Apparatus and method for removing production-inhibiting liquid from a wellbore

An apparatus for recovering water from a wellbore, having a longitudinal axis, to a wellhead located at the earth's surface, comprising:

• a chamber for collecting water, the chamber having an upper and a lower end;
• a valve receiving means for receiving a valve coupled to the lower end of the chamber;
• a water transport tubing for transporting water from the chamber, the water transport tubing having a lower end coupled to the upper end of the chamber;
• a linear axis means for transferring a wireline into and at least partially through the chamber which is formed by an axial alignment of the lower end of the water transport tubing and the chamber about the longitudinal axis of the wellbore;
• and
• coiled tubing located externally to the water transport tubing, the coiled tubing having an upper end coupled to the wellhead and having a lower end operatively coupled to the chamber for conducting pressurized lift-gas from the wellhead to the chamber to facilitate the removal of water from the chamber.

An apparatus for recovering methane from a wellbore which penetrates at least one coal seam and for concurrently removing water from the wellbore to the surface of the earth, comprising:

• casing set within the wellbore for conducting the methane to the surface of the earth;
• perforations which penetrate the casing in regions of the wellbore which are adjacent to the at least one coal seam, the perforations allowing methane to travel from the at least one coal seam into the wellbore;
• a chamber located within a portion of the casing, the chamber having an upper end and a lower end and having a maximum longitudinal cross-sectional area;
• a seating nipple coupled to the lower end of the chamber, the seating nipple being configured for receiving a valve and having a longitudinal cross-sectional area which is smaller than the chamber's maximum longitudinal cross-sectional area;
• a water transport tubing located within the casing for transporting water to the surface of the earth, the water transport tubing having a lower end coupled to the upper end of the chamber, the lower end of the water transport tubing having a longitudinal cross-sectional area which is smaller than the chamber's maximum longitudinal cross-sectional area, the lower end of the water transport tubing, the chamber, and the seating nipple being axially aligned about the longitudinal axis of the wellbore to form a linear access means for transferring a wireline into and at least partially through the chamber;
• and
• coiled tubing operatively coupled to the chamber and located within the casing and externally to the water transport tubing for conducting pressurized lift-gas from the earth's surface to the chamber to facilitate the removal of water through the water transport tubing to the earth's surface.