Patent ID: 6932160

Claim:
A well pump apparatus, comprising: a rotary pump adapted to be suspended in a well on a string of tubing, the pump having an intake for receiving well fluid and a discharge for discharging well fluid into the tubing; an electrical motor adapted to be supported by the string of tubing and operatively coupled to the pump for rotating the pump; a barrier adapted to locate in the well below the intake of the pump and block well fluid from flowing from below the barrier directly to the intake of the pump; and a riser having an inlet in communication with a lower side of the barrier and having an outlet above an effective level of the intake of the pump for flowing well fluid from below the barrier to above the effective level of the intake of the pump, causing liquid components of the well fluid to flow back downward to enter the intake of the pump, and freeing gas components of the well fluid to flow upward around the tubing.