System for control and treatment in a well

Abstract

A production string is installed in a well that includes production tubing and a control sub. In the control sub is a control system that controls both operation of an inflow control valve (“ICV”) in the production string and chemical injection into the production string. The chemical injection is provided from surface through injection tubing installed in the well, which connects to a directional valve included with the control system. Positioning the directional valve diverts chemical injection to reposition the ICV between an open and closed configuration, or injects the chemical injection into the production string. A surface controlled actuator is used to operate the directional valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A well system for producing fluids from a wellbore comprising:
 a tubular installed in the wellbore;   a fluid line having an operating fluid; and   a control system selectively changeable to a position in which operating fluid is routed to an injection port in the tubular, and is selectively changeable to another position in which operating fluid is routed to a valve that is moveable in response to the operating fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises an inflow control valve (“ICV”). 
     
     
         3 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is selected from the group consisting of a production string and wellbore casing. 
     
     
         4 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a directional valve having a body with multiple passages. 
     
     
         5 . The well system of  claim 4 , wherein moving the body into a first position directs operating fluid from the fluid line to move the ICV into an open configuration so that fluid in an annulus surrounding the production string flows into a bore in the production string. 
     
     
         6 . The production string of  claim 5 , wherein the control system comprises a surface controlled actuator connected to the directional valve. 
     
     
         7 . The well system of  claim 5 , wherein the ICV comprises a sleeve that is slideable within the production string, and having an opening that selectively registers with an opening in the production tubing when in the open configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The well system of  claim 4 , wherein the body is selectively positioned so that operating fluid is directed to the injection port. 
     
     
         9 . The well system of  claim 4 , wherein the body is selectively positioned so that operating fluid in the fluid line is isolated from the injection port. 
     
     
         10 . The well system of  claim 4 , wherein the body is selectively positioned so that operating fluid from the fluid line to move the valve into a closed configuration so that fluid in an annulus surrounding the production string is isolated from a bore in the production string. 
     
     
         11 . The well system of  claim 4 , further comprising a seal in the directional valve that is energized by a compressive force exerted by the body. 
     
     
         12 . The well system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the fluid line for use in one of diagnostic, verification, or positioning requirements. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a well, comprising:
 receiving an operating fluid in the well;   treating the well by injecting the operating fluid into the well; and   using the operating fluid for actuating a valve in the well.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the operating fluid is selected from the group consisting of a foaming agent, an anti-foaming agent, a biocide, a corrosion inhibitor, a scale inhibitor, an asphaltene inhibitor, an agent to prevent hydrate formation, an adsorbent, an emulsifier, an emulsion breaker, a viscosity reducer, any currently known or later developed agent injected into a well, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the valve comprises an inflow control valve that is selectively changed into open and closed configurations by rerouting the operating fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising operating a directional valve to reroute the operating fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the directional valve comprises a spool with multiple passages formed within that move in and out of alignment with the fluid line by operating an actuator coupled with the spool. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising automatically calibrating operation of the inflow control valve based on sensing conditions in the well. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising using multiple stages each with a directional valve and flow control valve or a packer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising using multiple stages each with a directional valve and flow control valve or packer, and directing fluid into a single return line.