Patent ID: 6511041
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: E21B,F16K

Abstract:
A gas-lift system for controlling flow from an external gas source into a production tube for enhancing production of fluid from said product tube, comprising:a production tube for conveying fluid from a subterranean source to surface level; a conduit for communicating an interior of said production tube with a location exterior of said production tube; and a valve member positioned in said conduit and having an inner wall defining a flow passage having a longitudinal axis, said valve member having a planar inlet end and an outlet end, said inner wall diverging from said inlet end to said outlet end so that said flow passage increases in cross sectional area from said inlet end to said outlet end wherein said valve passage of said valve member has a minimum cross sectional area at said inlet end and a maximum cross sectional area at said outlet end and wherein a ratio of said minimum cross sectional area to said maximum cross sectional area of said valve member is between about 0.071 and about 0.444.