Gas assisted downhole pump

An artificial lift system for use in a deviated wellbore extending from the surface into the earth and having reservoir fluids and a pressured gas source, comprising:

• a casing in the wellbore;
• a gas lift system configured to inject a pressured gas from the surface through a first tubing string to commingle with and lift the reservoir fluids toward the surface in said first tubing string;
• a downhole pump adapted to pump reservoir fluids from said first tubing string through a second tubing string to the surface;
• and
• a packer disposed between said first tubing string and said casing, wherein said first tubing string extending through said packer and said second tubing string not extending through said packer;
• wherein a portion of said first tubing string contains an inner tubing string that has a first end nearest the surface and a second end farthest from the surface,
• wherein said inner tubing string is configured to move pressured as said first tubing string toward the reservoir,
• wherein said inner tubing string extends through said packer,
• wherein said first end is located above said packer and below the surface,
• wherein said second end is located in the reservoir,
• wherein a space between the first tubing string and the inner tubing string forms an annulus configured to move the commingled pressured gas and reservoir fluids away from the reservoir while the pressured gas is moved toward the reservoir,
• wherein said first end is connected with said first tubing string with a bushing configured to block said annulus,
• wherein said second end is in fluid communication with said annulus, and
• wherein said first tubing string comprises an opening below said bushing and above said packer that is configured to allow communication between the wellbore and said annulus and the passing of the commingled pressured gas and reservoir fluids through said opening.

A method for producing a reservoir fluid including reservoir liquid from a deviated wellbore originating at the earth's surface, comprising the steps of:

• injecting a pressured gas from the surface through a first portion of a first tubing string extending from the surface into the wellbore and then through a second portion of the first tubing string extending through a packer disposed in a casing into the reservoir, wherein said second portion of the first tubing string contains an inner tubing string having a first end that is in the wellbore above said packer and below the surface and a second end that is in the reservoir;
• moving the pressured gas through the inner tubing string after moving the pressured gas through said first portion of the first tubing string,
• isolating a second tubing string from the reservoir with said packer;
• commingling the pressured gas with the reservoir fluid to be lifted;
• lifting the commingled pressured gas and reservoir fluid through an annulus between the first tubing string and the inner tubing string and through the packer away from the reservoir using the pressured gas while the pressured gas is simultaneously moved through the inner tubing string toward the reservoir;
• blocking the commingled pressured gas and reservoir fluid in said annulus above said packer and below the surface;
• redirecting the blocked commingled pressured gas and reservoir fluid through an opening located in the first tubing string above said packer and below the surface that allows communication between the wellbore and said annulus;
• separating the pressured gas and reservoir liquid above the packer and in the wellbore;
• and
• pumping the reservoir liquid from the first tubing string to the surface through the second tubing string during the step of injecting.