Oil anchor

An apparatus for the production of petroleum, comprising:

• a primary pump intake tube comprising an opening,
• an oil anchor generally encircling the primary pump intake tube, the oil anchor comprising a protective cap on the base of the oil anchor, the oil anchor further comprising intake holes, the oil anchor further comprising vent holes above the opening of the primary pump intake tube,
• a casing generally encircling the oil anchor, a casing annulus formed between the casing and the oil anchor and
• perforations in the casing that are below the opening of the primary pump intake tube and are above the intake holes of the oil anchor, wherein the casing annulus is open between the intake holes of the oil anchor and the opening of the pump intake tube to vent gas entering the perforations.

A method of petroleum of production, comprising:

• providing a pump intake tube comprising an opening,
• providing an oil anchor generally encircling the pump intake tube, the oil anchor comprising an open base, the oil anchor further comprising vent holes above the opening of the pump intake tube,
• providing a casing generally encircling the oil anchor,
• locating perforations in the casing below the opening of the pump intake tube and above the open base of the oil anchor,
• venting gas that enters the perforation through the casing annulus, wherein the casing annulus is open between the open base of the oil anchor and the opening of the pump intake tube, and
• pumping a produced fluid comprising petroleum and water.

An apparatus for the production of petroleum, comprising:

• a pump intake tube comprising an opening,
• an oil anchor generally encircling the pump intake tube, the oil anchor comprising an opening, the oil anchor comprising vent holes in the oil anchor above the opening of the pump intake tube,
• a casing generally encircling the oil anchor,
• a casing annulus formed between the casing and the oil anchor, perforations in the casing that are below the opening of the pump intake tube and are above the opening of the oil anchor, and
• the casing annulus is open between the opening of the oil anchor and the opening of the pump intake tube to vent gas entering the perforations.