Well control systems employing downhole network

• US 5,959,547 A
• Filed: 09/17/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Tubel, Paulo, Holcombe, Michael Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/932,009
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 340/853.2, 166/372, 166/374, 166/205.01, 370/60, 370/229, 370/85.3
• US Class Current: 340/853.2
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1275 inflated by down-hole pumping means operated by a down-hole drive
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/06 using chemical means for preventing or limiting , e.g. eliminating, the deposition of paraffins or like substances
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/02 in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/122 Gas lift
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/385 by reinjecting the separated materials into an earth formation in the same well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/017 Protecting measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/107 using acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/11 using tracers; using radioactivity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/52 Structural details
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B

Abstract

A plurality of downhole control systems interconnected by a network including a server for monitoring and controlling network communications. Each downhole control system is associated with a zone in one or more wells. The downhole control systems communicate directly with each other transferring information and commands as necessary. The downhole server monitors network communications to resolve data collisions and provides supervisory functions.

Claims

1. A downhole network for monitoring and controlling downhole conditions, said network comprising:

a plurality of downhole control systems; and

a network connected to each of said downhole control systems for providing communications between a first downhole control system and a second downhole control system.

2. The downhole network of claim 1 further comprising a server connected to said network for monitoring and controlling network communications.

3. The downhole network of claim 2 wherein said server polls said downhole control systems for responses.

4. The downhole network of claim 2 wherein when said server detects a data collision on said network said server transmits a command to each downhole control system instructing each downhole control system to cease communications.

5. The downhole network of claim 4 wherein upon receiving the command to cease communications, each downhole control system delays a predetermined time period prior to attempting communications.

6. The downhole network of claim 5 wherein each downhole control systems delays for a different predetermined time period.

7. The downhole network of claim 1 wherein said downhole control systems include a microprocessor.

8. The downhole network of claim 1 wherein said downhole control systems include communication devices for communicating over said network.

9. The downhole network of claim 1 wherein said first downhole control system communicates directly with said second downhole control system.

10. A production well control system comprising:

a surface computer system; and

a downhole network for monitoring and controlling downhole conditions, said network comprising;

a plurality of downhole control systems;

a network connected to each of said downhole control systems for providing communications between a first downhole control system and a second downhole control system; and

a server connected to said network for monitoring and controlling network communications;

wherein said surface computer system communicates with said server.