Method and apparatus for the remote control and monitoring of production wells

• US 6,192,980 B1
• Filed: 01/07/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• 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: Jones, Kevin R., Tubel, Paulo S., Mullins, Albert A. II
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HOANG C
• Application Number:
  US09/003,836
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 166/313, 166/50, 166/53, 166/66, 166/52, 166/65.1, 166/369, 166/250.15, 340/853.3, 340/854.6, 340/855.3
• US Class Current: 166/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/22 Fuzzy logic, artificial intelligence, neural networks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0035 Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/01 specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
• 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 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/001 for underwater installation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/01 Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• 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 47/16 through the drill string or casing , e.g. by torsional acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system adapted for controlling and/or monitoring a plurality of production wells from a remote location is provided. This system is capable of controlling and/or monitoring: (1) a plurality of zones in a single production well; (2) a plurality of zones/wells in a single location (e.g., a single platform); or (3) a plurality of zones/wells located at a plurality of locations (e.g., multiple platforms). The multizone and/or multiwell control system of this invention is composed of multiple downhole electronically controlled electromechanical devices and multiple computer based surface systems operated from multiple locations. Important functions for these systems include the ability to predict the future flow profile of multiple wells and to monitor and control the fluid or gas flow from either the formation into the wellbore, or from the wellbore to the surface. The control system of this invention is also capable of receiving and transmitting data from multiple remote locations such as inside the borehole, to or from other platforms, or from a location away from any well site.

Claims

1. An apparatus for control of a well, including:

at least one first downhole tool disposed in said well;

a first downhole control system permanently disposed downhole in said well for controlling said first downhole tool, said first downhole control system including at least one sensor for monitoring at least one tool status parameter and said system including a communications device for transmitting said tool status parameter directly to a second downhole control system;

at least one second downhole tool disposed in said well;

a second downhole control system permanently disposed downhole in said well for controlling said second downhole tool, said second downhole control system including at least one sensor for monitoring at least one tool status parameter and said second downhole controls including a communications device for transmitting said tool status parameter to the first downhole control system, to the surface or to another location downhole.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said tool status parameter comprises confirmation of tool actuation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said communications device transmits acoustic signals.