초록 ▼

An apparatus for use in a wellbore comprises a flow control device having an open position, a closed position, and at least one intermediate position. The apparatus further comprises a chamber and a movable member for actuating the flow control device, where the movable member is movable inside the

An apparatus for use in a wellbore comprises a flow control device having an open position, a closed position, and at least one intermediate position. The apparatus further comprises a chamber and a movable member for actuating the flow control device, where the movable member is movable inside the chamber. The movable member causes a characteristic in the chamber to change in response to movement of the movable member to actuate the flow control device. A sensor detects the change in the characteristic inside the chamber that is indicative of actuation of the flow control device.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising: a flow control device having an open position, a closed position, and at least one intermediate position; a chamber; a movable member for actuating the flow control device, the movable member movable inside the chamber, the mova

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising: a flow control device having an open position, a closed position, and at least one intermediate position; a chamber; a movable member for actuating the flow control device, the movable member movable inside the chamber, the movable member to cause a temporary pressure spike in the chamber in response to movement of the movable member to actuate the flow control device; and a sensor to detect the temporary pressure spike inside the chamber that is indicative of actuation of the flow control device. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flow restrictor to communicate fluid between the chamber and another region, the flow restrictor to equalize pressure between the chamber and the another region after occurrence of the temporary pressure spike. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a remote station and a communication line to communicate with the sensor, the remote station to receive information from the sensor over the communication line regarding an indication of actuation of the flow control device. 4. An apparatus for use in a weilbore, comprising: a flow control device; a chamber for containing a fluid; a movable member for actuating the flow control device, at least a portion of the movable member being inside the chamber; and a sensor coupled to the chamber to detect a temporary pressure spike in the chamber responsive to movement of the movable member in the chamber for actuating the flow control device, the temporary pressure spike indicative of actuation of the flow control device. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flow control device has plural positions, the movable member to cause the temporary pressure spike in the chamber in response to movement of the movable member in the chamber to cause the flow control device to be actuated from one of the plural positions to another one of the plural positions. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plural positions comprise at least first, second, and third positions, the movable member to cause a first temporary pressure spike in the chamber in response to the movable member moving to actuate the flow control device from the first position to the second position, and the movable member to cause a second temporary pressure spike in the chamber in response to the movable member moving to actuate the flow control device from the second position to the third position, the sensor to detect the first and second temporary pressure spikes. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second temporary pressure spikes are positive pressure spikes, the movable member to cause a third temporary pressure spike in the chamber in response to the movable member moving to actuate the flow control device from the third position to the second position, and the movable member to cause a fourth temporary pressure spike in response to the movable member moving to actuate the flow control device from the second position to the first position, the third and fourth temporary pressure spikes being negative pressure spikes, the sensor to detect the third and fourth temporary pressure spikes. 8. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a snorkel line to communicate pressure from the chamber to the sensor. 9. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a fluid flow restrictor between the chamber and a well region. 10. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising: a flow control device; a chamber for containing a fluid; a movable member for actuating the flow control device, at least a portion of the movable member being inside the chamber; a sensor coupled to the chamber to detect pressure change in the chamber responsive to movement of the movable member in the chamber for actuating the flow control device, the pressure change indicative of actuation of the flow control device; and a fluid flow restrictor positioned to enable fluid communication between the chamber and another region, and wherein the another region comprises one of a well region and a tubing bore. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the movable member comprises a rod actuatably coupled to the flow control device. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to the rod, the drive mechanism to incrementally move the rod to successively actuate the flow control device among a closed position, an open position, and at least one intermediate position. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a communication line to enable communication of pressure information between the sensor and another element. 14. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising: a flow control device; a chamber for containing a fluid: a movable member for actuating the flow control device, at least a portion of the movable member being inside the chamber; a sensor coupled to the chamber to detect pressure change in the chamber responsive to movement of the movable member in the chamber for actuating the flow control device, the pressure change indicative of actuation of the flow control device; and a fluid flow restrictor positioned to enable fluid communication between the chamber and another region, and wherein the chamber comprises a first chamber, the apparatus further comprising a second chamber sealed from the first chamber except through the fluid flow restrictor, the another region defined by the second chamber. 15. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising: a flow control device; a chamber for containing a fluid; a movable member for actuating the flow control device, at least a portion of the movable member being inside the chamber; a sensor coupled to the chamber to detect pressure change in the chamber responsive to movement of the movable member in the chamber for actuating the flow control device, the pressure change indicative of actuation of the flow control device, and wherein the movable member has an inner bore to communicate fluid between the chamber and another region in the apparatus; a seal mounted to an outside surface of the movable member; and a fluid flow restrictor positioned in the inner bore. 16. A method for use in a wellbore comprising: actuating a downhole device by moving a member; providing a chamber, at least a portion of the member movable in the chamber; detecting a pressure spike inside the chamber resulting from movement of the member in the chamber; and allowing the pressure spike to dissipate from the chamber to another region through a flow restrictor. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the pressure spike comprises detecting a temporary pressure spike. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein actuating the downhole device comprises moving the member to actuate a flow control device from a first position to a second position, and wherein detecting the pressure spike comprises detecting the pressure spike to provide an indication of actuation of the flow control device. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: actuating the flow control device from the second position to a third position; and detecting another pressure spike in the chamber to provide an indication of actuation of the flow control device from the second position to the third position. 20. A system comprising: a chamber; a flow control device having a movable actuating member movable inside the chamber; and a sensor to detect a pressure spike in the chamber in response to movement of the movable actuating member inside the chamber, wherein the actuating member comprises an inner bore, the system further comprising a flow restrictor in the inner bore that communicates fluid between the chamber and another region. 21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a station to communicate with the sensor, the sensor to communicate an indication of the pressure spike to the station that provides feedback regarding actuation of the flow control device. 22. The system of claim 20, wherein the pressure spike is caused by movement of the actuating member in the chamber. 23. The system of claim 20, further comprising an annular region around the actuating member, the another region comprises the annular region.