초록 ▼

A well control system and associated method of controlling well tools provides downhole well tool control without requiring the use of electricity or complex pressure pulse decoding mechanisms. In a described embodiment, a digital hydraulic well control system includes multiple well tool assemblies,

A well control system and associated method of controlling well tools provides downhole well tool control without requiring the use of electricity or complex pressure pulse decoding mechanisms. In a described embodiment, a digital hydraulic well control system includes multiple well tool assemblies, with each assembly including a well tool, an actuator and an addressable actuation control device. Multiple hydraulic lines are interconnected to each control device. The hydraulic lines transmit addresses or codes to respective selected ones of the control devices, thereby selecting corresponding respective ones of the well tools for actuation thereof. Hydraulic lines are also used to actuate the selected well tools.

대표청구항 ▼

A well control system and associated method of controlling well tools provides downhole well tool control without requiring the use of electricity or complex pressure pulse decoding mechanisms. In a described embodiment, a digital hydraulic well control system includes multiple well tool assemblies,

A well control system and associated method of controlling well tools provides downhole well tool control without requiring the use of electricity or complex pressure pulse decoding mechanisms. In a described embodiment, a digital hydraulic well control system includes multiple well tool assemblies, with each assembly including a well tool, an actuator and an addressable actuation control device. Multiple hydraulic lines are interconnected to each control device. The hydraulic lines transmit addresses or codes to respective selected ones of the control devices, thereby selecting corresponding respective ones of the well tools for actuation thereof. Hydraulic lines are also used to actuate the selected well tools. ding to a time during which the operation switches are operated or the number of times that the operation switches are operated. 6. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function selection code input means comprises: detection means for detecting an operation of an object to be operated by an operator and to be provided in a vehicle in advance; and count output means for counting the number of signals output from the detection means within a predetermined code input time and outputting a count result as the function selection code. 7. The remote control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the detection means for detecting the operation of the object to be operated corresponds to one selected from the group consisting of: a courtesy switch for detecting the opening and closing action of a vehicle door; an ignition switch for applying power to an ignition circuit of a spark ignition internal combustion engine; a lock switch for detecting that a door lock mechanism has been locked or unlocked; a switch for detecting the orientation of angular displacement of a removable key which is subjected to angular displacement in accordance with the locking/unlocking operation of the lock mechanism; a brake switch for detecting pressing of a vehicle brake pedal; and a switch to be operated in order to illuminate/extinguish vehicle light. 8. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function selection code input means detects an operation of the mode setting means switchably setting one of the program mode and the operation mode, and the function selection means outputs the function selection code corresponding to the operation detected. 9. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function selection code input means outputs the function selection code corresponding to the transmission code transmitted from the transmitter when the receiver is in the program mode. 10. A remote control device for controlling a plurality of control operations in a multifunction system, the device comprising: a transmitter having an operation switch, the transmitter for transmitting a transmission code including a transmitter ID code unique to the transmitter and a control code corresponding to the operation of the operation switch; and a receiver for receiving the transmission code, wherein the receiver comprises: first memory means for storing the transmitter ID code and a function selection code assigned to the transmitter ID code; second memory means for correspondingly and previously setting and storing the control code, a transmission mode of the transmission code and operation information to be remotely controlled for each of the plurality of function selection codes, in which the operation information corresponding to the control code differs for each of the plurality of function selection codes; function selection code input means for inputting the function selection code; measurement means for measuring the transmission mode of the transmission code; mode setting means for setting the receiver to one of a program mode and an operation mode; and receiving control means for controlling the plurality of operations in response to a signal output from the mode setting means, wherein, during the program mode, the receiving control means stores in the first memory means the function selection code input by the function selection code input means to correspond the transmitter ID code received; and wherein, during the operation mode, when the transmitter ID code included in the transmission code received corresponds with the transmitter ID code stored in the first memory means, the receiving control means reads from the first memory means the function selection code corresponding to the transmitter ID code; the receiving control means reads from the second memory means the operation information corresponding to the received control code of the function selection code read from the first memory means and corresponding to the transmission mode measured by the measuring means; and the receiving control means performs an operation based on the operation information read from the second memory means. 11. The remote control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmission mode of the transmission code corresponds to a time during which the transmission code is transmitted or the number of times that the transmission code is transmitted. 12. The remote control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of operation switches, the transmitter transmits the control code assigned to each of the plurality of operation switches. 13. The remote control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of operation switches, and the transmitter transmits a control code corresponding to one of combinations of the plurality of operation switches operated simultaneously. 14. A remote control device for controlling a plurality of operations in a multifunction system, the device comprising: a transmitter having an operation switch, the transmitter for transmitting a transmission code including a transmitter ID code unique to the transmitter; and a receiver for receiving the transmission code, wherein the receiver comprises: first memory means for storing the transmitter ID code and a function selection code assigned to the transmitter ID code; second memory means for correspondingly and previously setting and storing operation information to be remotely controlled and one of the duration of the transmission code and the number of times that the transmission code is received, for each of the plurality of function selection codes, in which the operation information corresponding to the one of the duration of the transmission code and the number of times differs for each of the plurality of function selection codes; function selection input means for inputting the function selection code; measurement means for measuring the duration of the transmission code received or the number of times the transmission code is received; mode setting means for setting the receiver to one of a program mode and an operation mode; and receiving control means for controlling the plurality of operations in response to a signal output from the mode setting means, wherein, during the program mode, the receiving control means stores in the first memory means the function selection code input by the function selection code input means to correspond to the transmitter ID code received; and wherein, during the operation mode, when the transmitter ID code included in the transmission code received corresponds with the transmitter ID code stored in the first memory means, the receiving control means reads from the first memory means the function selection code corresponding to the transmitter ID code; the receiving control means reads from the second memory means the operation information of the function selection code read from the first memory mean and corresponding to an output of the measurement means; and the receiving control means performs an operation based on the operation information read from the second memory means. tep, each of the first hydraulic lines has one of the pressure levels thereon. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein in the selecting step, at least one of the pressure levels of the first code is an absence of applied pressure. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the combination of pressure levels comprises a first pressure level on at least one of the first hydraulic lines, and a second pressure level on the remainder of the first hydraulic lines. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the combination of pressure levels comprises a first pressure level on at least one of the first hydraulic lines, a second pressure level on at least one of the first hydraulic lines, and a third pressure level on the remainder of the first hydraulic lines. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of actuating the selected tool utilizing fluid pressure on at least one of the first hydraulic lines. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of actuating the selected tool utilizing fluid pressure on at least one second hydraulic line interconnected to each of the tools. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting step further comprises decoding the first code utilizing an addressable actuation control device interconnected to the first hydraulic lines and to an actuator for the tool. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the decoding step further comprises opening a first fluid communication path between at least one of the first hydraulic lines and the actuator in response to the first code matching a first address of the control device. 11. A method of hydraulically controlling multiple well tools in a well, the method comprising the steps of: interconnecting a first plurality of hydraulic lines to each of the tools; and selecting at least one of the tools for actuation thereof by generating a first code on the first hydraulic lines, the selecting step comprising decoding the first code utilizing an addressable actuation control device interconnected to the first hydraulic lines and to an actuator for the tool, the decoding step further comprising opening a first fluid communication path between at least one of the first hydraulic lines and the actuator in response to the first code matching a first address of the control device, the decoding step further comprising opening a second fluid communication path between another of the first hydraulic lines and the actuator in response to a second code on the first hydraulic lines, the second code matching a second address of the control device. 12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the decoding step further comprises opening a first fluid communication path between the actuator and at least one of a second plurality of hydraulic lines interconnected to each of the tools, in response to the first code matching a first address of the control device. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the decoding step further comprises opening a second fluid communication path between another of the second hydraulic lines and the actuator, in response to a second code on the first hydraulic lines, the second code matching a second address of the control device. 14. A method of controlling multiple hydraulically actuated well tool assemblies, each of the well tool assemblies including a well tool, a hydraulic actuator for operating the well tool and an addressable actuation control device, the method comprising the steps of: interconnecting each of multiple first hydraulic lines to each of the control devices; and transmitting a first address of at least one of the control devices via the first hydraulic lines, thereby selecting at least one of the well tools for actuation thereof. 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of selecting a second well tool for actuation thereof by transmitting a second address of the first control device via the fi