US Patent 7363983 ESP/gas lift back-up

A well production system has a string of production tubing with a junction having two legs. A first leg is sealed to the casing by a packer located above well perforations. A submersible pump assembly is secured to a second leg, the pump having an intake in the tubing annulus surrounding the first leg. A gas lift valve is secured to the tubing. A port in the first leg allows well fluid to flow out of the first leg to the intake while in the pumping mode. In the pumping mode, a barrier is placed in the first leg above the port and the port opened to cause well fluid to the pump intake. In the gas lift mode, the port is closed and a barrier is placed between the second leg and the first leg.