Gas anchor and treating device

In a borehole that extends into a fluid producing formation, there being a downhole pump arranged within the borehole with the suction end thereof located in the formation fluid, the method of treating produced fluid from the borehole before the fluid enters the pump suction comprising the steps of:

• connecting a housing to the pump suction in series relationship therewith so that any formation fluid that flows into the pump must first flow into the housing and then to the pump suction;
• supporting an elongated rod member within said housing so that an annular passage means is formed therebetween and any formation fluid flowing through the housing is brought into intimate contact with the outer surface of the rod member and the inner surface of the housing;
• selecting said housing and said rod member from an alloy consisting of a mixture of the following metals:
• copper zinc, nickel, lead, and tin;
• said mixture has the following range of composition:
• copper:
• 40-66%;
• zinc:
• 2-28%;
• nickel:
• 5-25%;
• lead:
• 2-12%;
• and,
• tin:
• 1-25%;
• and further including the steps of forming said rod member and said housing into a cylindrical cross-sectional configuration;
• forming a multiplicity of apertures into the lower marginal end of said housing;
• mounting said rod member in axially aligned relationship such that it is telescopingly received within said housing thereby forming said annular passage means;
• closing the lower end of said housing to thereby force all of the formation fluid to flow through said apertures;
• positioning a lower marginal end of said rod in the perforated lower marginal end of said housing and positioning an upper marginal end of said rod in the upper imperforate marginal end of said housing so that all of the formation fluid flows directly from the borehole, through said perforations, then only along said annulus in intimate contact with said alloy as it is forced through said annular passage means;
• and directly to the pump suction.