is movable in an axial direction to open or close a lateral opening, bridge a discontinuous section of said inner passageway, or combinations thereof. 21. A flow diverting conduit string for injecting fluid into or extracting fluid from a subterranean borehole in a salt or a subterranean salt cavern, said flow diverting conduit string comprising: an inner conduit string disposed within an outer conduit string, with an inner passageway within said inner conduit string and a first annular passageway between said inner and said outer conduit strings, wherein said flow diverting conduit string comprises at least one lateral opening in said inner or outer conduit string, said at least one lateral opening communicating with at least one of said passageways and with said borehole or cavern, and a flow control apparatus arranged to control flow of said fluid between or along said passageways to enable said flow diverting conduit string to be used for storage and extraction of gases, hydrocarbon liquids, or combinations thereof, in and from said cavern and at least one of solution mining operations, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations,wherein said at least one lateral opening is formed in said outer conduit string and is usable during solution mining to direct a flow of water to or receive a flow of brine from a dissolution zone in said subterranean borehole or said salt cavern,wherein a flow diverter is disposed in said inner passageway of said inner conduit string and has a bore communicating between said inner passageway and said at least one lateral opening, said flow diverter allowing flow past said flow diverter through said first annular passageway,and wherein an exit conduit extension projects into said subterranean borehole or said cavern through said bore of said flow diverter and a cable carrying tools for deployment in said subterranean borehole or said cavern extends through said exit conduit extension.