Wellbore Pressure Actuation of Downhole Valves

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a valve control system to control a valve in a wellbore include identifying a differential pressure arrangement of a plurality of differential pressure arrangements for actuating the valve to a desired state based on a differential pressure of at least two pressure sources of the wellbore and a present state of the valve. Once identified, the differential pressure arrangement of the at least two pressure sources are utilized to initiate actuation of the valve from the present state to the desired state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a valve control system to control a valve in a wellbore, the method comprising:
 identifying a differential pressure arrangement of a plurality of differential pressure arrangements for actuating the valve to a desired state based on a differential pressure of at least two pressure sources of the wellbore and a present state of the valve; and   actuating the valve from the present state to the desired state using the differential pressure arrangement of the at least two pressure sources.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the differential pressure arrangement comprises receiving pressure information associated with a plurality of pressure sources of the wellbore monitored by pressure monitoring devices located in the wellbore, and determining the differential pressure arrangement from among the pressure information of the plurality of pressure sources which will actuate the valve from the present state to the desired state. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein actuating the valve comprises transferring control signals to apply the differential pressure arrangement to the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein transferring the control signals comprises transferring a first control signal for receipt by a first crossover valve to apply pressures of the at least two pressure sources in a first pressure arrangement to a contamination barrier, and transferring a second control signal for receipt by a second crossover valve to apply the pressures of the at least two pressure sources in a second pressure arrangement from the contamination barrier to the valve. 
     
     
         5 . A method of operating a valve control system to control a valve in a wellbore, the method comprising:
 monitoring pressure information associated with a plurality of pressure regions of the wellbore;   identifying a desired state of the valve;   identifying actuation pressures among the plurality of pressure regions to actuate the valve to the desired state based on the pressure information and a present state of the valve; and   applying the actuation pressures to the valve to actuate the valve to the desired state.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein monitoring the pressure information comprises monitoring pressures associated with the plurality of pressure regions of the wellbore with pressure transducers located in the wellbore. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the pressure regions comprises at least one of an annulus and completion region of the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein applying the actuation pressures to the valve to actuate the valve to the desired state comprises transferring actuation pressures via a contamination barrier between each of the actuation pressures and the valve, while preventing fluid transfer of each associated pressure region across the contamination barrier. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying the actuation pressures to the valve to actuate the valve to the desired state comprises a first crossover valve selectively applying the actuation pressures from each associated pressure region to a dirty side of the contamination barrier. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first crossover valve comprises a selective pressure manifold configured to apply at least two arrangements of the actuation pressures to the dirty side of the contamination barrier. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein applying the actuation pressures to the valve to actuate the valve to the desired state comprises a second crossover valve selectively applying the actuation pressures from a clean side of the contamination barrier to the valve. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second crossover valve comprises a selective pressure manifold configured to apply at least two arrangements of the actuation pressures from the clean side of the contamination barrier to the valve. 
     
     
         13 . A valve control system to control a valve in a wellbore, comprising:
 a control interface configured to monitor pressure information associated with a plurality of pressure regions of the wellbore, wherein the control interface is configured to identify a desired state of the valve and wherein the control interface is configured to identify actuation pressures among the plurality of pressure regions to actuate the valve to the desired state based on the pressure information and a present state of the valve; and   an actuation system configured to apply the actuation pressures to the valve to actuate the valve to the desired state.   
     
     
         14 . The valve control system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 pressure transducers located in the wellbore configured to measure pressures of each of the plurality of pressure regions and report the pressure information to the control interface.   
     
     
         15 . The valve control system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the pressure regions comprises at least one of an annulus and completion region of the wellbore. 
     
     
         16 . The valve control system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a contamination barrier comprising a clean side and a dirty side, the contamination barrier positioned between each of the plurality of pressure regions and the valve and configured to transfer the actuation pressures while preventing fluid transfer of each associated pressure region across the contamination barrier.   
     
     
         17 . The valve control system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first crossover valve configured to selectively apply the actuation pressures from each associated pressure region to the dirty side of the contamination barrier.   
     
     
         18 . The valve control system of  claim 17 , wherein the first crossover valve comprises a selective pressure manifold configured to apply at least two arrangements of the actuation pressures to the dirty side of the contamination barrier. 
     
     
         19 . The valve control system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a second crossover valve configured to selectively apply the actuation pressures from the clean side of the contamination barrier to the valve.   
     
     
         20 . The valve control system of  claim 19 , wherein the second crossover valve comprises a selective pressure manifold configured to apply at least two arrangements of the actuation pressures from the clean side of the contamination barrier to the valve.