US Patent 7841399 Pressure and friction reducing flow adapter

A flow adapter includes an adapter body which defines a central axial flow bore and one or more lateral flow openings for fluid communication between the central flow bore and a production tubing flowbore surrounding the adapter. The central axial flow bore of the flow adapter provides a flow restriction which creates a pressure drop across the flow adapter. The flow restriction may be in the form of a conically tapered flowbore wherein the downstream end of the flowbore has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the upstream end of the flowbore.