Apparatus and method for raising a fluid in a well

An apparatus for raising a fluid in a well from a lower well region to a second well region above said lower well region, said apparatus comprising:

• a well casing present in at least said second well region;
• a stop structure positioned in said well casing at a lower end of said second well region, said stop structure having an opening extending therethrough;
• and
• a tubing assembly extending through said stop structure, said tubing assembly comprising:
• a tubing string comprising a lower portion positioned in said lower well region, said lower portion of said tubing string having one or more openings for receiving said fluid from said lower well region,
• a contacting structure positioned for contacting said stop structure in a manner effective for holding said tubing string in suspension in said well, and
• at least one exterior sealing element positioned above said one or more openings for sealing between said tubing assembly and an interior wall of said well casing.

A method of producing fluid from a well having a lower well region, said well having a casing therein comprising at least a perforated casing section located above said lower well region and an upper casing section located above said perforated casing section, said upper casing section extending to a wellhead, and said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) installing a tubing assembly in said well wherein
• said tubing assembly comprises a tubing string which is inserted downwardly into said well through a stop structure secured in said casing above said perforated casing section;
• said tubing assembly further comprises a contacting structure which contacts said stop structure such that said tubing string is held suspended in said well;
• said tubing string has a lower portion which is positioned in said lower well region, said lower portion of said tubing string having one or more openings for receiving said fluid from said lower well region such that said fluid travels upwardly through said tubing assembly from said lower well region into a lower portion of said upper casing section;
• and
• said tubing assembly also comprises at least one exterior seal which is positioned above said one or more openings and which seals between said tubing assembly and an interior wall of said casing to substantially prevent said fluid from flowing through said casing outside of said tubing assembly past said exterior seal;
• and
• (b) raising said fluid from said lower portion of said upper casing section to said wellhead.

A method of producing fluid from a well having a lower well region, said well having a casing therein comprising at least a casing obstruction located above said lower well region and an upper casing section which is located above said casing obstruction, said upper casing section extending to a wellhead, and said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) installing a tubing assembly in said well wherein
• said tubing assembly comprises a tubing string which is inserted downwardly into said well through a stop structure secured in said casing above said casing obstruction;
• said tubing assembly further comprises a contracting structure which contacts said stop structure such that said tubing string is held suspended in said well;
• said tubing string has a lower portion which is positioned in said lower well region, said lower portion of said tubing string having one or more openings for receiving said fluid from said lower well region such that said fluid travels upwardly through said tubing assembly from said lower well region into a lower portion of said upper casing section;
• and
• said tubing assembly also comprises at least one exterior seal which is positioned above said one or more openings and which seals between said tubing assembly and an interior wall of said casing to substantially prevent said fluid from flowing through said casing outside of said tubing assembly past said exterior seal;
• and
• (b) raising said fluid from said lower portion of said upper casing section to said well head.

A method of producing fluid from a well having a lower well region and an upper section above said lower well region, said upper section having a well casing extending therethrough, said lower well region having no casing therein, said upper section extending to a wellhead, and said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) installing a tubing assembly in said well wherein
• said tubing assembly comprises a tubing string which is inserted downwardly into said well through a stop structure secured in said well casing above said lower well region;
• said tubing assembly further comprises a contacting structure which contacts said stop structure such that said tubing string is held suspended in said well;
• said tubing string has a lower portion which is positioned in said lower well region;
• said lower portion of said tubing string has one or more openings for receiving said fluid from said lower well region such that said fluid travels upwardly through said tubing assembly from said lower well region into a lower portion of said upper section;
• and
• said tubing assembly also comprises at least one exterior seal which is positioned above said one or more openings and which seals between said tubing assembly and an interior wall of said well casing to substantially prevent said fluid from flowing through said well casing outside of said tubing assembly past said exterior seal;
• and
• (b) raising said fluid from said lower portion of said upper section to said wellhead.