System and method for controlling flow in a wellbore
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsReinhard Powell, Jerome Prost
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique facilitates controlling flow in a wellbore. One or more flow control valve assemblies may be designed for coupling with downhole well equipment. Each flow control valve assembly comprises a flow control valve which cooperates with a control module. The control module comprises a plurality of electrically controlled valves arranged to control flow of actuating fluid to the flow control valve. Each flow control valve assembly also comprises a hydraulic override system to enable hydraulic actuation of the flow control valve to a predetermined position when, for example, no electrical power is available for the electrically controlled valves of the control module.
Claims20
A system for controlling flow in a wellbore, comprising:
- a tubing string having a plurality of flow control valve assemblies, each flow control valve assembly comprising a flow control valve and a control module, the control module being coupled with a first hydraulic line, a second hydraulic line, and an electrical line;
- each control module comprising a plurality of solenoid valves which respond to electric signals transmitted along the electrical line to control the opening and closing of the flow control valve via fluid passing through the first and second hydraulic lines, the control module further providing a hydraulic override to enable shifting of the flow control valve without requiring electric power supplied to the control module.
A system for controlling flow, comprising:
- a flow control valve assembly configured for coupling into downhole well equipment, the flow control valve assembly comprising:
- a flow control valve;
- a control module, the control module comprising a plurality of electrically controlled valves which control flow of actuating fluid to the flow control valve;
- and
- a hydraulic override system to enable hydraulic actuation of the flow control valve to a predetermined position when the plurality of electrically controlled valves are not supplied with electricity.
A method for controlling flow in a wellbore, comprising:
- positioning a plurality of flow control valves along a well string located in a wellbore;
- coupling a plurality of control modules to the plurality of flow control valves;
- routing a pair of hydraulic lines and an electrical line along the wellbore to the plurality of control modules;
- utilizing the pair of hydraulic lines and the electrical line to selectively actuate individual control modules and corresponding flow control valves;
- and
- providing each control module with a hydraulic override function which allows actuation of the plurality of flow control valves to a desired position via only hydraulic input through at least one hydraulic line of the pair of hydraulic lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.