What does a choke do?

Maybe someone already has answered you, but my simple understanding is that wells are choked (or narrowed) so as to maintain higher natural gas pressures down within the well for a longer period of time, so as to hopefully thereby maximize the ultimate total oil production from the well. (Sometimes, slow and steady DOES win the race.)

The pressure (“natural” is better/cheaper than “artificial” via pumpjacks, etc.) is what continues to help push the oil up and out of the well.

Another basic reason for narrowing the choke is to keep frac sand, etc. better in place down in the well. If the frac sand all gushes up and out through a wide-open choke, there’s nothing left behind in the (Buda) rock formation to keep the channels open down below so that the oil can yet flow up the well.

Good luck!