Patent Publication Number: US-9840908-B2

Title: Completion system having a sand control assembly, an inductive coupler, and a sensor proximate to the sand control assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the following provisional patent applications: U.S. Ser. No. 60/787,592, entitled “Method for Placing Sensor Arrays in the Sand Face Completion,” filed Mar. 30, 2006; U.S. Ser. No. 60/745,469, entitled “Method for Placing Flow Control in a Temperature Sensor Array Completion,” filed Apr. 24, 2006; U.S. Ser. No. 60/747,986, entitled “A Method for Providing Measurement System During Sand Control Operation and Then Converting It to Permanent Measurement System,” filed May 23, 2006; U.S. Ser. No. 60/805,691, entitled “Sand Face Measurement System and Re-Closeable Formation Isolation Valve in ESP Completion,” filed Jun. 23, 2006; U.S. Ser. No. 60/865,084, entitled “Welded, Purged and Pressure Tested Permanent Downhole Cable and Sensor Array,” filed Nov. 9, 2006; U.S. Ser. No. 60/866,622, entitled “Method for Placing Sensor Arrays in the Sand Face Completion,” filed Nov. 21, 2006; U.S. Ser. No. 60/867,276, entitled “Method for Smart Well,” filed Nov. 27, 2006; and U.S. Ser. No. 60/890,630, entitled “Method and Apparatus to Derive Flow Properties Within a Wellbore,” filed Feb. 20, 2007, and U.S. Ser. No. 12/767,290, entitled “Completion System Having A Sand Control Assembly, An Inductive Coupler, And Sensor Proximate To The Sand Control Assembly,” filed Apr. 26, 2010. Each of the above applications is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to a completion system having a completion section that has a sand control assembly to prevent passage of particulate material, an inductive coupler, and a sensor positioned proximate to the sand control assembly and electrically connected to the inductive coupler portion. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A completion system is installed in a well to produce hydrocarbons (or other types of fluids) from reservoir(s) adjacent the well, or to inject fluids into the well. Sensors are typically installed in completion systems to measure various parameters, including temperature, pressure, and other well parameters. 
     However, deployment of sensors is associated with various challenges, particularly in wells where sand control is desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, a completion system for use in a well includes a first completion section having a sand control assembly to prevent passage of particulate material, a first inductive coupler portion, and a sensor positioned proximate to the sand control assembly and electrically coupled to the first induction coupler portion. A second section is deployable after installation of the first completion section, where the second section includes a second inductive coupler portion to communicate with the first inductive coupler portion to enable communication between the sensor and another component coupled to the second section. 
     Other or alternative features will become apparent from the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a two-stage completion system having an inductively coupled wet connect mechanism for deployment in a well, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  provides a slightly different view of the completion system of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  is a schematic diagram of the electrical chain in the completion system of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 1D-1E  illustrate other embodiments of a two-stage completions system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a lower completion section of the two-stage completion system of  FIG. 1A , according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an upper completion section of the two-stage completion system of  FIG. 1A , according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 4-6  illustrate different embodiments of two-stage completion systems having inductively coupled wet connect mechanisms. 
         FIGS. 7, 8A, and 12  illustrate different embodiments of two-stage completion systems that do not use inductive couplers but which use stingers to deploy sensors. 
         FIG. 8B  illustrates a variant of the  FIG. 8A  embodiment that includes an inductive coupler. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a stinger and sensor cable in the completion system of  FIG. 8A , according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  depict a completion system in which sensors and an inductive coupler portion are arranged outside a casing, according to other embodiments. 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate different embodiments of portions of sensor cables usable in the various completion systems. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a spool on which a sensor cable is wound, according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 16-18  illustrate other types of sensor cables, according to further embodiments. 
         FIG. 19  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a completion system that includes a shunt tube to which a sensor cable is attached. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the shunt tube and sensor cable of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  illustrates a completion system for use in a multilateral well, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a two-stage completion system that is a variant of the completion system of  FIG. 1A , according to a further embodiment. 
         FIGS. 23-25 and 27-28  illustrate other embodiments of completion systems in which inductive couplers are used. 
         FIG. 26  illustrates another embodiment of a completion system in which an inductive coupler is not used. 
         FIG. 29  illustrates an arrangement including a lower completion section and an intervention tool capable of communicating with the lower completion section using an inductive coupler, according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments are possible. 
     As used here, the terms “above” and “below”; “up” and “down”; “upper” and “lower”; “upwardly” and “downwardly”; and other like terms indicating relative positions above or below a given point or element are used in this description to more clearly describe some embodiments of the invention. However, when applied to equipment and methods for use in wells that are deviated or horizontal, such terms may refer to a left to right, right to left, or diagonal relationship as appropriate. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a completion system is provided for installation in a well, where the completion system allows for real-time monitoring of downhole parameters, such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, fluid density, reservoir resistivity, oil/gas/water ratio, viscosity, carbon/oxygen ratio, acoustic parameters, chemical sensing (such as for scale, wax, asphaltenes, deposition, pH sensing, salinity sensing), and so forth. The well can be an offshore well or a land-based well. The completion system includes a sensor assembly (such as in the form of a sensor array of multiple sensors) that can be placed at multiple locations across a sand face of a well in some embodiments. A “sand face” refers to a region of the well that is not lined with a casing or liner. In other embodiments, the sensor assembly can be placed in a lined or cased section of the well. “Real-time monitoring” refers to the ability to observe the downhole parameters during some operation performed in the well, such as during production or injection of fluids or during an intervention operation. The sensors of the sensor assembly are placed at discrete locations at various points of interest. Also, the sensor assembly can be placed either outside or inside a sand control assembly, which can include a sand screen, a slotted or perforated liner, or a slotted or perforated pipe. 
     The sensors can be placed proximate to a sand control assembly. A sensor is “proximate to” a sand control assembly if it is in a zone in which the sand control assembly is performing control of particulate material. 
     In some embodiments, a completion system having at least two stages (an upper completion section and a lower completion section) is used. The lower completion section is run into the well in a first trip, where the lower completion section includes the sensor assembly. An upper completion section is then run in a second trip, where the upper completion section is able to be inductively coupled to the first completion section to enable communication and power between the sensor assembly and another component that is located uphole of the sensor assembly. The inductive coupling between the upper and lower completion sections is referred to as an inductively coupled wet connect mechanism between the sections. “Wet connect” refers to electrical coupling between different stages (run into the well at different times) of a completion system in the presence of well fluids. The inductively coupled wet connect mechanism between the upper and lower completion sections enables both power and signaling to be established between the sensor assembly and uphole components, such as a component located elsewhere in the wellbore at the earth surface. 
     The term two-stage completion should also be understood to include those completions where additional completion components are run in after the first upper completion, such as commonly used in some cased-hole frac-pack applications. In such wells, inductive coupling may be used between the lowest completion component and the completion component above, or may be used at other interfaces between completion components. A plurality of inductive couplers may also be used in the case that there are multiple interfaces between completion components. 
     Induction is used to indicate transference of a time-changing electromagnetic signal or power that does not rely upon a closed electrical circuit, but instead includes a component that is wireless. For example, if a time-changing current is passed through a coil, then a consequence of the time variation is that an electromagnetic field will be generated in the medium surrounding the coil. If a second coil is placed into that electromagnetic field, then a voltage will be generated on that second coil, which we refer to as the induced voltage. The efficiency of this inductive coupling increases as the coils are placed closer, but this is not a necessary constraint. For example, if time-changing current is passed through a coil is wrapped around a metallic mandrel, then a voltage will be induced on a coil wrapped around that same mandrel at some distance displaced from the first coil. In this way, a single transmitter can be used to power or communicate with multiple sensors along the wellbore. Given enough power, the transmission distance can be very large. For example, solenoidal coils on the surface of the earth can be used to inductively communicate with subterranean coils deep within a wellbore. Also note that the coils do not have to be wrapped as solenoids. Another example of inductive coupling occurs when a coil is wrapped as a toroid around a metal mandrel, and a voltage is induced on a second toroid some distance removed from the first. 
     In alternative embodiments, the sensor assembly can be provided with the upper completion section rather than with the lower completion section. In yet other embodiments, a single-stage completion system can be used. 
     Although reference is made to upper completion sections that are able to provide power to lower completion sections through inductive couplers, it is noted that lower completion sections can obtain power from other sources, such as batteries, or power supplies that harvest power from vibrations (e.g., vibrations in the completion system). Examples of such systems have been described in U.S. Publication No. 2006/0086498. Power supplies that harvest power from vibrations can include a power generator that converts vibrations to power that is then stored in a charge storage device, such as a battery. In the case that the lower completion obtains power from other sources, the inductive coupling will still be used to facilitate communication across the completion components. 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 1A, 2, and 3  in the ensuing discussion of a two-stage completion system according to an embodiment.  FIG. 1A  shows the two-stage completion system with an upper completion section  100  ( FIG. 3 ) engaged with a lower completion section  102  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The two-stage completion system is a sand face completion system that is designed to be installed in a well that has a region  104  that is un-lined or un-cased (“open hole region”). As shown in  FIG. 1A , the open hole region  104  is below a lined or cased region that has a liner or a casing  106 . In the open hole region, a portion of the lower completion section  102  is provided proximate to a sand face  108 . 
     To prevent passage of particulate material, such as sand, a sand screen  110  is provided in the lower completion section  102 . Alternatively, other types of sand control assemblies can be used, including slotted or perforated pipes or slotted or perforated liners. A sand control assembly is designed to filter particulates, such as sand, to prevent such particulates from flowing from a surrounding reservoir into a well. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, the lower completion section  102  has a sensor assembly  112  that has multiple sensors  114  positioned at various discrete locations across the sand face  108 . In some embodiments, the sensor assembly  112  is in the form of a sensor cable (also referred to as a “sensor bridle”). The sensor cable  112  is basically a continuous control line having portions in which sensors  114  are provided. The sensor cable  112  is “continuous” in the sense that the sensor cable provides a continuous seal against fluids, such as wellbore fluids, along its length. Note that in some embodiments, the continuous sensor cable can actually have discrete housing sections that are sealably attached together. In other embodiments, the sensor cable can be implemented with an integrated, continuous housing without breaks. 
     In the lower completion section  102 , the sensor cable  112  is also connected to a controller cartridge  116  that is able to communicate with the sensors  114 . The controller cartridge  116  is able to receive commands from another location (such as at the earth surface or from another location in the well, e.g., from control station  146  in the upper completion section  100 ). These commands can instruct the controller cartridge  116  to cause the sensors  114  to take measurements or send measured data. Also, the controller cartridge  116  is able to store and communicate measurement data from the sensors  114 . Thus, at periodic intervals, or in response to commands, the controller cartridge  116  is able to communicate the measurement data to another component (e.g., control station  146 ) that is located elsewhere in the wellbore or at the earth surface. Generally, the controller cartridge  116  includes a processor and storage. The communication between sensors  114  and control cartridge  116  can be bi-directional or can use a master-slave arrangement. 
     The controller cartridge  116  is electrically connected to a first inductive coupler portion  118  (e.g., a female inductive coupler portion) that is part of the lower completion section  102 . As discussed further below, the first inductive coupler portion  118  allows the lower completion section  102  to electrically communicate with the upper completion section  100  such that commands can be issued to the controller cartridge  116  and the controller cartridge  116  is able to communicate measurement data to the upper completion section  100 . 
     In embodiments in which power is generated or stored locally in the lower completion section, the controller cartridge  116  can include a battery or power supply. 
     As further depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 2 , the lower completion section  102  includes a packer  120  (e.g., gravel pack packer) that when set seals against casing  106 . The packer  120  isolates an annulus region  124  under the packer  120 , where the annulus region  124  is defined between the outside of the lower completion section  102  and the inner wall of the casing  106  and the sand face  108 . 
     A seal bore assembly  126  extends below the packer  120 , where the seal bore assembly  126  is to sealably receive the upper completion section  100 . The seal bore assembly  126  is further connected to a circulation port assembly  128  that has a slidable sleeve  130  that is slidable to cover or uncover circulating ports of the circulating port assembly  128 . During a gravel pack operation, the sleeve  130  can be moved to an open position to allow gravel slurry to pass from the inner bore  132  of the lower completion section  102  to the annulus region  124  to perform gravel packing of the annulus region  124 . The gravel pack formed in the annulus region  124  is part of the sand control assembly designed to filter particulates. 
     In the example implementation of  FIGS. 1A and 2 , the lower completion section  102  further includes a mechanical fluid loss control device, e.g., formation isolation valve  134 , which can be implemented as a ball valve. When closed, the ball valve isolates a lower part  136  of the inner bore  132  from the part of the inner bore  132  above the formation isolation valve  134 . When open, the formation isolation valve  134  can provide an open bore to allow flow of fluids as well as passage of intervention tools. Although the lower completion section  102  depicted in the example of  FIGS. 1A and 2  includes various components, it is noted that in other implementations, some of these components can be omitted or replaced with other components. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 2 , the sensor cable  112  is provided in the annulus region  124  outside the sand screen  110 . By deploying the sensors  114  of the sensor cable  112  outside the sand screen  110 , well control issues and fluid losses can be avoided by using the formation isolation valve  134 . Note that the formation isolation valve  134  can be closed for the purpose of fluid loss control during installation of the two-stage completion system. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 3 , the upper completion section  100  has a straddle seal assembly  140  for sealing engagement inside the seal bore assembly  126  ( FIG. 2 ) of the lower completion section  102 . As depicted in  FIG. 1A , the outer diameter of the straddle seal assembly  140  of the upper completion section  100  is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the seal bore assembly  126  of the lower completion section  102 . This allows the upper completion section straddle seal assembly  140  to sealingly slide into the lower completion section seal bore assembly  126  (which is depicted in  FIG. 1A ). In an alternate embodiment the straddle seal assembly can be replaced with a stinger that does not have to seal. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 3 , arranged on the outside of the upper completion section straddle seal assembly  140  is a snap latch  142  that allows for engagement with the packer  120  of the lower completion section  102 . When the snap latch  142  is engaged in the packer  120 , as depicted in  FIG. 1A , the upper completion section  100  is securely engaged with the lower completion section  102 . In other implementations, other engagement mechanisms can be employed instead of the snap latch  142 . 
     Proximate to the lower portion of the upper completion section  100  (and more specifically proximate to the lower portion of the straddle seal assembly  140 ) is a second inductive coupler portion  144  (e.g., a male inductive coupler portion). When positioned next to each other, the second inductive coupler portion  144  and first inductive coupler portion  118  (as depicted in  FIG. 1A ) form an inductive coupler that allows for inductively coupled communication of data and power between the upper and lower completion sections. 
     An electrical conductor  147  (or conductors) extends from the second inductive coupler portion  144  to the control station  146 , which includes a processor and a power and telemetry module (to supply power and to communicate signaling with the controller cartridge  116  in the lower completion section  102  through the inductive coupler). The control station  146  can also optionally include sensors, such as temperature and/or pressure sensors. 
     The control station  146  is connected to an electric cable  148  (e.g., a twisted pair electric cable) that extends upwardly to a contraction joint  150  (or length compensation joint). At the contraction joint  150 , the electric cable  148  can be wound in a spiral fashion (to provide a helically wound cable) until the electric cable  148  reaches an upper packer  152  in the upper completion section  100 . The upper packer  152  is a ported packer to allow the electric cable  148  to extend through the packer  152  to above the ported packer  152 . The electric cable  148  can extend from the upper packer  152  all the way to the earth surface (or to another location in the well). 
     In another embodiment, the control station  146  can be omitted, and the electrical cable  148  can run from the second inductive coupler portion  144  (of the upper completion section  100 ) to a control station elsewhere in the well or at the earth surface. 
     The contraction joint  150  is optional and can be omitted in other implementations. The upper completion section  100  also includes a tubing  154 , which can extend all the way to the earth surface. The upper completion section  100  is carried into the well on the tubing  154 . 
     In operation, the lower completion section  102  is run in a first trip into the well and is installed proximate to the open hole section of the well. The packer  120  ( FIG. 2 ) is then set, after which a gravel packing operation can be performed. To perform the gravel packing operation, the circulating port assembly  128  is actuated to an open position to open the port(s) of the circulating port assembly  128 . A gravel slurry is then communicated into the well and through the open port(s) of the circulating port assembly  128  into the annulus region  124 . The annulus region  124  is then filled with slurry until the annulus region  124  is gravel packed. 
     Next, in a second trip, the upper completion section  100  is run into the well and attached to the lower completion section  102 . Once the upper end lower completion sections are engaged, communication between the controller cartridge  116  and the control station  146  can be performed through the inductive coupler that includes the inductive coupler portions  118  and  144 . The control station  146  can send commands to the controller cartridge  116  in the lower completion section  102 , or the control station  146  can receive measurement data collected by the sensors  114  from the controller cartridge  116 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows a slightly different view of the two-stage completion system depicted in  FIG. 1A . In  FIG. 1B , the sensor cable  112 , controller cartridge  116 , and control station  146  are depicted with slightly different views. Functionally, the completion system of  FIG. 1B  is similar to the completion system of  FIG. 1A . 
       FIG. 1C  is a schematic diagram of an example electrical chain between the sensors  114  that are part of the lower completion section  102  and a surface controller  170  (provided at the earth surface). The sensors  114  communicate over a bus  172  that is part of the sensor cable  112  to the controller cartridge  116 . Communication between the controller cartridge  116  and a control station interface  174  (part of control station  146 ) occurs through inductive coupler portions  118  and  144  (as discussed above). A switch  176  can be provided in the controller cartridge  176  to control whether or not communication is enabled through the inductive coupler portions  118  and  144 . The switch  176  is controllable by the control station  146  or in response to commands sent from the surface controller  170  through the control station  146 . Note that, as discussed above, the control station  146  can be omitted in some implementations, with the surface controller  170  being able to communicate with the controller cartridge  116  without the control station  146 . 
     The control station  146  communicates power and signaling over electrical cable  148  to a communications bus interface  177 . In one implementation, the communications bus interface  177  can be a ModBus interface, which is able to communicate over a ModBus communications link  178  with the surface controller  170 . The ModBus communications link  178  can be a serial link implemented with RS-422, RS-485, and/or RS-232, or alternatively, the ModBus communications link  178  can be a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). The ModBus protocol is a standard communications protocol in the oilfield industry and specifications are broadly available, for example at www.modbus.org. In alternative implementations, other types of communications links can be employed. 
     In one implementation, the sensors  114  can be implemented as slave devices that are responsive to requests from the control station  146 . Alternatively, the sensors  114  can be able to initiate communications with the control station  146  or with the surface controller  170 . 
     In one embodiment, communications through the inductive coupler portions  118  and  144  is accomplished using frequency modulation of data signals around a particular frequency carrier. The frequency carrier has sufficient power to supply power to the controller cartridge  116  and the sensors  114 . Alternatively, the controller cartridge  176  and sensors  114  can be powered by a battery. 
     The sensors  114  can be scanned periodically, such as once every predefined time interval. Alternatively, the sensors  114  are accessed in response to a specific request (such as from the control station  146  or surface controller  170 ) to retrieve measurement data. 
       FIG. 1D  illustrates yet another variant of the two-stage completion system. In the  FIG. 1A  embodiment, a single inductive coupler is used to provide for both power and signal (data) communication. However, according to  FIG. 1D , two inductive couplers are employed, an inductive coupler  180  for power and an inductive coupler  182  for data communication. 
       FIG. 1E  shows another embodiment that uses two inductive couplers  184  and  186 , where the first inductive coupler  184  is used for power and data communication with a first sensor cable  188 , and the second inductive coupler  186  is used to provide power and data communication with a second sensor cable  190 . The use of two inductive couplers and two corresponding sensor cables in the  FIG. 1E  embodiment provides for redundancy in case of failure of one of the sensor cables or one of the inductive couplers. The sensor cables  188  and  190  are generally parallel to each other. However, the sensors  192  of the sensor cable  188  are offset along the longitudinal direction of the wellbore with respect to sensors  194  of the sensor cable  190 . In other words, in the longitudinal direction, each sensor  192  is positioned between two successive sensors  194  (see dashed line  196  in  FIG. 1E ). Similarly, each sensor  194  is positioned between two successive sensors  192  (see dashed line  198  in  FIG. 1E ). By providing longitudinal offsets of sensors  192  and  194 , the sensors  192  and  194  are able to collect measurements at different depths in the wellbore. In this manner, the effective density of sensors in the region of interest is increased if both sensor cables  188  and  190  are operational. 
     In another embodiment, the sensor cables  188  and  190  can be run in series instead of in parallel as depicted in  FIG. 1E . In yet another arrangement, instead of both cables  188  and  190  being sensor cables, one of the cables can be a cable used to provide control, such as to control a flow control device (or alternatively, one of the cables can be a combination sensor and control cable). 
     In the embodiments discussed above, a sensor cable provides electrical wires that interconnect the multiple sensors in a collection or array of sensors. In an alternative implementation, wires between sensors can be omitted. In this case, multiple inductive coupler portions can be provided for corresponding sensors, with the upper completion section providing corresponding inductive coupler portions to interact with the inductive coupler portions associated with respective sensors to communicate power and data with the sensors. 
     Moreover, even though reference has been made to communicating data between the sensors and another component in the well, it is noted that in alternative implementations, and in particular in implementations where sensors are provided with their own power sources downhole, the sensors can be provided with just enough micro-power that the sensors can make measurements and store data over a relatively long period of time (e.g., months). Later, an intervention tool can be lowered to communicate with the sensors to retrieve the collected measurement data. In one embodiment, the communication between the intervention tool would be accomplished using inductive coupling, wherein one inductive coupler portion is permanently installed in the completion, and the mating inductive coupler portion is on the intervention tool. The intervention tool could also replenish (e.g., charge) the downhole power sources. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a different embodiment of a two-stage completion system in which the positions of the inductive coupler portions and of the control station have been changed. The completion system includes an upper completion section  100 A and a lower completion section  102 A. In the  FIG. 4  embodiment, the first inductive coupler portion  118  is provided above a packer  204  (a ported packer) of the lower completion section  102 A. The first inductive coupler portion  118  can in turn be electrically connected to the controller cartridge  116  (located below the packer  204 ), which is connected to a sensor cable  112 A. The sensor cable  112 A has a portion that passes through a port of the ported packer  204  to allow communication between sensors  114  and the controller cartridge  116 . 
     The upper completion section  100 A has a lower section  208  that provides the second inductive coupler portion  144  for communicating with the first inductive coupler portion  118  when the upper completion section  100 A is engaged with the lower completion section  102 A. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the control station  146  is provided above the ported packer  152  (as compared to the position of the control station  146  below the ported packer  152  in  FIGS. 1A and 3 ). 
     The remaining components depicted in  FIG. 4  are the same as or similar to corresponding components in  FIGS. 1A, 2, and 3  and thus are not further described. 
       FIG. 5  shows yet another variant of the two-stage completion system that includes an upper completion section  100 B and a lower completion section  102 B. In this embodiment, a sensor cable  112 B similar to the sensor cable  112  of  FIG. 1A  extends further up in the lower completion section  102 B to the controller cartridge  116  that is in turn connected to the first inductive coupler portion  118 . The first inductive coupler portion  118  is placed further up in the lower completion section  102 B (as compared to the lower completion section  102  of  FIG. 1A ) such that a straddle seal assembly  140 B of the upper completion section  100 B does not have to extend deeply into the lower completion section  102 B. As a result, when inserted into the lower completion section  102 B, the straddle seal assembly  140 B of the upper completion section  100 B does not extend past the circulating port assembly  128 , such that the circulating port  128  is not blocked when the upper completion section  100 B is engaged with the lower completion section  102 B. In the  FIG. 5  embodiment, the inductive coupler portions  118  and  144  are positioned above the circulating port assembly  128 . 
     In the arrangement of  FIG. 5 , the control station  146  is also provided above the ported packer  152  as in the  FIG. 4  embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  shows a multi-stage completion system according to another embodiment that includes an upper completion section  100 C and a lower completion section  102 C that has multiple parts for multiple zones in the well. As depicted in  FIG. 6 , three producing zones (or injection zones)  302 ,  304 , and  306  are depicted. The lower completion section  102 C has three sets of sensor cables  308 ,  310 , and  312  that are similar in arrangement to the sensor cable  112  of  FIG. 1 . Each sensor cable  308 ,  310 ,  312  has multiple sensors provided at discrete locations in respective zones  302 ,  304 ,  306 . In the arrangement of  FIG. 6 , the zones  302 ,  304 , and  306  are all lined with casing  314 , unlike the open hole section depicted in  FIG. 1 . The casing  314  is perforated in each of the zones  302 ,  304 , and  306  to enable communication between the well and reservoirs adjacent the well. 
     The lower completion section  102 C includes a first lower packer  316  that provides isolation between zones  304  and  306 , and a second lower packer  318  that provides isolation between zones  304  and  302 . The lowermost sensor cable  312  is electrically connected to a first set of inductive coupler portions  318  and  320 . The inductive coupler portion  318  is attached to a pipe section or screen that is attached to the first lower packer  316 . On the other hand, the inductive coupler portion  320  is attached to another pipe section  324  or screen that extends upwardly to attach to another pipe section  326 . 
     In the second zone  304 , a second set of inductive coupler portions  328  and  330  are provided, where the inductive coupler portion  328  is attached to pipe section  326 . On the other hand, the inductive coupler portion  330  is attached to pipe section  332  that extends upwardly to the formation isolation valve  134  of the lower completion section  102 C. The remaining parts of the lower completion section  102 C are similar to or the same as the lower completion section  102 B of  FIG. 5 . The upper completion section  100 C that is engaged with the lower completion section  102 C is also similar to or the same as the upper completion section  100 B of  FIG. 5 . 
     In operation, the lower completion section  102 C is installed in different trips, with the lowermost part of the lower completion section  102 C (that corresponds to the lowermost zone  306 ) installed first, followed by the second part of the lower completion zone  102 C that is adjacent the second zone  304 , followed by the part of the lower completion section  102 C adjacent the zone  302 . 
     Power and data communication between the controller cartridge  116  and the sensors of the sensor cables  310  and  312  is performed through the inductive couplers corresponding to portions  328 ,  330 , and  318 ,  320 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a two-stage completion system according to yet another embodiment that includes a lower completion section  402  and an upper completion section  400 . A casing  425  lines a portion of the well. In the  FIG. 7  embodiment, an inductively coupled wet connect mechanism is not employed, unlike the embodiments of  FIGS. 1A-6 . In  FIG. 7 , the lower completion section  402  includes a gravel pack packer  404  that is attached to a circulating port assembly  406 . The lower completion section  402  also includes a formation isolation valve  408  below the circulating port assembly  406 . A sand screen  410  is attached below the formation isolation valve  408  for sand control or control of other particulates. The lower completion section  402  is positioned proximate to an open hole zone  412  in which production (or injection) is performed. 
     Note that in the  FIG. 7  embodiment, the lower completion section  402  does not include an inductive coupler portion. In the  FIG. 7  embodiment, the upper completion section  400  has a stinger  414  that is made up of a slotted pipe having multiple slots to allow communication between the inner bore of the stinger  414  and the outside of the stinger  414 . The stinger  414  extends into the lower completion section  402  in the proximity of the open hole zone  412 . 
     Within the stinger  414  is arranged a sensor cable  416  having multiple sensors  418  at discrete locations across the zone  412 . The sensor cable  416  extends upwardly in the stinger  414  until it exits the upper end of the stinger  414 . The sensor cable  416  extends radially through a slotted pup joint  419  to a ported packer  420  of the upper completion section  400 . The slotted pup joint  419  has slots  422  to allow communication between the inner bore  424  of a tubing  426  and the region  428  that is outside the upper completion section  400  and underneath the packer  420 . 
     In the upper completion section  400 , a control station  430  is provided above the packer  420 . The sensor cable  416  extends through the ported packer  420  to the control station  430 . The control station  430  in turn communicates over an electric cable  432  to an earth surface location or some other location in the well. 
     Unlike the embodiments depicted in  FIG. 1A-6 , the sensors  418  of the  FIG. 7  embodiment are arranged inside the sand control assembly (rather than outside the sand control assembly). However, use of the stinger  414  allows for convenient placement of the sensors  418  across the sand face adjacent the sand screen  410 . 
     In operation, the lower completion section  402  of  FIG. 7  is first installed in the well adjacent the zone  412 . Following gravel packing, the upper completion section  400  is run into the well, with the stinger  414  inserted into the lower completion section  402  such that the sensors  418  of the sensor cable  416  are positioned proximate to the zone  412  at various discrete locations. In some embodiment the lower completion section may not require gravel packing; instead, the lower completion section may include an expandable screen, cased and perforated hole, slotted liner, or open hole. 
       FIG. 8A  shows yet another arrangement of a two-stage completion system having an upper completion section  400 A and lower completion section  402 A in which an inductively coupled wet connect mechanism is not used. A retrievable stinger  414 A that is part of the upper completion section  400 A is inserted into the lower completion section  402 A. The lower completion section  402 A is similar to or identical to the lower completion section  402  of  FIG. 7 . However, the stinger  414 A in  FIG. 8A  has a longitudinal groove on its outer surface in which a sensor cable  416 A is positioned. A cross-sectional view of a portion of the stinger  414 A with the sensor cable  416 A is depicted in  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , a longitudinal groove (or dimple)  440  is provided in the outer surface of the stinger  414 A such that the sensor cable  416 A can be positioned in the groove  440 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 8A , the sensor cable  416 A extends upwardly until it reaches a stinger hanger  442  that rests in a stinger receptacle  444  of a slotted pup joint  419 A. The sensor cable  416 A extends radially through the stinger hanger  442  and the slotted pup joint  419 A into a region outside the outer surface of the upper completion section  400 A. The sensor cable  416 A extends through the ported packer  420  to the control station  430 . 
     Basically, the difference between the  FIG. 8A  embodiment and the  FIG. 7  embodiment is that the sensor cable  416 A is arranged outside the stinger  414 A (rather than inside the stinger). Also, the stinger  414 A is retrievable since it rests inside the stinger receptacle  444  on a stinger hanger  442 . ( FIG. 7  shows a fixed stinger that is part of the upper completion section  400 ). An intervention tool can be run into the well to engage the stinger hanger  442  of  FIG. 8A  to retrieve the stinger hanger  442  with the stinger  414 A from the well. As depicted in  FIG. 8A , a latching mechanism  446  is provided to engage the stinger hanger  442  to the stinger receptacle  444 . In one example implementation, the latching mechanism  446  can be a snap latch mechanism. 
     Another difference between the upper completion section  400 A of  FIG. 8A  and the upper completion section  400  of  FIG. 7  is that the upper completion section  400 A has a slotted pipe section  448  extending below the stinger receptacle  444 . The slotted pipe section  448  extends into the lower completion section  402 A, as depicted in  FIG. 8A . 
       FIG. 8B  illustrates another variant of the two-stage completion system that also employs a retrievable stinger  414 B. The stinger  414 B extends from a stinger hanger  442 B that rests in a stinger receptacle  444 B. The difference between the  FIG. 8B  embodiment and the  FIG. 8A  embodiment is that the stinger hanger  442 B has a first inductive coupler portion  450  (male inductive coupler portion) that is able to be inductively coupled to the second inductive coupler portion  452  (female inductive coupler portion) inside the stinger receptacle  444 B. A sensor cable  416 B (which also runs outside the stinger  414 B but in a longitudinal groove) extends upwardly and is connected to the first inductive coupler portion  450  in the stinger hanger  442 B. When the stinger hanger  442 B is installed inside the stinger receptacle  444 B, the first and second inductive coupler portions  450  and  452  are positioned adjacent each other so that electrical signaling and power can be inductively coupled between the inductive coupler portions  450  and  452 . 
     The second inductive coupler portion  452  is connected to an electric cable  454 , which passes through the ported packer  420  to the control station  430  above the packer  420 . 
     In operation, the lower completion section  402 B is first run into the well, followed by the upper completion section  400 B in a separate trip. Then, the stinger  414 B is run into the well, and installed in the stinger receptacle  444 B of the upper completion section  400 B. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates yet another embodiment of another completion system that provides sensors in a producing (or injection) zone. In the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , sensors  502  are provided outside a casing  504  that lines the well. The sensors  502  are also part of a sensor cable  506 . The sensors  502  are provided at various discrete locations outside the casing  504 . The sensor cable  506  runs upwardly to a first inductive coupler portion  508  (female inductive coupler portion) through a controller cartridge  507 . The first inductive coupler portion  508  interacts with a second inductive coupler portion  510  (male inductive coupler portion) to communicate power and data. The first inductive coupler portion  508  is located outside the casing  504 , whereas the second inductive coupler portion  510  is located inside the casing  504 . 
     Inside the casing  504 , a packer  512  is set to isolate an annulus region  514  that is above the packer  512  and between a tubing  516  and the casing  504 . The second inductive coupler portion  510  is electrically connected to a control station  518  over an electric cable section  520 . In turn, the control station  518  is connected to another electric cable  522  that can extend to the earth surface or elsewhere in the well. 
     In operation, the casing  504  is installed into the well with the sensor cable  506  and first inductive coupler portion  508  provided with the casing  504  during installation. Subsequently, after the casing  504  has been installed, the completion equipment inside the casing can be installed, including those depicted in  FIG. 10 . Prior to or after installation of the components depicted in  FIG. 10 , a perforating gun (not shown) can be lowered into the well to the producing (or injection) zone  500 . The perforating gun can then be activated to produce perforations  526  through the casing  504  and into the surrounding formation. Directional perforation can be performed to avoid damage to the sensor cable  506  that is located outside the casing  504 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates yet another different arrangement of the completion system, which is similar to the completion system of  FIG. 10  except that the completion system of  FIG. 11  has multiple stages to correspond to multiple different zones  602 ,  604 , and  606 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , a sensor cable  506 A is also provided outside the casing  504 , with the sensor cable  506 A having sensors  502  provided at various locations in the different zones  602 ,  604 , and  606 . The sensor cable  506 A extends to the first inductive coupler portion  508  through the controller cartridge  507 . 
     The completion system of  FIG. 11  also includes the packer  512 , the second inductive coupler portion  510  inside the casing  504 , control station  518 , and electric cable sections  520  and  522 , as in the  FIG. 10  embodiment. The  FIG. 11  embodiment differs from the  FIG. 10  embodiment in that additional completion equipment is provided below the packer  512 . In  FIG. 11 , a gravel pack packer  608  is provided, with a circulating port assembly  610  provided below the gravel pack packer  608 . A formation isolation valve  612  is also provided below the circulating port assembly  610 . 
     Further equipment below the formation isolation valve  612  include sand screens  614  and isolation packers  616  and  618  to isolate the zones  602 ,  604 , and  606 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates another embodiment of a completion system that uses a stinger design and that does not use an inductively coupled wet connect mechanism. The completion system includes an upper completion section  700  and a lower completion section  702 . In  FIG. 12 , a gravel pack packer  704  is set in a producing (or injection) zone, with a sand screen  706  attached below the packer  704 . The gravel pack packer  704  and screen  706  are part of the lower completion section  702 . 
     The upper completion section  700  includes a stinger  708  (which includes a perforated pipe). Within the inner bore of the stinger  708  are arranged various sensors  710  and  712 . The sensors  710  and  712  are connected by Y-connections to an electric cable  714 . The electric cable  714  runs through Y-connect bulkheads  716  and  720  and exits the upper end of the stinger  708 . The electric cable  714  extends radially through a ported sub  722  and then passes through a ported packer  724  of the upper completion section  700  to a control station  726 . The control station  726  in turn is connected by an electric cable  728  to the earth surface or to another location in the well. 
       FIG. 13  shows a portion of a sensor cable  800  according to an embodiment, which can be any one of the sensor cables mentioned above. The sensor cable  800  includes outer housing sections  802  and  804 , which are sealably connected to a sensor housing structure  806  that houses a sensor support  810  and a sensor  808 . The sensor  808  is positioned in a chamber  809  of the sensor support  810 . The sensor support housing  806  and the housing sections  802  and  804  of the sensor cable  800  can be formed of metal. The housing sections  802 ,  804  can be welded to sensor support housing  806  to provide a sealing engagement (to keep wellbore fluids from entering the sensor cable  800 ). The sensor support  810  can also be formed of a metal to act as a chassis. As an example, the metal used to form the sensor support  810  can be aluminum. Similarly, the metal used to form the housing sections  802 ,  804  and sensor support housing  806  can also be aluminum. If the sensor  808  is a temperature sensor, then aluminum is a relatively good thermal coupler to allow for accurate temperature measurement. However, in other implementations, other types of metal can be used. Also, non-metallic materials can also be used to implement elements  802 ,  804 ,  806 , and  810 . 
     As further depicted in  FIG. 13 , the sensor  808  includes a sensor chip  812  (e.g., a sensor chip to measure temperature) and a communications interface  814  (electrically connected to the sensor chip  812 ) to enable communication with electrical wires  816  and  818  that extend in the sensor cable  800 . In one example implementation, the communications interface  814  is an I2C interface. Alternatively, other types of communications interfaces can be used with the sensor  808 . The sensor chip  812  and interface  814  can be mounted on a circuit board  811  in one implementation. 
     The portion depicted in  FIG. 13  is repeated along the length of the sensor cable  800  to provide multiple sensors  808  along the sensor cable  800  at various discrete locations. In accordance with some embodiments, the sensor cable  800  is implemented with bi-directional twisted pair wires, which have relatively high immunity to noise. Signals on twisted pair wires are represented by voltage differences between two wires. The successive housing sections  802 ,  804  and sensor housing structures  806  are collectively referred to as the “outer liner” of the sensor cable  800 . 
     A benefit of using welding in the sensor cable is that O-ring or discrete metal seals can be avoided. However, in other implementations, O-ring or metal seals can be used. In an alternative implementation, instead of using welding to weld the housing sections  802 ,  804  with the sensor support housing  806 , other forms of sealing engagement or attachment can be provided between the housing sections  802 ,  804 , and sensor support housing  806 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a sensor cable  800 A according to a different embodiment. In this embodiment, housing sections  802 ,  804  of the sensor cable  800 A are sealably connected to a sensor support housing  806 A that has an outer diameter wider than the outer diameter of the housing sections  802 ,  804 . In other words, the sensor support housing  806 A protrudes radially outwardly with respect to the housing sections  802 ,  804 . As with the sensor cable  800  of  FIG. 13 , the housing sections  802 ,  804  can be welded to the sensor support housing  806 A to provide sealing engagement. Alternatively, other forms of sealing engagement or attachment can be employed. The enlarged diameter or width of the sensor support housing  806 A allows for a cavity  824  to be defined in the sensor support housing  806 A. The cavity  824  can be used to receive a pressure and temperature sensor element  826 , which can be used to detect both pressure and temperature (or just one of pressure and temperature) or any other type of sensors. An outer surface  828  of the sensor element  826  is exposed to the external environment outside the sensor cable  800 A. The sensor element  826  is sealably attached to the sensor support housing  806 A by connections  830 , which can be welded connections or other types of sealing connections. 
     Wires  832  connect the sensor element  826  to sensor  808 A contained in the sensor support  810  inside the sensor support housing  806 A. The wires  832  connect the sensor element  826  to the sensor chip  812  of the sensor  808 A, which sensor chip  812  is able to detect pressure and temperature based on signals from the sensor element  826 . 
       FIG. 15  shows a sensor cable  800  that is deployed on a spool  840 . As depicted in  FIG. 15 , the sensor cable  800  includes the controller cartridge  116  and a sensor  114 . Additional sensors  114  that are part of the sensor cable  800  are wound onto the spool  840 . To deploy the sensor cable  800 , the sensor cable  800  is unwound until a desired length (and number of sensors  114 ) has been unwound, and the sensor cable  800  can be cut and attached to a completion system. 
       FIG. 16  shows an alternative embodiment of a sensor cable  900 , which is made up of a control line  902  (which can be formed of a metal such as steel, for example). Note that the control line  902  is a continuous control line that includes multiple sensors. The control line  902  has an inner bore  904  in which sensors  906  are provided, where the sensors  906  are interconnected by electrical wires  908 . In accordance with some embodiments, the inner bore  904  of the control line  902  is filled with a non-electrically conductive liquid to provide efficient heat transfer between the outside of the control line  902  and the sensors  906 . The non-electrically conductive liquid (or other fluid) in the inner bore  904  is thermally conductive to provide the heat transfer. Also, the fluid in the control line  902  allows for averaging of temperature over a certain length of the control line  902 , due to the thermally conductive characteristics of the fluid. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, the sensors  906  can be implemented with resistance temperature detectors (RTDs). RTDs are thin film devices that measure temperature based on correlation between electrical resistance of electrically-conductive materials and changing temperature. In many cases, RTDs are formed using platinum due to platinum&#39;s linear resistance-temperature relationship. However, RTDs formed of other materials can also be used. Precision RTDs are widely available within the industry, for example, from Heraeus Sensor Technology, Reinhard-Heraeus-Ring 23, D-63801 Kleinostheim, Germany. 
     The use of inductive coupling according to some embodiments enables a significant variety of sensing techniques, not just temperature measurements. Pressure, flow rate, fluid density, reservoir resistivity, oil/gas/water ratio, viscosity, carbon/oxygen ratio, acoustic parameters, chemical sensing (such as for scale, wax, asphaltenes, deposition, pH sensing, salinity sensing), and so forth can all receive power and/or data communication through inductive coupling. It is desirable that sensors be of small size and have relatively low power consumption. Such sensors have recently become available in the industry, such as those described in WO 02/077613. Note that the sensors may be directly measuring a property of the reservoir, or the reservoir fluid, or they may be measuring such properties through an indirect mechanism. For example, in the case that geophones or acoustic sensors are located along the sand face and where such sensors measure acoustic energy generated in the formation, that energy may come from the release of stress caused by the cracking of rock formation in a hydraulic fracturing of a nearby well. This information in turn is used to determine mechanical properties of the reservoir, such as principle stress directions, as has been described, for example, in U.S. Publication No. 2003/0205376. 
     The uppermost sensor  906  depicted in  FIG. 16  is connected by wires  910  to a splice structure  912 , which interconnects the wires  910  to wires  914  inside a control line  915  that leads to a controller cartridge (not shown in  FIG. 16 ). Note that the splice structure  912  is provided to isolate the fluids in the control line bore  904  from a chamber  916  in the control line  915 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates a different arrangement of a sensor cable  900 A. The sensor cable  900 A also includes the control line  902  that defines the inner bore  904  containing a non-electrically conductive fluid. However, the difference between the sensor cable  900 A of  FIG. 17  and the sensor cable  900  of  FIG. 16  is the use of modified sensors  906 A in  FIG. 17 . The sensors  906 A include an RTD wire filament  920  (which has a resistance that varies with temperature). The filament  920  is connected to an electronic chip  922  for detecting the resistance of the RTD wire filament  920  to enable temperature detection. 
       FIG. 18  illustrates yet another arrangement of a sensor cable  900 B. In this embodiment, the control line  902  does not contain a liquid (rather, the inner bore  904  of the control line  902  contains air or some other gas). The sensor cable  900 B includes sensors  906 B have an encapsulating structure  930  to contain a non-electrically conductive liquid  932  in which the RTD filament wire  920  and electronic chip  922  are provided. 
       FIG. 19  shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a completion system that includes a shunt tube  1002  for carrying gravel slurry for gravel packing operations. The shunt tube  1002  extends from an earth surface location to the zones of interest. Two zones  1004  and  1006  are depicted in  FIG. 19 , with packers  1008  and  1010  used for zonal isolation. 
     In the first zone  1004 , a screen assembly  1112  is provided around a perforated base pipe  1114 . As depicted, fluid is allowed to flow from the reservoir in zone  1004  through the screen assembly  1112  and through perforations of the perforated pipe  1114  into an inner bore  1116  of the completion system depicted in  FIG. 19 . Once the fluid enters the inner bore  1116 , fluid flows in the direction indicated by arrows  1118 . 
     The perforated base pipe  1114  at its lower end is connected to a blank pipe  1120 . The lower end of the blank pipe  1120  is connected to another perforated base pipe  1122  that is positioned in the second zone  1006 . A screen assembly  1124  is provided around the perforated base pipe  1122  to allow fluid flow from the reservoir adjacent zone  1006  to flow fluid into the inner bore  1116  of the completion system through the screen assembly  1124  and the perforated base pipe  1122 . 
     The perforated base pipes  1114 ,  1122 , and the blank pipe  1120  make up a production conduit that contains the inner bore  1116 . The shunt tube  1002  is provided in an annular region between the outside of this production conduit and a wall  1126  of the wellbore. In  FIG. 19 , the wall  1126  is a sand face. Alternatively, the wall  1126  can be a casing or liner. 
     As further depicted in  FIG. 19 , sensors  1128 ,  1130 , and  1132  are attached to the shunt tube  1002 . The sensor  1128  is provided in the zone  1004  and the sensor  1132  is provided in the zone  1006 . The sensors  1128  and  1132  are placed in radial flow paths of the respective zones  1004  and  1006 . On the other hand, the sensor  1130  is positioned between packers  1008  and  1110 , which is in a non-flowing area of the wellbore (no fluid flow in the radial direction or longitudinal direction in the space  1134  that is defined between the two packers  1008  and  1110  and between the blank pipe  1120  and the inner wall  1126  of the wellbore). 
     The sensors  1128 ,  1130 , and  1132  are sensors on a sensor cable. A cross-sectional view of the shunt tube  1002  and a sensor cable  1136  is depicted in  FIG. 20 . The shunt tube  1002  has an inner bore  1138  in which gravel slurry is flowed when performing gravel packing operations. In a gravel packing operation, gravel slurry is pumped down the inner bore  1138  of the shunt tube  1002  to annular regions in the wellbore that are to be gravel packed. Attached to the shunt tube  1002  is a sensor holder clip  1140  (that is generally C-shaped in the example implementation). The sensor cable  1136  is held in place by the sensor holder clip  1140 . The sensor holder clip  1140  is attached to the shunt tube  1002  by any one of various mechanisms, such as by welding or by some other type of connection. In an alternate embodiment, the shunt tubes can be omitted and a screen without shunt tube is used. The gravel is pumped in the annular cavity between the screen outer surface and wall of the well. A cable protector is attached to a screen base pipe between successive sections of the screen (or slotted or perforated pipe) for protecting the sensor and cable. In another embodiment, the sensor cable and sensors are secured to contact a base pipe such that the base pipe provides both an electrical ground for the sensor cable and sensors, and acts as a heat sink to allow dissipation of heat from the sensor cable and sensors to the base pipe. 
       FIG. 21  shows an example completion system for use with a multilateral well. In the example of  FIG. 21 , the multilateral well includes a main wellbore section  1502 , a lateral branch  1504 , and a section  1505  of the main wellbore  1502  that extends below the lateral branch junction between the main wellbore  1502  and the lateral branch  1504 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 21 , the main wellbore  1502  is lined with casing  1506 , with a window  1508  formed in the casing  1506  to enable a lateral completion  1510  to pass into the lateral branch  1504 . 
     An upper completion section  1512  is provided above the lateral branch junction. The upper completion section  1512  includes a production packer  1514 . Attached above the production packer  1514  is a production tubing  1516 , to which a control station  1518  is attached. The control station  1518  is connected by an electric cable  1520  that passes through the production packer  1514  to an inductive coupler  1522  below the production packer  1514 . 
     The completion in the main wellbore and the lateral is very similar to the  FIG. 1A  embodiment. In a variant of the  FIG. 1A  embodiment, flow control devices that are remotely controlled are provided. The power and communication from the main bore to lateral is accomplished though an inductive coupler  1522 . 
     In turn, the electric cable  1520  (which is part of a lower completion section  1526 ) further passes through a lower packer  1532 . The electric cable  1520  connects the inductive coupler  1522  to control devices (e.g., flow control valves)  1528  and sensors  1530 . The lower completion section  1526  also includes a screen assembly  1538  to perform sand control. The sensors  1530  are provided proximate to the sand control assembly  1538 . The lower completion may not include screen in some embodiments. 
     Depending on the multilateral junction construction and type an inductive coupler is run with the junction. A cable is run from junction inductive coupler to flow control valves and sensors in the junction completion similar to the  FIG. 1A  embodiment. The cable  1534  from inductive coupler  1522  connects to the flow control valve and sensor  1536  in the completion in the lateral section  1504 . 
     As part of the lower completion section  1526 , another inductive coupler  1531  is provided to allow communication between the electric cable  1520  and an electric cable of the main bore completion that extends into the main bore section  1505  to flow control devices and/or sensors  1528  and  1530  in the main bore section  1505 . 
       FIG. 22  shows another embodiment of a two-stage completion system that is a variant of the  FIG. 1A  embodiment. In the  FIG. 22  embodiment, flow control devices  1202  (or other types of control devices that are remotely controllable) are provided with the sand control assembly  110 . The flow control devices (or other remotely-controllable devices) are connected by respective electrical connections  1204  (such as in the form of electrical wires) to the sensor cable  112 . 
     With this implementation, the sensor cable  112  not only is able to provide communication with sensors  114 , but also is able to enable a well operator to control flow control devices (or other remotely-controllable devices) located proximate to a sand control assembly from a remote location, such as at the earth surface. 
     The types of flow control devices  1202  that can be used include hydraulic flow control valves (which are powered by using a hydraulic pump or atmospheric chamber that is controlled with power and signal from the earth surface through the control station  146 ); electric flow control valves (which are powered by power and signaling from the earth surface through the control station  146 ); electro-hydraulic valves (which are powered by power and signaling from the earth surface through the control station  146  and the inductive coupler); and memory-shaped alloy valves (which are powered by power and signaling from the earth surface through the control station and inductive coupler). 
     With electric flow control valves, a storage capacitance (in the form of a capacitor) or any other power storage device can be employed to store a charge that can be used for high actuation power requirements of the electric flow control valves. The capacitor can be trickle charged when not in use. 
     For electro-hydraulic valves, which employ pistons to control the amount of flow through the electro-hydraulic valves, signaling circuitry and solenoids can control the amount of fluid distribution within the pistons of the valves to allow for a large number of choke positions for fluid flow control. 
     A memory-shaped alloy valve relies on changing the shape of a member of the valve to cause the valve setting to change. Signaling is applied to change the shape of such element. 
       FIG. 23  depicts yet another arrangement of a two-stage completion system having an upper completion section  1306  and a lower completion section  1322 . The upper completion section  1306  includes flow control valves  1302  and  1304 , which are provided to control radial flow between respective zones  1308  (upper zone) and  1310  (lower zone) and an inner bore  1312  of the completion system. The flow control valve  1302  is an “upper” flow control value, and the flow control valve  1304  is a “lower” flow control valve. Cable  1338  from surface is electrically connected to flow control valves  1302  and  1304  through electrical conductors (not shown). 
     The upper completion section  1306  further includes a production packer  1314 . A pipe section  1316  extends below the production packer  1314 . A male inductive coupler portion  1318  is provided at a lower end of the pipe section  1316 . The male inductive coupler portion  1318  interacts or axially aligns with a female inductive coupler portion  1320  that is part of the lower completion section  1322 . The inductive coupler portions  1318  and  1320  together form an inductive coupler that provides an inductively coupled wet connect mechanism. 
     The upper completion section  1306  further includes a housing section  1324  to which the flow control valve  1302  is attached. The housing section  1324  is sealably engaged to a gravel packer  1326  that is part of the lower completion section  1322 . At the lower end of the housing section  1324  is another male inductive coupler portion  1328 , which interacts with another female inductive coupler portion  1330  that is part of the lower completion section  1322 . Together, the inductive coupler portions  1328  and  1330  form an inductive coupler. 
     Below the inductive coupler portion  1328  is the lower flow control valve  1304  that is attached to a housing section  1332  of the upper completion section  1306  proximate to the lower zone  1310 . 
     The upper completion section  1306  further includes a tubing  1334  above the production packer  1314 . Also, attached to the tubing  1334  is a control station  1336  that is connected to an electric cable  1338 . The electric cable  1338  extends downwardly through the production packer  1314  to electrically connect electrical conductors extending through the pipe section  1316  to the inductive coupler portion  1318 , and to electric conductors extending through the housing section  1324  to the lower inductive coupler portion  1328 . The flow control valves  1302  and  1304  in one embodiment can be hydraulically actuated. A hydraulic control line is run from surface to a valve for operating the valve. In yet another embodiment, the flow control valve can be electrically operated, hydroelectrically operated, or operated by other means. 
     In the lower completion section  1322 , the upper inductive coupler portion  1320  is coupled through a controller cartridge (not shown) to an upper sensor cable  1340  having sensors  1342  for measuring characteristics associated with the upper zone  1308 . Similarly, the lower inductive coupler portion  1330  is coupled through a controller cartridge (not shown) to a lower sensor cable  1344  that has sensors  1346  for measuring characteristics associated with the lower zone  1310 . 
     At its lower end, the lower completion section  1322  has a packer  1348 . The lower completion section  1322  also has a gravel pack packer  1350  at its upper end. 
     In the  FIG. 23  embodiment, two inductive couplers are used for the sensor arrays  1342  and  1346 , respectively. The cable  1338  is run to inductive coupler  1318  and also to flow control valve  1302  and  1304 . In an alternative embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 24 , a single inductive coupler is used that includes inductive coupler portions  1318  and  1320 . In the  FIG. 24  embodiment, a single sensor cable  1352  is provided in an annulus region between the casing  1301  and sand control assemblies  1343 ,  1345 . The sensor cable  1352  extends through the isolation packer  1326  to provide sensors  1342  in upper zone  1308 , and sensors  1346  in lower zone  1310 . 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 23 and 24 , flow control valves are provided as part of the upper completion section. In  FIG. 25 , on the other hand, the flow control valves  1302  and  1304  are provided as part of a lower completion section  1360 . In the  FIG. 25  embodiment, the upper completion section  1362  has a male inductive coupler portion  1364  that is able to communicate with a female inductive coupler portion  1366  that is provided as part of the lower completion section  1360 . The lower completion section  1360  is attached by a screen hanger packer  1368  to casing  1301 . 
     The inductive coupler portions  1364  and  1366  form an inductive coupler. The inductive coupler portion  1366  of the lower completion section  1362  is coupled through a controller cartridge (not shown) to a sensor cable  1368  that extends through an isolation packer  1370  that is also part of the lower completion section  1362 . The isolation packer  1370  isolates the upper zone  1308  from the lower zone  1310 . 
     The sensor cable  1368  is connected by cable segments  1372  and  1374  to respective flow control valves  1302  and  1304 . 
       FIG. 26  illustrates yet another embodiment of a completion system in which an inductive coupler is not used. The completion system of  FIG. 26  includes an upper completion section  1381  and a lower completion section  1380 . In this embodiment, sensors  1382  (for the upper zone  1308 ) and sensors  1384  (for the upper zone  1310 ) are part of the upper completion section  1381 . The lower completion section  1380  does not include sensors or inductive couplers. The lower completion section  1380  includes a gravel pack packer  1386  connected to a sand control assembly  1388 , which in turn is connected to an isolation packer  1390 . The isolation packer  1390  is in turn connected to another sand control assembly  1392  for the lower zone  1310 . 
     The sensors  1382 ,  1384  and flow control valves  1302 ,  1304  that are part of the upper completion section  1381  are connected by electric conductors (not shown) that extend to an electric cable  1394 . The electric cable  1394  extends through a production packer  1396  of the upper completion section  1381  to a control station  1398 . Control station  1398  is attached to tubing  1399 . 
       FIG. 27  shows yet another embodiment of a completion system having an upper completion section  1400 A, an intermediate completion  1400 B and a lower completion section  1402 . The well of  FIG. 27  is lined with casing  1401 . In some embodiment the reservoir section may not be lined with casing but may be an open hole, an open hole with expandable screen, an open hole with stand alone screen, an open hole with slotted liner, an open hole gravel pack, or a frac-pack or resin consolidated open hole. The completion system of  FIG. 27  includes formation isolation valves, including formation isolation valves  1404  and  1406  that are part of the lower completion section  1402 . The lower completion section can be a single trip multi-zone or multiple trip multi-zone completion. Another formation isolation valve is an annular formation isolation valve  1408  to provide annular fluid loss control—the annular formation isolation valve  1408  is part of the intermediate completion section  1400 B to provide formation isolation for the upper zone  1416  after the upper formation isolation valve  1404  is opened to insert the inner flow string  1409  inside the lower completion section  1402  In some embodiments, a formation isolation valve similar to  1404  can be run below the annular formation isolation valve  1408  as part of the intermediate completion  1400 B to isolate the lower zone after the lower formation valve  1406  is opened to insert the inner flow string  1409  inside the lower zone  1420 . 
     A sensor cable  1410  is provided as part of the intermediate completion section  1400 B, and runs to a male inductive coupler portion  1452  that is also part of the upper completion section  1400 A. A length compensation joint  1411  is provided between the production packer  1436  and the male inductive coupler  1452 . The length compensation joint  1411  allows the upper completion to land out in the profile at the female inductive coupler portion  1412 , with the production tubing or upper completion attached to the tubing hanger at the wellhead (at the top of the well). The length compensation joint  1411  includes a coiled cable to allow change in length of the cable with change in length of the compensation joint. The cable  1438  is joined to the coiled cable and the lower end of the coil is connected to the male inductive coupler  1452 . The sensor cable  1410  is electrically connected to the female inductive coupler portion  1412  and runs outside of the inner flow string  1409 . The sensor cable  1410  provides sensors  1414  and  1418 . The cable  1410  between two zones  1416  and  1420  is fed through a seal assembly  1429 . The seal assembly  1429  seals inside the packer bore or other polished bore of packer  1428 . 
     The intermediate completion  1400 B includes the female inductive coupler portion  1412 , annular formation isolation valve  1408 , inner flow string  1409 , sensor cable  1414 , and seal assembly  1429  with feed through is run on a separate trip. The inner flow string  1409 , sensor cable  1414 , and seal assembly  1429  are run inside (in an inner bore) the lower completion section  1402 . The sensor cable  1414  provides sensors  1414  for the upper zone  1416 , and sensors  1418  for the lower zone  1420 . 
     Other components that are part of the lower completion section  1402  include a gravel pack packer  1422 , a circulating port assembly  1424 , a sand control assembly  1426 , and isolation packer  1428 . The circulating port assembly  1424 , formation isolation valve  1404 , and sand control assembly  1426  are provided proximate to the upper zone  1416 . 
     The lower completion section  1402  also includes a circulating port assembly  1430  and a sand control assembly  1432 , where the circulating port assembly  1430 , formation isolation valve  1406 , and sand control assembly  1432  are proximate to the lower zone  1420 . 
     The upper completion section  1400 A further includes a tubing  1434  that is attached to a packer  1436 , which in turn is connected to a flow control assembly  1438  that has an upper flow control valve  1440  and a lower flow control valve  1442 . The lower flow control valve  1442  controls fluid flow that extends through a first flow conduit  1444 , whereas the upper flow control valve  1440  controls flow that extends through another flow conduit  1446 . The flow conduit  1446  is in an annular flow path around the first flow conduit  1444 . The flow conduit  1444  (which can include an inner bore of a pipe) receives flow from the lower zone  1420 , whereas the flow conduit  1446  receives fluid flow from the upper zone  1416 . 
     The upper completion section  1400 A also includes a control station  1448  that is connected by an electric cable  1450  to the earth surface. Also, the control station  1448  is connected by electric conductors (not shown) to a male inductive coupler portion  1452 , where the male inductive coupler portion  1452  and the female inductive coupler portion  1412  make up an inductive coupler. 
       FIG. 28  shows yet another embodiment of a completion system that is a variant of the  FIG. 27  embodiment that does not require an intermediate completion ( 1400 B in  FIG. 27 ) to deploy the annular formation isolation valve. The completion system of  FIG. 28  includes an upper completion section  1460  and a lower completion section  1462 . An annular formation isolation valve  1408 A incorporated into a sand control assembly  1464  that is part of the lower completion section  1462 . 
     A sensor cable  1466  extends from a female inductive coupler portion  1468 . The female inductive coupler portion  1468  (which is part of the lower completion section  1462 ) interacts with a male inductive coupler portion  1470  to form an inductive coupler. The male inductive coupler portion  1470  is part of the inner flow string  1409  that extends from the upper completion section  1460  into the lower completion section  1462 . An electric cable  1474  extends from the male inductive coupler portion  1470  to a control station  1476 . 
     The upper completion section  1460  also includes the flow control assembly  1438  similar to that depicted in  FIG. 27 . 
     In various embodiments discussed above, various multi stage completion systems that include an upper completion section and a lower completion section and/or intermediate completion section have been discussed. In some scenarios, it may not be appropriate to provide an upper completion section after a lower completion section has been installed. This may be because of the well is suspended after the lower completion is done. In some cases, wells in the field are batch drilled and lower completions are batch completed and then suspended and then at later date upper completions are batch completed. Also in some cases it may be desirable to establish a thermal gradient across the formation for the purpose of comparison with changing temperature or other formation parameters before disturbing the formation to aid in analysis. In such cases, it may be desirable to take advantage of sensors that have already been deployed with the lower completion section of the two-stage completion system. To be able to communicate with the sensors that are part of the lower completion section, an intervention tool having a male inductive coupler portion can be lowered into the well so that the male inductive coupler portion can be placed proximate to a corresponding female inductive coupler portion that is part of the lower completion section. The inductive coupler portion of the intervention tool interacts with the inductive coupler portion of the lower completion section to form an inductive coupler that allows measurement data to be received from the sensors that are part of the lower completion section. 
     The measurement data can be received in real-time through the use of a communication system from the intervention tool to the surface, or the data can be stored in memory in the intervention tool and downloaded at a later time. In the case that a real-time communication is used, this could be via a wireline cable, mud-pulse telemetry, fiber-optic telemetry, wireless electromagnetic telemetry or via other telemetry procedures known in the industry. The intervention tool can be lowered on a cable, jointed pipe, or coiled tubing. The measurement data can be transmitted during an intervention process to help monitor the state of that intervention. 
       FIG. 29  shows an example of such an arrangement. The lower completion section depicted in  FIG. 29  is the same lower completion section of  FIG. 2  discussed above. In the  FIG. 29  arrangement, the upper completion section has not yet been deployed. Instead, an intervention tool  1500  is lowered on a carrier line  1502  into the well. The intervention tool  1500  has an inductive coupler portion  1504  that is capable of interacting with the inductive coupler portion  118  in the lower completion section  102 . 
     The carrier line  1502  can include an electric cable or a fiber optic cable to allow communication of data received through the inductive coupler portions  118 ,  1504  to an earth surface location. 
     Alternatively, the intervention tool  1500  can include a storage device to store measurement data collected from the sensors  114  in the lower completion section  102 . When the intervention tool  1500  is later retrieved to the earth surface, the data stored in the storage device can be downloaded. In this latter configuration, the invention tool  1500  can be lowered on a slickline, with the intervention tool including a battery or other power source to provide energy to enable communication through the inductive coupler portions  118 ,  1504  with the sensors  114 . 
     A similar intervention-based system can also be used for coiled tubing operation. During the coiled tubing operation, it may be beneficial to collect sand face data to help decide what fluids are being pumped into the wellbore through the coiled tubing and at what rate. Measurement data collected by the sensors can be communicated in real time back to the surface by the intervention tool  1500 . 
     In another implementation, the intervention tool  1500  can be run on a drill pipe. With a drill pipe, however, it is difficult to provide an electric cable along the drill pipe due to joints of the pipe. To address this, electric wires can be embedded within the drill pipe with coupling devices at each joint provided to achieve a wired drill pipe. Such a wired drill pipe is able to transmit data and also allow for fluid transmission through the pipe. 
     The intervention-based system can also be used to perform drillstem testing, with measurement data collected by the sensors  114  transmitted to the earth surface during the test to allow the well operator to analyze results of the drillstem testing. 
     The lower completion section  102  can also include components that can be manipulated by the intervention tool  1500 , such as sliding sleeves that can be opened or closed, packers that can be set or unset, and so forth. By monitoring the measurement data collected by the sensors  114 , a well operator can be provided with real-time indication of the success of the intervention (e.g., sliding sleeve closed or open, packer set or unset, etc.). 
     In an alternative implementation, the lower completion section  102  can include multiple female inductive coupler portions. The single male inductive coupler portion (e.g.,  1504  in  FIG. 29 ) can then be lowered into the well to allow communication with whichever female inductive coupler portion the male inductive coupler portion is positioned proximate to. 
     Note that the intervention tool  1500  depicted in  FIG. 29  can also be used in a multilateral well that has multiple lateral braches. For example, if one of the lateral branches is producing water, the intervention tool  1500  can be used to enter the lateral branch with coil tubing to allow pumping of a flow inhibitor into the lateral branch to stop the water production. Note that surface measurements would not be able to indicate which lateral branch was producing water; only downhole measurements can perform this detection. 
     Each of the lateral branches of the multilateral well can be fitted with a measurement array and an inductive coupler portion. In such an arrangement, there would be no need for a permanent power source in each lateral branch. During intervention, the intervention tool can access a particular lateral branch to collect data for that lateral branch, which would provide information about the flow properties of the lateral branch. In some implementations, the sensors or the controller cartridge associated with the sensors in each lateral branch can be provided with an identifying tag or other identifier, so that the intervention tool will be able to determine which lateral branch the intervention tool has entered. 
     Note also that tags within the measurement system can change properties based on results of the measurement system (e.g., to change a signal if the measurement system detects significant water production). The intervention tool can be programmed to detect a particular tag, and to enter a lateral branch associated with such particular tag. This would simplify the task of knowing which lateral branch to enter for addressing a particular issue. 
     While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.