Apparatus and method for electrically controlling multiple downhole devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a production well control system for controlling multiple downhole devices individually, or as a group, based upon user command or real time downhole parameters. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a surface control unit, a downhole control module and an interface unit are provided for selectively controlling multiple downhole devices and transmitting real time data to the surface. An important feature of this invention is the ability to access the multiple devices (e.g., valves) individually, or as a group arranged in a distributed scheme. The number of downhole devices that can be controlled by this apparatus is only limited by the data address sizes, the power delivery capacity or the power consumption requirements. Another embodiment of the invention provides downhole sensors and a control module to automatically control the downhole devices based upon a sensed downhole parameter or event.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for selective control of at least one downhole device among a plurality of downhole devices, comprising: 
 (a) a surface control unit for transmitting a command signal and an activation voltage to a selected downhole device among a plurality of downhole devices;    (b) a downhole control module electrically responsive to said surface control unit for receiving, interpreting and reformatting said command signal from said surface control unit, said control module transmitting said reformatted command signal and said activation voltage to at least said selected downhole device; and,    (c) an interface unit electrically coupled to the selected downhole device for receiving said reformatted command signal, energizing the selected downhole device and transmitting downhole data to said downhole control module.    
     
     
         2 . A system for selective control of at least one downhole device from among a plurality of downhole devices, said system comprising: 
 (a) a surface power source for generating an activation voltage for the at least one downhole device; and,    (b) a control unit for sensing at least one downhole condition parameter; said control unit electrically coupled to the one downhole device for activating the one downhole device responsive to a predetermined value of said downhole condition parameter.    
     
     
         3 . A method of controlling at least one downhole device, comprising: 
 (a) transmitting a command signal and activation voltage from a surface control unit;    (b) receiving said command signal and said activation voltage by a downhole control module;    (c) interpreting said command signal by said downhole control module;    (d) reformatting said command signal by said downhole control module;    (e) transmitting said reformatted command signal and said activation voltage to at least one predetermined downhole device among a plurality of downhole devices;    (f) receiving said reformatted command signal at an interface unit electrically coupled to said predetermined downhole device;    (g) actuating the predetermined downhole device in response to said reformatted command; and    (h) transmitting downhole data from said interface unit to said downhole control module and to said surface control unit.