Patent · US Expired

Well control system

US5172717A · kind A · utility

131Cited by
11References
46Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 1990
Grant dateDec 22, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/7761
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An electrically actuated downhole system for controlling and monitoring the flow of gas from a gas lift petroleum well in which a borehole penetrates at least two spacially separated geological production zones, and at least two strings of parallel tubing extend along the interior of a well casing, each string being associated with a separate production zone. Connected to each string is a gas lift valve associated with the string's respective spacially separated production zone. A single source of pressurized gas is connected to the casing at the wellhead to provide a source of lift gas. A control unit located at the surface independently controls and monitors the size of the flow control aperture of each gas lift valve to control the production of fluids from each separate production zone. Control cables carry readings from downhole pressure and flow-rate sensors to the control unit, and in response, carry control signals back to each gas lift valve to control its aperture size.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.