Patent ID: 7497667

Claim:
A jet pump assembly for removing fluid from a well bore extending into a formation and lined by a casing having perforations open to the formation, comprising: a tubing string positioned in the casing and forming an annulus with the casing; a jet pump comprising a body having an outer surface, a lower tubular end, an upper tubular end connected to a lower end of the tubing string, and a central axial bore intersecting the upper tubular end at a discharge end and extending partially through the pump body toward the lower tubular end, the pump body further having a plurality of radial inlet ports extending from the outer surface of the pump body and intersecting the central axial bore to provide a first fluid flow path from the annulus to the upper tubular end of the body and a plurality of production ports extending from the lower tubular end to the upper tubular end in a non-intersecting relation to the inlet ports to provide a second fluid flow path from the lower tubular end to the upper tubular end, the production ports and the central axial bore intersecting the upper tubular end of the body in a coplanar relationship relative to one another, the central axial bore having a substantially uniform diameter from the point the inlet ports intersect the central axial bore to the discharge end of the central axial bore so that the central axial bore provides a non-restricted flow path from the inlet ports into the upper tubular end of the body; and a packer connected to the lower tubular end of the body of the jet pump and sealed against the interior of the casing above the perforations of the casing whereby a compressed gas injected into the annulus is caused to pass into the inlet ports of the body of the jet pump, through the central axial bore, and up into the upper tubular end of the body and the tubing string to the surface so as to cause fluid located below the lower tubular end to be lifted up through the production ports, mix with the compressed gas in the upper tubular end and the tubing string, and be lifted up the tubing string to the surface.