Controllable gas-lift well and valve

A controllable gas-lift well, comprising:

• a wellbore extending into the earth from the surface;
• a tubing positioned and longitudinally extending within the wellbore;
• and
• a gas-lift valve coupled to the tubing in the wellbore, the valve being adjustable to regulate the fluid flow between an interior and an exterior of the tubing, the valve being powered by using the tubing as an electrical conductor.

A controllable gas-lift well, comprising:

• a wellbore extending from a first location to a second location;
• a casing positioned and longitudinally extending within the wellbore;
• a tubing string positioned and longitudinally extending within the casing;
• and
• a controllable gas-lift valve coupled to the tubing string between the first location and the second location, the valve being adjustable to regulate the fluid flow between an interior and an exterior of the tubing string, the valve being coupled to receive electrical signals by using the tubing string as a first conductor and the casing as a second conductor.

A gas-lift valve adapted to be coupled to a tubing string, the gas-lift valve comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
• a modem adapted to be electrically coupled to the tubing string for receiving a communication signal from the tubing string;
• a power supply adapted to be electrically coupled to the tubing string for receiving power input to the tubing string;
• a mechanical valve head positioned within the housing and being adjustable for metering the amount of fluid flow between the inlet and outlet of the housing;
• and
• a controller operably connected to the modem, the valve head, and the power supply for adjusting the valve head in response to a communication signal received by the modem along the tubing string.