Abstract: An intermittent gas-lift apparatus and process of lifting liquids is described. The apparatus includes a chamber on the downhole end of a production tubing in communication with a sidestring tube. The sidestring tube is in communication with the high pressure gas stored within the casing above and below a packer. A valve in the sidestring permits the entrance of a lifting gas into the chamber to lift the liquids flowing therein to the surface. A surface bleed-down system minimizes the pressure in the production tubing. This increases the pressure differential between the formation and the interior of the casing and lifting chamber during the operation of the apparatus. The apparatus and process are suitable for use in many types of wells including wells of great depth and also those containing long hydrocarbon producing zones and/or deviated wells.