Active In-Situ Controlled Permanent Downhole Device

Abstract

A well system is provided and configured for local and/or global control of a well. The well system may comprise one or more controllable downhole devices. Each of the downhole devices may include a telemetry module, an energy module configured to at least power an actuator, a controller communicably coupled to the telemetry module and one or more sensors, and a controllable component coupled to the actuator. The well system may further include a surface controller comprising a desired state input device configured to accept a desired state and then provide the desired state to the controller via the telemetry module. The controller may compare the desired state to an actual state determined by a sensor and instruct the actuator to adjust the controllable component such that the actual state approaches the desired state. The downhole device may operate autonomously after the initial setting of the desired state.

1 . A downhole device, comprising:
 a telemetry module configured to communicate with a surface component;   an energy module configured to at least power an actuator;   a controller communicably coupled to the telemetry module and one or more sensors; and   a controllable component coupled to the actuator;   wherein the controller is configured to read a desired state from the surface component and compare the desired state to an actual state detected by the one or more sensors and instruct the actuator to adjust the controllable component such that the actual state approaches the desired state.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole device is a flow control device. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controllable component is an adjustable choke. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the energy module further comprises at least one of the group consisting of an energy storage module, an energy conversion module, or an energy transmission module. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors determines flow rate. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors determines water cut. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the telemetry module is configured to communicate with the surface component via at least one wireless section. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the telemetry module is configured to communicate both data signals and power. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controllable component is a valve. 
     
     
         10 . A well system for providing local and global control of a well comprising:
 one or more downhole devices in which each of the downhole devices comprises:
 a telemetry module; 
 an energy module configured to at least power an actuator; 
 a controller communicably coupled to the telemetry module and one or more sensors; and 
 a controllable component coupled to the actuator; 
   a surface controller comprising:
 a desired state input device configured to accept a desired state and then provide the desired state to the controller via the telemetry module; 
   wherein the controller compares the desired state to an actual state determined by the one or more sensors and instructs the actuator to adjust the controllable component such that the actual state approaches the desired state.   
     
     
         11 . The well system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the downhole device is a flow control device. 
     
     
         12 . The well system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the controllable component is a valve. 
     
     
         13 . The well system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein two or more downhole devices are provided in the well and the desired state input device accepts two or more desired states corresponding to the two or more downhole devices. 
     
     
         14 . The well system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein two or more downhole devices are provided in the well and the desired state input device accepts a single desired state for the well. 
     
     
         15 . The well system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the well is a multilateral well with two or more branches and at least one downhole device is provided in each of the two or more branches. 
     
     
         16 . A method of completing a well comprising:
 installing a downhole device comprising:
 a telemetry module; 
 an energy module configured to at least power an actuator; 
 a controller communicably coupled to the telemetry module and one or more sensors; and 
 a controllable component coupled to the actuator; 
   providing a surface controller comprising a desired state input device configured to accept a desired state and then provide the desired state to the controller via the telemetry module;   inputting a desired state into the desired state input device;   measuring an actual state by the one or more sensors;   comparing the desired state with the actual state;   instructing the actuator to adjust the controllable component such that the actual state is modified in a direction toward the desired state.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the downhole device is a flow control device. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the controllable component is a valve. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the desired state is a flow rate. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein after the step of adjusting the controllable component, the method comprises:
 measuring an actual state by the one or more sensors;   comparing the actual state to the desired state;   instructing the actuator to adjust the controllable component such that the actual state is modified in a direction toward the desired state.   
     
     
         21 . A field system for providing local and global control of two or more wells, wherein each of the two or more wells comprises:
 one or more downhole devices in which each of the downhole devices comprises:
 a telemetry module; 
 an energy module configured to at least power an actuator; 
 a controller communicably coupled to the telemetry module and one or more sensors; and 
 a controllable component coupled to the actuator; 
   a surface controller comprising:
 a desired state input device configured to accept a desired state and then provide the desired state to the respective controllers via the respective telemetry module; 
   wherein the controller compares the desired state to an actual state determined by the one or more sensors and instructs the actuator to adjust the controllable component such that the actual state approaches the desired state.   
     
     
         22 . The field system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the desired state is a desired state for a field. 
     
     
         23 . The field system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the desired state comprises a desired state for at least one of the two or more wells.