Wireless gas lift

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having executable code stored thereon for controlling an injection of lift gas into a wellbore, the executable code comprising instructions causing a processor inside the wellbore to perform operations comprising:

• when communication with a controller on surface is suspended, autonomously controlling operation of a lift gas valve unit from within the wellbore to operate the lift gas valve unit by generating actuation signals causing the lift gas valve unit to open and close at designated opening and closing pressures in the wellbore;
• communicating with surface to be reprogrammed with updated control parameters that are based on a change monitored in the wellbore;
• operating using the updated control parameters;
• resetting the control parameters to default control parameters;
• and
• operating using the default control parameters.

A well system comprising:

• production tubing in a wellbore;
• an annulus between the production tubing and sidewalls of the wellbore;
• a communication system that provides selective communication between surface and inside the wellbore that intersects a subterranean formation;
• a processor in communication with the communication system, the processor disposed on the surface outside the wellbore;
• and
• a lift gas valve unit disposed in the wellbore, the lift gas valve unit comprising, a valve actuator, a valve member coupled with the valve actuator and selectively moveable in response to an operation of the valve actuator to an open configuration that allows fluid communication between the annulus and a bore of the production tubing and to a closed configuration that defines a barrier to fluid communication between the annulus and the bore of the production tubing, and a valve controller in operational communication with the valve actuator and programmable with commands for autonomous operation of the valve actuator when communication with the processor is suspended, the commands comprising,
• first instructions for the lift gas valve unit to cause the valve actuator to move the valve member into the open configuration when pressure in the annulus is at a first designated open pressure and to move the valve member into the closed configuration when pressure in the annulus is at a first designated close pressure, and
• second instructions for the lift gas valve unit to cause the valve actuator to move the valve member into the open configuration when pressure in production tubing is at a second designated open pressure and to move the valve member into the closed configuration when pressure in production tubing is at a second designated close pressure;
• and wherein the valve controller selects either the first instructions or the second instructions.