Patent ID: 7080686
Filing Date: 2006-07-25
Classification: E21B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for extracting, transporting and/or releasing liquid or semi-liquid material, said apparatus comprising: (a) a container; (b) an inlet/outlet for allowing material to enter and exit the apparatus; (c) a gateway disposed within a path between the container and the inlet/outlet, the gateway comprising an enclosed channel that has an interior surface; and (d) pressure-control means for controlling gas pressure within the container, wherein in tracing a pathway through the enclosed channel of the gateway, starting from the inlet/outlet side of the gateway and ending at the container side of the gateway, with the apparatus in its operational position, the pathway first passes above a first point on the interior surface of the enclosed channel and then underneath a second point on the interior surface of the enclosed channel, wherein the first point is higher than the second point with the apparatus in its operational position, wherein the apparatus is configured such that, when in operational use, the material entering the inlet/outlet does not flow into or past the pressure-control means, and wherein the inlet/outlet has a minimum dimension that is at least ¼ inch in length.