Valve system and method

Abstract

A valve system including a hydraulic pressure actuated valve in the borehole, a first control line extending into the borehole and operatively connected to the valve, a controller at a surface location and operatively connected to the first control line, the controller configured to meter a selected volume of hydraulic fluid into the first control line to actuate the valve to a specific position. A method for controlling inflow including metering a specific volume of actuation fluid, injecting that metered volume of fluid into a control line, and causing a valve to reposition to a specific position due to the metered volume of fluid injected thereto. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a valve system operatively connected to the borehole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve system, comprising:
 a hydraulic pressure actuated valve in the borehole;   a first control line extending into the borehole and operatively connected to the valve;   a controller at a surface location and operatively connected to the first control line, the controller configured to meter a selected volume of hydraulic fluid into the first control line to actuate the valve to a specific position.   
     
     
         2 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1  further including a second control line connected between the controller and the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The valve as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the controller is configured to measure a volume of hydraulic fluid returned from the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The valve as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the controller meters a selected volume of fluid into the second control line and measures fluid returned from the valve in the first control line. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the controller is bypassable at surface to contingency actuate the valve. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the actuation is to full open or full closed. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the controller includes a manifold. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the manifold is connected to a number of control lines extending to one or more valves each. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the controller includes a first metering configuration to measure the selected volume of fluid to be released into the first control line. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the second control line is operative to actuate the valve in a direction opposite the direction of actuation of the first control line. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the controller includes a second metering configuration to measure a selected volume of fluid to be released into the second control line. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the first metering configuration and second metering configuration are the same structure. 
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling inflow comprising:
 metering a specific volume of actuation fluid;   injecting that metered volume of fluid into a control line; and   causing a valve to reposition to a specific position due to the metered volume of fluid injected thereto.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  further including measuring actuation fluid returned from the valve due to injected fluid into the valve. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the specific position is a choked position. 
     
     
         16 . A borehole system comprising:
 a borehole in a subsurface formation;   a valve system as claimed in  claim 1  operatively connected to the borehole.