Pumping system including flow directing shoe

Abstract

A well pumping system for pumping a fluid having a liquid and a gas is disclosed which system includes a well casing and a production tube set within the well casing so as to define an annular space between the production tube and the well casing, the production tube including a shoe comprising a hollow tubular article having a substantially cylindrical wall defining a first flow passage, a second flow passage being formed within the wall of the shoe, the first flow passage having a first inlet for the liquid and a first outlet to the annular space, the second flow passage having a second inlet for the gas and a second outlet to the production tube, whereby the liquid is produced through the annular space and the gas is produced through the production tube. The pumping system preferably includes a pump for pumping the liquid to the first inlet, and a rod string for actuating the pump, the rod string being disposed within the production tube, whereby the rod string is substantially isolated from the liquid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.