1. A system for producing oil and gas from a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the system comprising:
(a) the wellbore lined with a casing, the wellbore having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the wellbore being adjacent the subterranean formation, wherein the wellbore is configured to receive production fluids and gas from a production zone of the subterranean formation, further wherein the casing is tubular in shape with an interior cavity;
(b) production tubing positioned within the interior cavity of the casing;
(c) a pump connected to the production tubing, the pump being adapted for lifting hydrocarbons within the production tubing;
(d) an isolation sleeve positioned circumferentially outside of the production tubing and within the interior cavity of the casing,
(e) an inner space between the isolation sleeve and the production tubing;
(f) an outer space between the isolation sleeve and the casing;
(g) the isolation sleeve being configured to facilitate the upward movement, within the outer space, of the production fluids and gas towards the upper end of the wellbore; and
(h) the isolation sleeve being configured to facilitate the downward movement, within the inner space, of the production fluids toward the lower end of the wellbore, and
(i) wherein the wellbore being drilled to a depth having a subterranean formation temperature that is high enough to elevate a temperature of the production fluids to a predetermined temperature such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by at least the depth of the wellbore, and
(j) wherein the system being configured for transferring heat carried by the production fluids to the upper end of the wellbore to reduce viscosity of the production fluids, increase production rate, reduce formation of gas hydrates, reduce formation of paraffins, or any combination thereof in the wellbore.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump is being adapted for transmission of heat to the production fluids in the inner space such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by the depth of the wellbore, the pump, or any combination thereof.
3. The system of claim 2, the system further comprising at least one heating element positioned to contact the production fluids in the inner space such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by the depth of the wellbore, the pump, the at least one heating element, or any combination thereof.
4. The system of claim 3, the system further comprising at least one orifice positioned to contact the production fluids in the inner space such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by the depth of the wellbore, the pump, the at least one heating element, the at least one orifice, or any combination thereof.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature is higher than a production zone temperature of the production zone.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ported bushing sub, wherein the ported bushing sub is configured to receive production fluids and gas from the outer space and facilitate the movement of the production fluids to the inner space.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the ported bushing sub is positioned adjacent a gas collection space, wherein production fluids and gas from the inner space may proceed above the ported bushing sub for separation such that gas is accumulated in the gas collection space while production fluids are provided to the inner space through the ported bushing sub for transport downhole.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein an annular seal locator sub is positioned above the gas collection space, the annular seal locator sub being configured for releasing gas from the gas collection space towards the upper end of the wellbore.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein a safety valve is positioned upon the annular seal locator sub for controlling gas release from the gas collection space.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the annular seal locator sub is adapted for sealed engagement with a polished bore receptacle.
11. A method of producing oil and gas from a wellbore, the wellbore having a casing penetrating a subterranean formation, the wellbore having an upper end and a lower end, the wellbore configured to receive production fluids and gas from a production zone of the subterranean formation, and the wellbore being drilled to a depth having a subterranean formation temperature that is high enough to elevate a temperature of the production fluids to a predetermined temperature, the method comprising:
(a) providing production tubing within an interior cavity of the casing, the production tubing being connected to a pump, the pump being adapted for lifting hydrocarbons within the production tubing;
(b) providing an isolation sleeve positioned circumferentially outside of the production tubing and within the interior cavity the casing, there being an inner space between the isolation sleeve and the production tubing, further providing an outer space between the isolation sleeve and the casing;
(c) moving production fluids and gas within the outer space towards the upper end of the wellbore;
(d) separating the production fluids from the gas;
(e) moving production fluids downward within the inner space adjacent the pump;
(f) transferring heat from the depth of the wellbore to the production fluids;
(g) elevating the temperature of the production fluids to the predetermined temperature by at least the depth of the wellbore; and
(h) transferring heat carried by the production fluids towards the upper end of the wellbore to reduce viscosity of the production fluids, increase production rate, reduce formation of gas hydrates, reduce formation of paraffins, or any combination thereof in the wellbore.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transferring heat from the pump to the production fluids in the inner space such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by the depth of the wellbore, the pump, or any combination thereof.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing at least one heating element to contact the production fluids in the inner space such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by the depth of the wellbore, the pump, the at least one heating element, or any combination thereof.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing at least one orifice to contact the production fluids in the inner space such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by the depth of the wellbore, the pump, the at least one heating element, the at least one orifice, or any combination thereof.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined temperature is higher than a production zone temperature of the production zone.
16. A system for isolating gas in a wellbore, the wellbore having a casing with an interior cavity formed by an interior surface, the wellbore having an upper end and a lower end, the wellbore configured to receive production fluids and gas from a production zone of a subterranean formation, and the wellbore being drilled to a depth having a subterranean formation temperature that is high enough to elevate a temperature of the production fluids to a predetermined temperature, the system comprising:
(a) a polished bore receptacle forming a seal with the interior surface of the casing; and
(b) an annular seal locator sub mated with the polished bore receptacle, the annular seal locator sub being configured to form a collection space below the annular seal locator sub to collect gas within the casing of the wellbore, the annular seal locator sub further comprising at least one penetration adapted for a safety valve, and
(c) wherein the wellbore being drilled to a depth having a subterranean formation temperature that is high enough to elevate a temperature of the production fluids to a predetermined temperature such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by at least the depth of the wellbore, and
(d) wherein the system being configured for transferring heat carried by the production fluids to the upper end of the wellbore to reduce viscosity of the production fluids, increase production rate, reduce formation of gas hydrates, reduce formation of paraffins, or any combination thereof in the wellbore.
17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:
a production tubing positioned within the casing and extend through the annular seal locator sub;
an isolation sleeve positioned circumferentially outside of the production tubing and within the casing;
an inner space between the isolation sleeve and the production tubing; and
an outer space between the isolation sleeve and the casing,
wherein the isolation sleeve is configured to facilitate the upward movement, within the outer space, of production fluids and gas towards the upper end of the wellbore, and
wherein the isolation sleeve is configured to facilitate the downward movement, within the inner space, of production fluids toward the lower end of the wellbore.
18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a pump connected to the production tubing, the pump being positioned downhole from the annular seal locator sub, the pump further being adapted for lifting hydrocarbons within the production tubing, wherein the pump is being adapted for transmission of heat to the production fluids in the inner space such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by the depth of the wellbore, the pump, or any combination thereof.
19. The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one heating element positioned to contact the production fluids in the inner space such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by the depth of the wellbore, the pump, the at least one heating element, or any combination thereof.
20. The system of claim 19, further comprising at least one orifice positioned to contact the production fluids in the inner space such that the temperature of the production fluids is elevated to the predetermined temperature by the depth of the wellbore, the pump, the at least one heating element, the at least one orifice, or any combination thereof.
21. The system of claim 16, wherein the predetermined temperature is higher than a production zone temperature of the production zone.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
a sheet tray for stacking and storing a plurality of sheets of paper, the sheet tray capable of being pulled out in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feed direction;
a pair of side regulating members for regulating both lateral surfaces of the sheets, the regulating members being provided over the sheet tray and perpendicular to the sheet feed direction;
a vacuum belt provided between the pair of side regulating members to suck a sheet of paper from above the sheets of paper stacked on the sheet tray and feed the sheets of paper; and
a moving mechanism for moving the vacuum belt or one of the pair of side regulating members that is provided on a back side of the other of the pair of side regulating members in the direction of pulling out the sheet tray in the vertical directions, in such a way that, when the feeding of sheets inside the sheet tray is enabled, the uppermost ends of the side regulating members are higher than the lowermost surface of the vacuum belt and when the sheet tray is pulled out, the uppermost end of the side regulating member provided on the back side is lower than the lowermost surface of the vacuum belt.
2. The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is a vacuum belt moving device which moves the vacuum belt in vertical directions.
3. The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vacuum belt moving mechanism comprises a cam and a cam follower arranged between the sheet tray and the vacuum belt.
4. The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vacuum type belt is swingable around a shaft.
5. The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is a side regulating member moving device.
6. The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the side regulating member moving device comprises a cam and a cam follower both are arranged between a main body side of the sheet feeding apparatus sheet and the side regulating member provided on the back side.
7. The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the side regulating member provided on the back side comprises an elastic body which biases upward the side regulating member and a guide member which guides displacement of the side regulating member in the vertical direction.
8. The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the a size of the vacuum belt in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feed direction is smaller than a size of the sheets of paper stacked on the sheet tray in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feed direction.
9. The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein a flap is arranged on the top of the side regulating member which protrudes to the upper surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet tray.
10. A housing comprising:
a sheet feeding apparatus, the sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
a sheet tray for stacking and storing a plurality of sheets of paper, the sheet tray capable of being pulled out in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feed direction;
a pair of side regulating members for regulating both lateral surfaces of the sheets, the regulating members being provided over the sheet tray and perpendicular to the sheet feed direction;
a vacuum belt provided between the pair of side regulating members to suck a sheet of paper from above the sheets of paper stacked on the sheet tray and feed the sheets of paper; and
a moving mechanism for moving the vacuum belt or one of the pair of side regulating members that is provided on a back side of the other of the pair of side regulating members in the direction of pulling out the sheet tray in the vertical directions, in such a way that, when the feeding of sheets inside the sheet tray is enabled, the uppermost ends of the side regulating members are higher than the lowermost surface of the vacuum belt and when the sheet tray is pulled out, the uppermost end of the side regulating member provided on the back side is lower than the lowermost surface of the vacuum belt;
wherein the housing is adapted to be used in the form integrally combined with an image forming apparatus.
11. The housing of claim 10, wherein a plurality of the sheet feeding apparatuses are incorporated in the housing.
12. An image forming apparatus integrally comprising:
a housing comprising a sheet feeding apparatus; and
an image forming section which forms an image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding apparatus,
the sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
a sheet tray for stacking and storing a plurality of sheets of paper, the sheet tray capable of being pulled out in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feed direction;
a pair of side regulating members for regulating both lateral surfaces of the sheets, the regulating members being provided over the sheet tray and perpendicular to the sheet feed direction;
a vacuum belt provided between the pair of side regulating members to suck a sheet of paper from above the sheets of paper stacked on the sheet tray and feed the sheets of paper; and
a moving mechanism for moving the vacuum belt or one of the pair of side regulating members that is provided on a back side of the other of the pair of side regulating members in the direction of pulling out the sheet tray in the vertical directions, in such a way that, when the feeding of sheets inside the sheet tray is enabled, the uppermost ends of the side regulating members are higher than the lowermost surface of the vacuum belt and when the sheet tray is pulled out, the uppermost end of the side regulating member provided on the back side is lower than the lowermost surface of the vacuum belt.