Downhole Control System Having a Versatile Manifold and Method for Use of Same

A downhole control system for actuating hydraulically controlled devices positioned in a well, the system comprising:

• a first set of N hydraulically controlled devices positioned in the well;
• a second set of at least one hydraulically controlled device positioned in the well;
• a common control line ported to a first side of each of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set;
• and
• N control lines each ported to a second side of one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set,
• wherein, in a first configuration, a first control line of the N control lines is ported to a first side of a first hydraulically controlled device of the second set and is ported to one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set and a second control line of the N control lines is ported to a second side of the first hydraulically controlled device of the second set and is ported to one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set;
• and
• wherein, in a second configuration, the first control line is not ported to the first side of the first hydraulically controlled device of the second set and is ported to one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set and the second control line is not ported to the second side of the first hydraulically controlled device of the second set and is ported to one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set, such that N+1 control lines are operable to actuate N+1 hydraulically controlled devices.

A downhole control system for actuating hydraulically controlled devices positioned in a well, the system comprising:

• a first set of N hydraulically controlled devices positioned in the well;
• a second set of at least one hydraulically controlled device positioned in the well;
• a common control line ported to a first side of each of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set;
• and
• N control lines each operable to be ported to a second side of one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set,
• wherein, in a first configuration, a first control line of the N control lines is ported to a first side of a first hydraulically controlled device of the second set and is not ported to one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set and a second control line of the N control lines is ported to a second side of the first hydraulically controlled device of the second set and is not ported to one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set;
• and
• wherein, in a second configuration, the first control line is not ported to the first side of the first hydraulically controlled device of the second set and is ported to one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set and the second control line is not ported to the second side of the first hydraulically controlled device of the second set and is ported to one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set, such that N+1 control lines are operable to actuate N+1 hydraulically controlled devices.

A downhole control method for actuating hydraulically controlled devices positioned in a well, the method comprising:

• positioning a first set of N hydraulically controlled devices in the well;
• positioning a second set of at least one hydraulically controlled device in the well;
• porting a common control line to a first side of each of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set;
• porting each one of N control lines to a second side of one of the hydraulically controlled devices in the first set;
• porting a first control line of the N control lines to a first side of a first hydraulically controlled device of the second set;
• porting a second control line of the N control lines to a second side of the first hydraulically controlled device of the second set;
• and
• actuating N+1 hydraulically controlled devices responsive to hydraulic pressure variations in the N+1 control lines.