Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Gerald W Robertson

Anthony Frank Veneruso

James E Brooks

Nolan C Lerche

Guy Vachon Laborde

Bernard G Juchereau

Michael L Timmons

Stephane Hiron

A method for use with equipment located downhole in a subterranean well includes providing a model describing behavior of the equipment and measuring a state of the equipment downhole. An indication is received of the state at a surface of the well, and the model is modified based on the indication. The system includes a communication link, a circuit and a machine. The communication link is adapted to furnish an indication of a state of the equipment to the surface of the well. The circuit is located downhole and is adapted to detect the state and produce the indication. The machine is adapted to provide a model describing behavior of the equipment and modify the model based on the indication.

Monitoring performance of downhole equipment

A safety system for use with an apparatus lowered into a well includes a power supply and a controller that monitors at least a predefined condition of the apparatus. A switch blocks power from the apparatus until the predefined condition is present. A test system includes a test device that generates a signal having a predetermined characteristic (a certain frequency, for example). A controller detects the signal and enables performance of a test operation when the signal of the predetermined frequency is present.

Activation of well tools

A system for use in a subterranean well includes a production tubing and a valve. The production tubing has a port to receive well fluid from a formation. The valve is mounted to the production tubing and includes a sealed housing, a motor, a valve cover, an actuator drive and a sensor. The motor is located inside the housing, and the actuator drive is actuated by the motor to move the valve cover over the port to selectively control the communication of the well fluid between the formation and the passageway of the tubing. The sealed housing may permit the well fluid to accumulate inside the housing over time. The sensor is located inside the housing and provides an indication of the amount of well fluid that has accumulated inside the housing. This information may be useful for such exemplary purposes as predicting when the valve will fail and for evaluating the condition of the valve.

Method and apparatus for use with submersible electrical equipment

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Missouri City, TX, United States of America

Gerald W Robertson