Patent ID: 7048045

Claim:
Apparatus for assisting in producing gas and water to ground surface from a subterranean formation through a flowing well having a tubular production casing string forming a longitudinal bore and having perforations in fluid communication with the formation, comprising: a tubular production tubing string forming a longitudinal bore and extending down the casing string from ground surface; a funnel connected with the lower end of the tubing string, the funnel having a bottom inlet and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough; the tubing string bore and the funnel passageway combining to form a production bore; the casing and tubing strings forming an annulus therebetween; packer means, mounted on the tubing string above the funnel, for sealing against the casing string to isolate the lower portion of the annulus beneath the packer means from the upper portion of the annulus above the packer means; the tubing string, funnel and packer means combining to form a structural unit; the funnel extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower end of the tubing string to combine with the casing string to form a gap for providing fluid communication between the lower end of the bore of the casing string with the annulus lower portion; and conduit means, carried by the unit, having an inlet communicating with the upper end of the annulus lower portion and an outlet communicating with the production bore, for conveying pressurized gas from the annulus lower portion into the production bore.