Production well telemetry system and method

Abstract

A downhole production well control system is provided for automatically controlling downhole tools in response to sensed selected downhole parameters. The production well having a production tubing string therein with multiple branches, i.e., zones. Communication and transmission of power (i.e. telemetry) over the production tubing string is by way of a combination of a hardwire system in the main borehole and a short hop system at the branches or laterals. Each zone includes a downhole control system and appropriate completion devices for controlling fluid flow. An acoustic or electromagnetic transceiver is associated with each control system for communication and/or transmission of power. An electrical conductor runs from the surface downhole along the production tubing string in the main borehole for communication and/or transmission of power, hardwired systems are well known. The conductor is connected to an acoustic or electromagnetic transceiver disposed at the production tubing string in the main borehole near each branch. These transceivers communicate with and/or transfer power to corresponding transceivers at the branches (i.e., short hop communications), which is communicated and/or transferred along the production tubing string on the conductor (i.e., uphole or downhole).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.