Gas restrictor for pump

1. An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, comprising:

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

wherein each valve member is adapted to prevent a flow of fluidic materials through a subset of the corresponding apertures.

2. An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, comprising:

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

wherein each valve member is adapted to cause a serpentine flow of fluidic materials through the corresponding apertures.

3. An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, comprising:

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

wherein each valve member is adapted to be displaced in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the housing.

4. An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, comprising:

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

wherein the valve members are free to move with respect to the tubular housing; and

wherein each valve member comprises a tubular member.

5. An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, comprising;

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

wherein the valve members are free to move with respect to the tubular housing; and

wherein each valve member comprises a tapered tubular member.

6. An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, comprising:

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

wherein each valve member comprises a ball shaped member.

7. A method of operating an intake valve for a submersible pump, the valve comprising a plurality of valve elements for controlling the flow of materials into a plurality of inlet passages defined in the valve, comprising:

controlling a degree to which materials flow into the inlet passages of the valve by permitting a gravitational force to displace the valve elements relative to the valve.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each valve element controls the degree to which materials flow into corresponding inlet passages.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each valve element is adapted to prevent a flow of fluidic materials through a subset of the corresponding inlet passages.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein each valve element is adapted to cause a serpentine flow of fluidic materials through the corresponding inlet passages,

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein each valve element is adapted to prevent a flow of fluidic materials through the corresponding inlet passages.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein each valve element is adapted to be displaced in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the valve.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein each valve element is adapted to be displaced in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the valve

14. An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:

a pump; the pump having an intake section;

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;

a motor coupled to the sealing section; and

a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;

wherein each valve member is adapted to prevent a flow of fluidic materials through a subset of the corresponding apertures.

15. An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:

a pump; the pump having an intake section;

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;

a motor coupled to the sealing section; and

a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;

wherein each valve member is adapted to cause a serpentine flow of fluidic materials through the corresponding apertures.

16. An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:

a pump; the pump having an intake section;

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;

a motor coupled to the sealing section; and

a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;

wherein each valve member is adapted to be displaced in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the housing.

17. An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:

a pump; the pump having an intake section;

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;

a motor coupled to the sealing section; and

a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;

wherein the valve members are free to move with respect to the tubular housing; and

wherein each valve member comprises a tubular member.

18. An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:

a pump; the pump having an intake section;

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;

a motor coupled to the sealing section; and

a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;

wherein the valve members are free to move with respect to the tubular housing; and

wherein each valve member comprises a tapered tubular member.

19. An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:

a pump; the pump having an intake section;

a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures; and

a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;

a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;

a motor coupled to the sealing section; and

a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;

wherein each valve member comprises a ball shaped member.

20. A method of operating a submersible pump comprising an inlet and an outlet, comprising:

positioning the pump within a wellbore casing that traverses a subterranean formation;

coupling a conduit to the outlet of the pump;

coupling a valve to the inlet of the pump that comprises a plurality of valve elements for controlling the flow of materials into a plurality of inlet passages defined in the valve;

coupling a motor to the pump; and

controlling a degree to which materials flow into the inlet passages of the valve by permitting a gravitational force to displace the valve elements relative to the valve.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein each valve element controls the degree to which materials flow into corresponding inlet passages.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein each valve element is adapted to prevent a flow of fluidic materials through a subset of the corresponding inlet passages.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein each valve element is adapted to cause a serpentine flow of fluidic materials through the corresponding inlet passages.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein each valve element is adapted to prevent a flow of fluidic materials through the corresponding inlet passages.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein each valve element is adapted to be displaced in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the valve.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein each valve element is adapted to be displaced in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the valve.