OPTIMIZATION OF RESERVOIR, WELL AND SURFACE NETWORK SYSTEMS

A method and associated apparatus continuously optimizes reservoir, well and surface network systems by using monitoring data and downhole control devices to continuously change the position of a downhole intelligent control valve (ICV) ( 12 ) until a set of characteristics associated with the "actual" monitored data is approximately equal to, or is not significantly different than, a set of characteristics associated with "target" data that is provided by a reservoir simulator ( 32 ). A control pulse ( 18 ) having a predetermined signature is transmitted downhole thereby changing a position of the ICV. In response, a sensor ( 14 ) generates signals representing, "actual" monitoring data. A simulator ( 32 ) which models a reservoir layer provides "target" data. A computer apparatus ( 30 ) receives the "actual" data and the "target" data and, when the "actual" data is not approximately equal to the "target" data the computer apparatus ( 30 ) executes a "monitoring and control process" program code which changes the predetermined signature of the control pulse to a second and different predetermined signature. A new pulse having the second predetermined signature is transmitted downhole and the above process repeat until the "actual" data received by the computer apparatus ( 30 ) is approximately equal to the "target" data.