Method and apparatus for the remote control and monitoring of production wells

A system for the downhole control and monitoring of a plurality of downhole tools in a well, said well including at least a first and second zone for producing fluid, comprising:

• a surface system located on the surface of the well for monitoring information acquired downhole, said surface system including a computer for processing information acquired downhole and for interfacing with an operator, said surface system including a surface telemetry device communicating with said computer for transmitting information downhole and for receiving information transmitted from downhole;
• said well having a common production tubing at the surface which leads to and communicates with said first and second zones;
• at least one downhole tool disposed in each of said first and second zones of said well;
• and
• a downhole control and monitoring system permanently disposed downhole in each of said first and second zones of said well, said downhole control and monitoring system including;
• (a) at least one downhole sensor for sensing a downhole parameter;
• (b) at least one downhole control device for controlling said at least one downhole tool;
• (c) a downhole telemetry device for communicating with said surface telemetry device wherein two-way communications takes place between said downhole and surface telemetry devices;
• and
• (d) a downhole electronic controller in communication with said downhole sensor and said downhole control device, said downhole electronic controller also being in communication with said downhole telemetry device wherein said downhole electronic controller controls said downhole control device in response to input from said surface system.

A system for the downhole control of a multilateral well, comprising:

• a production well having a common production tubing at the surface which leads to and communicates with at least two boreholes, each of said boreholes including at least one production zone, each of said production zones including a completion string for producing a fluid from the formation surrounding the borehole and wherein at least one of said two boreholes comprises a branch borehole;
• and
• a surface system located on the surface of a well for monitoring and controlling said production zones;
• a downhole control system permanently disposed downhole in said production zones to control production in the zones;
• at least one downhole tool in each of said production zones, said downhole tool being controlled by said downhole control system;
• and
• telemetry devices associated with said surface system and said downhole control system for effecting two-way communications between said surface system and said downhole control system wherein said downhole control system is actuated, at least in part, in response to input from said surface system.