Cured-in-Place Pipe Liner Embedding Fiber Optic Cables

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost of permanent fiber optic cable installation and the difficulty in deploying them permanently in existing wells due to cementing requirements make it expensive and impractical for widespread use in the oil and gas industry, especially for applications like fracture monitoring where expandable fiber optic cables do not provide sufficient coupling for accurate VSP and strain sensing.

Innovation Solution

The method involves inserting a cured-in-place pipe liner into the wellbore, embedding fiber optic cables within the liner, and monitoring the curing process to ensure proper coupling with the wellbore walls, allowing for continuous monitoring and reducing operational costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If permanent fiber optic cables are installed by cementing behind casing, then reliable data transmission and coupling are achieved, but installation cost becomes prohibitively expensive and deployment in existing wells becomes almost impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber optic cable couplingVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs temporary fiber optic cable installations using disposable bare fiber installations on wireline instead of permanent cemented installations. This approach sacrifices some quality for significantly reduced deployment costs, making fiber optic monitoring economically viable for widespread use in the oil and gas industry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the installation method from permanent cementing to temporary wireline deployment. This parameter change in installation methodology transforms the economic feasibility of fiber optic cable deployment, reducing costs while maintaining sufficient functionality for many applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If expandable fiber optic cables are used for temporary installation, then deployment cost is reduced, but coupling sufficiency deteriorates and VSP and strain sensing accuracy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment costVSAvoidVSP and strain sensing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a liner as an intermediary medium between the wellbore wall and the fiber optic cable. The liner provides a stable mounting surface that improves coupling between the temporary fiber optic installation and the wellbore, thereby enhancing measurement precision without requiring permanent cemented installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes a liner (flexible shell) that can be installed temporarily and provides a stable base for fiber optic cable mounting. This flexible structure achieves sufficient coupling for accurate sensing while maintaining the cost advantages of temporary installation methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If fiber optic cables are installed temporarily on wireline, then deployment cost is reduced, but installation quality and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment costVSAvoidinstallation quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liner serves as an intermediary that enhances the reliability of temporary fiber optic installations. By providing a stable mounting surface and improving coupling between the fiber optic cable and wellbore environment, the liner compensates for the inherent quality limitations of temporary wireline-based installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables continuous well monitoring without the need for human intervention, reduces operational costs, and improves the coupling of fiber optic cables with the wellbore, enhancing the accuracy of VSP and strain sensing applications.

Implementation Method 1

monitoring the curing of the cured-in-place pipe liner with one or more fiber optic cables embedded in the cured-in-place pipe liner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical sensing: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentUS12291944B1System and method for deploying fiber optic cables with a cured-in-place pipe liner

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 ARAMCO SERVICES CO

AI summary

A system may include a wellbore extending a first depth into a formation. Additionally, a cured-in-place pipe liner may be coupled to walls of the wellbore. One or more fiber optic cables are embedded in the cured-in-place pipe liner to monitor a curing of the cured-in-place pipe liner and record well data. The one or more fiber optic cables may be used to continuously monitor the wellbore during a method for lining the wellbore is performed. The method for lining the wellbore may include inserting the cured-in-place pipe liner into the wellbore; forcing the cured-in-place pipe liner against walls of the wellbore; curing the cured-in-place pipe liner; monitoring the curing of the cured-in-place pipe liner with the one or more fiber optic cables embedded in the cured-in-place pipe liner; and coupling the cured-in-place pipe liner to the walls of the wellbore.