Patent ID: 8006767

Claim:
A flow control system for removing liquid from a well having a producing formation, the system comprising: a pump positioned in a wellbore of the well to remove liquid from the wellbore; an isolation device positioned downhole of the pump and in communication with the wellbore to substantially reduce fluid flow from a producing formation at the pump during removal of the liquid, the isolation device comprising: a valve body fixed relative to the wellbore, the valve body having a first passage and an entry port fluidly communicating with the first passage; a sealing element positioned around the valve body to seal against the wellbore; a valve spool rotatably received by the first passage of the valve body, the valve spool having a second passage, at least one uphole port positioned uphole of the sealing element and fluidly communicating with the second passage, and at least one downhole port positioned downhole of the sealing element and fluidly communicating with the second passage, the valve spool being rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the open position providing for the alignment of the downhole port and the entry port to allow fluid flow through the second passage, thereby bypassing the sealing element, the closed position providing for the misalignment of the downhole port and the entry port to substantially reduce fluid flow through the second passage, thereby substantially reducing fluid flow past the sealing element; and a rotator positioned at a surface of the well and operably connected to the valve spool to selectively rotate the valve spool between the open and closed positions; wherein the pump removes liquid when the valve spool is placed in the closed position.