Patent ID: 7789142

Claim:
A method for removing liquid from a gas well comprising a wellbore extending from an earth surface to penetrate a subterranean gas-bearing formation and a casing positioned in the wellbore, the casing including perforations to permit gas to flow from the subterranean gas-bearing formation into an inside of the casing, the method consisting essentially of: a) sealingly positioning a packer in the casing above the perforations to sealingly close an inside of the casing; b) positioning a pump beneath a first liquid surface below the packer in the casing; c) producing electrical power with an energy recovery system by passing a gas recovered from the subterranean gas-bearing formation at a pressure greater than a pressure at the earth surface through the energy recovery system; d) powering the pump with the electrical power and operating the pump at a variable rate to maintain the first liquid surface below a first selected level by pumping liquid via a line through the packer to the earth surface; and, e) providing a liquid drain through the packer and draining liquid from above the packer to maintain a second liquid surface above the packer at a second selected level, wherein the second selected level is maintained at a depth above the packer to provide a hydrostatic head pressure in the liquid drain greater than a gas pressure drop through the energy recovery system.