초록 ▼

A method of selectively actuating well tools includes the steps of: selecting a well tool for actuation by current flow in one direction through a set of conductors; and selecting another well tool for actuation by opposite current flow through the set of conductors. A system includes multiple contr

A method of selectively actuating well tools includes the steps of: selecting a well tool for actuation by current flow in one direction through a set of conductors; and selecting another well tool for actuation by opposite current flow through the set of conductors. A system includes multiple control devices that control which well tool is selected for actuation in response to current flow in at least one conductor set. A current direction in the conductors selects a certain well tool for actuation. A method of using n conductors to selectively actuate n*(n−1) well tools includes the steps of: arranging the conductors into n*(n−1)/2 sets; connecting the conductor sets to respective groups of the well tools; and controlling direction of current flow through at least one of the sets of conductors, thereby selecting at least one well tool in the respective group of the well tools for actuation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools in a well, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current in a first direction through a first set of conductors in the well;selectively c

1. A method of selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools in a well, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current in a first direction through a first set of conductors in the well;selectively controlling a position of a first piston by permitting the first piston to displace at a first predetermined velocity for a first given amount of time, thereby controlling a duration of actuation of the first one of the well tools, and variably actuating the first one of the well tools;selecting a second one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current through the first set of conductors in a second direction opposite to the first direction; andselectively controlling a position of a second piston by permitting the second piston to displace at a second predetermined velocity for a second given amount of time, thereby controlling a duration of actuation of the second one of the well tools, and variably actuating the second one of the well tools. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of preventing the first well tool from actuating while current flows through the conductors in the second direction, and preventing the second well tool from actuating while current flows through the conductors in the first direction. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of preventing the first well tool from actuating further comprises using a first diode to prevent current flow in the second direction, and wherein the step of preventing the second well tool from actuating further comprises using a second diode to prevent current flow in the first direction. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of selecting a third one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current in a third direction through a second set of conductors in the well; and selecting a fourth one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current through the second set of conductors in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction. 5. A method of selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools in a well, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current in a first direction through a first set of conductors in the well; andselecting a second one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current through the first set of conductors in a second direction opposite to the first direction,wherein the step of selecting the first well tool further comprises providing fluid communication between a source of fluid pressure and an actuator of the first well tool;and wherein the step of selecting the second well tool further comprises providing fluid communication between the source of fluid pressure and an actuator of the second well tool. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of flowing fluid between the source of fluid pressure and the actuator of the first well tool for a predetermined period of time through a flow rate regulator, thereby displacing a piston of the actuator of the first well tool a predetermined distance. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the flow rate regulator substantially maintains a predetermined rate of flow of the fluid as a pressure differential across an input and an output of the flow rate regulator varies over time. 8. A system for selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools in a well, the system comprising: multiple electrical conductors in the well;multiple control devices that control which of the well tools is selected for actuation in response to current flow in at least one set of the conductors, at least one direction of current flow in the at least one set of conductors being operative to select a respective at least one of the well tools for actuation, the control devices selectively controlling a duration of actuation of the at least one of the well tools selected for actuation, thereby variably actuating the at least one of the well tools;at least one hydraulic line in the well; andmultiple actuators, each of the actuators being responsive to fluid pressure in the at least one hydraulic line to actuate a respective one of the well tools. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control devices comprise multiple diodes, a first one of the diodes being operative to permit actuation of a first one of the well tools in response to current flow in a first direction through a first set of the conductors, and a second one of the diodes being operative to permit actuation of a second one of the well tools in response to current flow in a second direction through the first set of the conductors, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first diode prevents actuation of the first well tool when current flows in the second direction through the first set of conductors, and wherein the second diode prevents actuation of the second well tool when current flows in the first direction through the first set of conductors. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the actuators is isolated from pressure in the hydraulic line until the current flow in the set of conductors flows in a respective predetermined direction. 12. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the actuators includes an actuator piston which is pressure balanced until the current flow in the set of conductors flows in a respective predetermined direction. 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the well tools comprise at least first, second, third and fourth well tools, wherein the control devices comprise at least first, second, third and fourth control devices, wherein the sets of conductors comprise at least first and second sets of conductors, and wherein the first control device is configured to select the first well tool for actuation in response to current flow in a first direction through the first set of conductors, the second control device is configured to select the second well tool for actuation in response to current flow through the first set of conductors in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the third control device is configured to select the third well tool for actuation in response to current flow through the second set of conductors in a third direction, and the fourth control device is configured to select the fourth well tool for actuation in response to current flow through the second set of conductors in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction. 14. The system of claim 8, wherein telemetry signals are transmitted via at least one of the conductors. 15. A system for selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools in a well, the system comprising: multiple electrical conductors in the well; andmultiple control devices that control which of the well tools is selected for actuation in response to current flow in at least one set of the conductors, at least one direction of current flow in the at least one set of conductors being operative to select a respective at least one of the well tools for actuation,wherein the control devices comprise multiple coil and magnet sets, a first coil and magnet set being operative to permit actuation of a first one of the well tools in response to current flow in a first direction through a first set of the conductors, and a second coil and magnet set being operative to permit actuation of a second one of the well tools in response to current flow in a second direction through the first set of the conductors, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first coil and magnet set prevents actuation of the first well tool when current flows in the second direction through the first set of conductors, and wherein the second coil and magnet set prevents actuation of the second well tool when current flows in the first direction through the first set of conductors. 17. A method of using n conductors to selectively actuate n*(n−1) downhole well tools, the method comprising the steps of: arranging the n conductors into n*(n−1)/2 sets of conductors;connecting each set of conductors to a respective group of the well tools;controlling direction of current flow through at least one of the sets of conductors, thereby selecting at least one well tool in the respective group of the well tools for actuation,wherein the controlling step further comprises selecting a first one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current in a first direction through a first one of the sets of conductors, and selecting a second one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current through the first set of conductors in a second direction opposite to the first direction,wherein the step of selecting the first well tool further comprises providing fluid communication between a source of fluid pressure and an actuator of the first well tool, andwherein the step of selecting the second well tool further comprises providing fluid communication between the source of fluid pressure and an actuator of the second well tool. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of flowing fluid between the source of fluid pressure and the actuator of the first well tool for a predetermined period of time through a flow rate regulator, thereby displacing a piston of the actuator of the first well tool a predetermined distance. 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of preventing the first well tool from actuating while current flows through the conductors in the second direction, and preventing the second well tool from actuating while current flows through the conductors in the first direction. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of preventing the first well tool from actuating further comprises using a first diode to prevent current flow in the second direction, and wherein the step of preventing the second well tool from actuating further comprises using a second diode to prevent current flow in the first direction. 21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of selecting a third one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current in a third direction through a second set of conductors in the well; and selecting a fourth one of the well tools for actuation by flowing electrical current through the second set of conductors in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction.