System and methodology for controlling actuation of devices downhole

A system, comprising:

• a well string having a plurality of flow control valves shiftable between open and closed positions via movement of a flow control valve actuator piston, each flow control valve being coupled with an open hydraulic line and a close hydraulic line via a hydraulic circuit, the open hydraulic line and the close hydraulic line being configured to deliver hydraulic actuating fluid under suitable pressure to move the flow control valve actuating piston;
• the hydraulic circuit being coupled between the open hydraulic line and the close hydraulic line, the hydraulic circuit enabling a complete stroke of the flow control valve actuator piston within an actuator piston cylinder in a close direction by supplying the hydraulic actuating fluid through the close hydraulic line, the hydraulic circuit further comprising a hydraulic enabled regulator to control incremental movement of the flow control valve actuator piston within the actuator piston cylinder in an open direction, the hydraulic enabled regulator having a plurality of pistons arranged to supply a plurality of volumes of hydraulic actuating fluid so the flow control valve actuator piston is moved along the actuator piston cylinder in increments of different lengths, wherein the plurality of pistons comprises a larger piston movable in a cylinder, the larger piston having an internal cavity in fluid communication with an interior of the cylinder via a port;
• and a smaller piston movable within the internal cavity of the larger piston.

A method, comprising:

• positioning a flow control valve along a well string;
• coupling the flow control valve with a hydraulic circuit which operates to control delivery of actuating fluid to a flow control valve actuating piston when the flow control valve is shifted to different operational positions;
• and
• using the hydraulic circuit to limit movement of the flow control valve actuating piston to desired incremental movements when the flow control valve is shifted toward an open position by delivering different volumes of actuating fluid to the flow control valve actuating piston by employing a hydraulic enabled regulator having a dual piston arrangement, the dual piston arrangement comprising a smaller piston slidably mounted within an interior cavity of a larger piston.