Downhole production well control system and method

Abstract

A downhole production well control system is provided for automatically controlling downhole tools in response to sensed selected downhole parameters. An important feature of this invention is that the automatic control is initiated downhole without an initial control signal from the surface or from some other external source. This control system generally comprises downhole sensors, downhole electromechanical devices and downhole computerized control electronics whereby the control electronics automatically control the electromechanical devices based on input from the downhole sensors. Thus, using the downhole sensors, the downhole computerized control system will monitor actual downhole parameters (such as pressure, temperature, flow, gas influx, etc.) and automatically execute control instructions when the monitored downhole parameters are outside a selected operating range (e.g., indicating an unsafe condition). The automatic control instructions will then cause an electromechanical control device (such as a valve) to actuate a suitable tool (for example, actuate a sliding sleeve or packer; or close a pump or other fluid flow device). The downhole control system of this invention also includes transceivers for two-way communication with the surface as well as a telemetry device for communicating from the surface of the production well to a remote location.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.