Patent ID: 6173784
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A method of production of hydrocarbons from a well having a bottomhole and a wellhead and communicating with a formation, the method comprising the steps of producing a flow of hydrocarbon-containing formation fluid from the formation at the bottomhole of the well; transforming the flow of the formation fluid at a location of transformation into a finely-dispersed gas-liquid flow with a liberated gas forming a part of the gas-liquid flow, so that a column of the formation fluid is formed in the well from the depth of the formation to the location of transformation, and a column of the finely-dispersed gas-liquid flow with a liberated gas is formed in the well between the location of transformation and the wellhead; and maintaining pressure of the formation fluid below the location of transformation higher than saturation pressure by adjusting flow cross-section and speed of flow of the formation fluid near the location of transformation in response to change in pressure of the formation fluid below the location of transformation.