SNEAK PATH ELIMINATOR FOR DIODE MULTIPLEXED CONTROL OF DOWNHOLE WELL TOOLS
First Claim
1. A system for selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools in a well, the system comprising:
- at least one control device for each of the well tools, such that a particular one of the well tools can be actuated when a respective control device is selected;
conductors connected to the control devices, whereby each of the control devices can be selected by applying a predetermined voltage potential across a respective predetermined pair of the conductors; and
at least one lockout device for each of the control devices, whereby the lockout devices prevent current from flowing through the respective control devices if the voltage potential across the respective predetermined pair of the conductors is less than a predetermined minimum.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sneak path elimination in diode multiplexed control of downhole well tools. A system for selectively actuating multiple well tools includes a control device for each tool, a well tool being operable by selecting a respective control device; conductors connected to the control devices, which are selectable by applying a predetermined voltage across a respective predetermined pair of the conductors; and at least one lockout device for each control device, the lockout devices preventing current from flowing through the respective control devices when voltage across the respective predetermined pair of the conductors is less than a predetermined minimum. A method includes selecting a well tools for actuation by applying a predetermined minimum voltage to a set of conductors; and preventing actuation of another well tool when the predetermined minimum voltage is not applied across another set of conductors, at least one conductor being common to the two sets of conductors.
105 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A system for selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools in a well, the system comprising:
-
at least one control device for each of the well tools, such that a particular one of the well tools can be actuated when a respective control device is selected; conductors connected to the control devices, whereby each of the control devices can be selected by applying a predetermined voltage potential across a respective predetermined pair of the conductors; and at least one lockout device for each of the control devices, whereby the lockout devices prevent current from flowing through the respective control devices if the voltage potential across the respective predetermined pair of the conductors is less than a predetermined minimum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools in a well, the method comprising the steps of:
-
selecting a first one of the well tools for actuation by applying a predetermined minimum voltage potential to a first set of conductors in the well; and preventing actuation of a second one of the well tools when the predetermined minimum voltage potential is not applied across a second set of conductors in the well, at least one of the first set of conductors being the same as at least one of the second set of conductors. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools in a well, the system comprising:
-
at least one control device for each of the well tools, such that a particular one of the well tools can be actuated when a respective control device is selected; conductors connected to the control devices, whereby each of the control devices can be selected by applying a predetermined voltage potential across a respective predetermined pair of the conductors; and at least one lockout device for each of the control devices, whereby each lockout device prevents a respective control device from being selected if the voltage potential across the respective predetermined pair of the conductors is less than a predetermined minimum. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification