Patent ID: 8657014

Claim:
An artificial lift system for use in a well, the well extending from the surface of the earth into a producing formation, the well having an annulus, the system comprising: a) a downhole fluid lifting mechanism located in the well, the fluid lifting mechanism having a fluid operating level wherein fluid located at the fluid operating level is operated on by the fluid lifting mechanism to be lifted to the surface, the downhole fluid lifting mechanism comprising a sucker rod pump, having a plunger located in a barrel with one of the plunger or the barrel reciprocating relative to the other of the plunger in the barrel, with a dip tube extending from the pump to a remote intake located below the fluid operating level; b) the annulus being in fluid communication with the remote intake independent of the fluid lifting mechanism; c) a compressed gas source independent of the producing formation and connected to the well annulus so as to provide compressed gas at a pressure sufficient to move fluids in the well from the remote intake to the fluid operating level; d) at least one isolation element that prevents the compressed gas in the annulus from entering the producing formation.