Operational control of multiple valves in a well

Abstract

A method of controlling operation of multiple valves interconnected in a tubular string in a subterranean well can include opening each of the valves, and then closing the valves in response to an application of pressure to the tubular string. A well system can include multiple valves interconnected in a tubular string, each of the valves including an actuator, and a valve control device interconnected in the tubular string. The valve control device may be connected to each of the valve actuators via multiple flow paths, whereby a pressure differential generated between the flow paths is also generated in each of the valve actuators.

1 . A method of controlling operation of multiple valves interconnected in a tubular string in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 opening each of the valves; and   then closing the valves in response to an application of pressure to the tubular string.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein closing the valves further comprises closing all of the valves in response to only the single application of pressure to the tubular string. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein closing the valves further comprises closing all of the valves simultaneously in response to the application of pressure to the tubular string. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing a plug in the tubular string after opening each of the valves, and prior to closing the valves. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein installing the plug further comprises sealing the plug in a valve control device connected via at least one flow path to an actuator of each of the valves. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein closing the valves further comprises generating a pressure differential across the plug, the pressure differential also being generated in the actuator of each of the valves, thereby closing the valves. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after closing the valves, then opening the valves in response to another application of pressure to the tubular string. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein opening the valves after closing the valves further comprises opening all of the valves simultaneously. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising installing a plug in the tubular string after closing the valves. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein opening the valves after closing the valves further comprises generating a pressure differential across the plug, the pressure differential also being generated in an actuator of each of the valves, thereby opening the valves. 
     
     
         11 . A well system, comprising:
 multiple valves interconnected in a tubular string, each of the valves including an actuator; and   a valve control device interconnected in the tubular string, the valve control device being connected to each of the valve actuators via multiple flow paths, whereby a pressure differential generated between the flow paths is also generated in each of the valve actuators.   
     
     
         12 . The well system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plug which sealingly engages a seat in the valve control device. 
     
     
         13 . The well system of  claim 12 , wherein the seat is disposed between the flow paths in the valve control device, whereby the pressure differential generated between the flow paths is generated across the plug. 
     
     
         14 . The well system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the valves further includes a seat, which is sealingly engaged by a plug to thereby open the valve. 
     
     
         15 . The well system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the valves is opened by an application of pressure to the tubular string when the respective plug is sealingly engaged with the corresponding seat. 
     
     
         16 . The well system of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure differential generated between the flow paths opens the valves. 
     
     
         17 . The well system of  claim 16 , wherein the valves open simultaneously in response to the pressure differential generated between the flow paths. 
     
     
         18 . The well system of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure differential generated between the flow paths closes the valves. 
     
     
         19 . The well system of  claim 18 , wherein the valves close simultaneously in response to the pressure differential generated between the flow paths. 
     
     
         20 . The well system of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure differential generated between the flow paths opens the valves when a first plug is sealingly engaged in the valve control device, and wherein the pressure differential generated between the flow paths closes the valves when a second plug is sealingly engaged in the valve control device.