Multi-stage hydrocarbon lifting

A wellbore tool system comprising:

• a production tubing disposed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone, the production tubing extending from a surface of the wellbore to a downhole location in the wellbore at which hydrocarbons entrapped in the subterranean zone enter the wellbore;
• a plurality of valves disposed in the production tubing at a respective plurality of tubing locations, each valve configured to permit one-way flow of hydrocarbons in an uphole direction, wherein the plurality of valves divide the production tubing into a plurality of stages, a stage being a portion of the production tubing between two successively disposed valves;
• a plurality of gas injection valves coupled to the production tubing, each gas injection valve disposed in a respective stage;
• and
• a controller coupled to the plurality of valves and the plurality of gas injection valves, the controller configured to transmit signals to the plurality of valves and the plurality of gas injection valves to lift hydrocarbons flowed into the wellbore at the downhole location to the surface on a stage-by-stage basis.

A method comprising:

• in a production tubing disposed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone, the production tubing extending from a surface of the wellbore to a downhole location in the wellbore at which hydrocarbons entrapped in the subterranean zone enter the wellbore, a plurality of valves disposed in the production tubing at a respective plurality of tubing locations, each valve configured to permit one-way flow of hydrocarbons in an uphole direction, wherein the plurality of valves divide the production tubing into a plurality of stages, a stage being a portion of the production tubing between two successively disposed valves,
• injecting gas into a first stage carrying hydrocarbons causing the hydrocarbons to flow into a second stage uphole of the first stage;
• ceasing to inject the gas into the first stage in response to determining that the hydrocarbons flowed to the second stage;
• and
• after ceasing to inject the gas into the first stage, injecting gas into the second stage causing the hydrocarbons to flow into a third stage uphole of the second stage.