Patent ID: 6962204

Claim:
An isolation container apparatus for isolating a downhole pump assembly and a fluid pumped therethough from a wellbore therearound, the apparatus comprising: an isolation container constructed and arranged to sealingly house the downhole pump assembly when the downhole pump assembly is oriented to pump fluids towards an earth formation; a sealed inlet in an upper wall of the container permitting the passage of a fluid into an interior of the container, the sealed inlet being configured to receive a tubular string; an upper coupling connecting the tubular string and an upper end of the pump assembly, the upper coupling having at least one outlet port therein; a sealed outlet in a lower wall of the container permitting the passage of a pumped fluid from the interior of the container, the sealed inlet receiving a lower tubular member; a lower coupling connecting a lower end of the pump assembly and the lower tubular member, the lower coupling having at least one inlet port therein through which fluids are delivered to the pump assembly; and a fluid path formed around the pump assembly permitting fluid to flow from the at least one outlet port into the at least one inlet port.