Controllable Chemical Injection For Multiple Zone Completions

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for controlling the amount of an additive injected into production fluid in a plurality of production zones. The injection devices may be dynamically controlled such that a central or decentralized control system may instruct a plurality of additive injection assemblies to inject additive, wherein different additive and/or different amounts of additive may be injected in the production fluid in the plurality of production zones. The apparatus includes one or more controllers to send operating commands to downhole regulating elements that may control the amount of additive being injected directly or indirectly.

1 . An apparatus for controlling an amount of an additive injected into a plurality of production zones or points within a single production zone, comprising:
 a plurality of additive injector assemblies,
 wherein each injector assembly comprises:
 an umbilical disposed in a wellbore intersecting a production zone, 
 at least one injector device adapted to receive the additive from the umbilical and disposed within the production zone, and 
 a regulating element associated with the at least one injector that is responsive to a control signal; and 
 
   at least one controller configured to transmit a plurality of control signals to the plurality of regulating elements.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regulating elements include electromechanical devices. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the electromechanical devices are selected from the group consisting of solenoid actuated pistons, variable orifice valves, memory metal devices and combinations thereof, 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is located on the surface of the earth. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of additive introduced to at least one of the plurality of wellbore zones is controlled by the at least one controller through at least one of the plurality of regulating elements. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for controlling an amount of an additive injected into a plurality of production zones, comprising:
 a plurality of additive injector assemblies,
 wherein each injector assembly comprises:
 an umbilical disposed in a wellbore intersecting a production zone, 
 at least one injector adapted to receive the additive from the umbilical and disposed within the production zone, and 
 a regulating element associated with the at least one injector that is responsive to a control signal,
 wherein each of the plurality of regulating elements controls the amount of additive introduced to each of the plurality of wellbore zones, and 
 wherein the plurality of regulating elements are electromechanical; and 
 
 
   at least one controller configured to transmit a plurality of control signals to the plurality of regulating elements,
 wherein the at least one controller is located on the surface of the earth, and 
 wherein the amount of additive introduced to at least one of the plurality of wellbore zones is controlled by the at least one controller through at least one of the plurality of regulating elements. 
   
     
     
         7 . A method for controlling an amount of an additive injected into a plurality of production zones, comprising:
 introducing a plurality of additive injection assemblies into a plurality of wellbore zones;
 wherein each of the plurality additive injection assemblies comprises:
 an umbilical disposed in a wellbore intersecting a production zone, 
 at least one injector adapted to receive the additive from the umbilical and disposed within the production zone, and 
 a regulating element associated with the at least one injector and responsive to a control signal,
 wherein the regulating element controls the amount of additive introduced to the wellbore zone, and 
 
 
   activating at least one controller in communication with the plurality of regulating elements send at least one signal to at least one of the plurality of regulating elements.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the amount of additive introduced to at least one of the plurality of production zones is dissimilar to the amount of additive introduced to another one of the plurality of production zones. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of regulating elements include electromechanical devices. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the electromechanical devices are selected from the group consisting of solenoid actuated pistons, variable orifice valves, memory metal devices and combinations thereof, 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one controller is located on the surface of the earth. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the amount of additive injected into at least one of the plurality of production zones is controlled by the at least one controller through at least one of the plurality of regulating elements. 
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling an amount of an additive injected into a plurality of production zones, comprising:
 supplying the additive to a plurality of injectors;
 wherein each of the plurality of injectors is disposed within one of the plurality of production zones; 
   transmitting a plurality of control signals from at least one controller to a plurality of regulating elements,
 wherein each of the plurality of regulating elements is associated with at least one of the plurality of injectors; and 
   injecting the amount of additive into the plurality of production zones responsive to the associated control signal.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amount of additive introduced to at least one of the plurality of production zones is dissimilar to the amount of additive introduced to another one of the plurality of production zones. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of regulating elements include electromechanical devices. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the electromechanical devices are selected from the group consisting of solenoid actuated pistons, variable orifice valves, memory metal devices and combinations thereof, 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one controller is located on the surface of the earth. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amount of additive injected into at least one of the plurality of production zones is controlled by the at least one controller through at least one of the plurality of regulating elements.