The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 04, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 24, 2003
Glynn R. Williams, Hampshire, GB;
Glynn R. Williams, Hampshire, GB;
Abstract
In a hydrocarbon production well, a control processorselectively sends light to each of one or more gas lift valvesto cause injection of an injection fluid (such as nitrogen gas) from a pressurised annulusinto a production fluid (hydrocarbon) in productiontubing, and/or to each of one or more inlet valves, to control the rate of flow of the hydrocarbon (oil). The control processorreceives feedback data from sensorsnear to each gas liftor inletvalve and otherwise provided in the well bore which measure pressure, temperature or flow rate. The sensors communicate by sensor fibre optic lineswhich run in the well bore. The control processorsends control signals by operating a laser light source to selectively to send laser light to each valvethrough valve operating light fibreswhich also run through the well bore. The valvesderive their motive power from the laser light using a photovoltaic cell arraywhich drives an actuatorwhich can be piezo electric, an electric motor or solenoid.