A downhole tool control system for a drill string rotary steerable tool that includes a body having an inner chamber, a piston gallery extending between the inner chamber and a piston port, and an exhaust gallery extending between the inner chamber and an exhaust port. A spool in the inner chamber is movable into a plurality of positions to direct and control the timing and duration of the flow of drilling fluid to energize pistons of the rotary steerable tool, and to de-energize the pistons. The spool includes a first passage in fluid communication with a drilling fluid inlet port but not the exhaust port, and a second passage in fluid communication with the exhaust port but not the drilling fluid inlet port.

A technique facilitates use of sensor data, e.g. pressure data, associated with hydraulic control lines. According to an embodiment, a well string is deployed in a borehole and comprises a tool coupled with a hydraulic control line and operated via hydraulic inputs delivered through the hydraulic control line. Additionally, a sensor is coupled to the hydraulic control line to monitor pressure in the hydraulic control line. The sensor may be located permanently downhole proximate the tool. A control module is configured to collect data from the sensor and to compare the data to a baseline pressure profile associated with the tool. The sensor data may be used to determine characteristics related to operation of the tool.

A technique facilitates use of sensor data, e.g. pressure data, associated with hydraulic control lines. According to an embodiment, a well string is deployed in a borehole and comprises a tool coupled with a hydraulic control line and operated via hydraulic inputs delivered through the hydraulic control line. Additionally, a sensor is coupled to the hydraulic control line to monitor pressure in the hydraulic control line. The sensor may be located permanently downhole proximate the tool. A control module is configured to collect data from the sensor and to compare the data to a baseline pressure profile associated with the tool. The sensor data may be used to determine characteristics related to operation of the tool.

Apparatus and methods for autonomously shifting a downhole sliding sleeve. A shift tool includes a shifter arm, an artificial neural network, and a control circuit. The artificial neural network is trained to identify engagement of the shifter arm with a shifting feature of a sliding sleeve. The control circuit is configured to extend the shifter arm at a first pressure for seeking engagement with the shifting feature of the sliding sleeve, and responsive to the artificial neural network recognizing engagement of the shifter arm with the shifting feature of the sliding sleeve, extend the shifter arm at a second pressure for shifting the sliding sleeve.

Disclosed is a method and system for fluid flow optimization within a wellbore for gas-lift operations and control of slug flows within the wellbore by utilizing a plurality of electronically controlled valves coupled to a tubing string. Selective actuation of the valves includes incremental opening or closing of an individual valve between a fully open, fully closed, or partial opening of a particular valve. Pressure measurements inside and outside of the tubing string are measured in real-time near the valve to help maintain the desired pressure distribution within the wellbore and to measure and control a pressure differential at a selected valve. Actuation of the valves may be electronically controlled at a remote location by electronic command signals or may be performed automatically by the downhole valves with or without input by a remote system.

Disclosed is a method and system for fluid flow optimization within a wellbore for gas-lift operations and control of slug flows within the wellbore by utilizing a plurality of electronically controlled valves coupled to a tubing string. Selective actuation of the valves includes incremental opening or closing of an individual valve between a fully open, fully closed, or partial opening of a particular valve. Pressure measurements inside and outside of the tubing string are measured in real-time near the valve to help maintain the desired pressure distribution within the wellbore and to measure and control a pressure differential at a selected valve. Actuation of the valves may be electronically controlled at a remote location by electronic command signals or may be performed automatically by the downhole valves with or without input by a remote system.

A hydraulic control system for blowout preventers systems, frack valves and chokes, and related wellhead and control equipment used in oil and gas well drilling operations. The hydraulic control system can include one or more hydraulic control valves or pressure regulators including an internal, linear slider and pairs of seal rings. Lapped and polished surfaces of the seal rings and sliders can form a dynamic metal-to-metal seal within the hydraulic control valves or pressure regulators.

An aggregate MRC well includes a plurality of maximum reservoir contact (MRC) wells, a plurality of independently operated flow control or completion units installed in each of the plurality of MRC wells, a plurality of pressure regimes corresponding to the plurality of MRC wells, and a single production string connecting each of the plurality of MRC wells. The method includes providing a plurality of maximum reservoir contact (MRC) wells forming an aggregate MRC well, providing a plurality of independently operated flow control valves in each of the plurality of MRC wells, providing a plurality of pressure regimes corresponding to the plurality of MRC wells, and providing a single production string connecting each of the plurality of MRC wells.

A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.

A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.