Distributed Acoustic Sensing Interrogation With Shared Launch Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current DAS interrogators are costly due to their design architecture, making them unsuitable for large-scale applications, and lack automation, which hinders their implementation in subterranean operations.
Innovation Solution
Implement a single enhanced launch system that shares components across multiple receive systems, reducing the number of components per sensor channel and increasing optical launch power, while incorporating a modular approach with automated systems for downhole operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional DAS interrogator design is used, then sensing capability is achieved, but cost and device complexity are excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The interrogator is divided into separate functional modules: a control system that generates interrogation signals and a processing system that analyzes backscattered light. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each module and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to interrogate multiple fiber optic cables simultaneously using time-division multiplexing. A single interrogator can serve multiple sensing applications and locations, reducing the number of units needed and lowering overall system cost and complexity.
2Device complexity
If component sharing across multiple receive systems is implemented, then cost and complexity are reduced, but optical launch power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple receive systems share common components including the control system, processing system, and power supply. By merging these functions, the patent reduces redundant components while concentrating optical power through a single enhanced launch system that serves multiple channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic time-division multiplexing to sequentially interrogate different fiber sections and channels. This periodic action allows a single high-power launch to serve multiple channels over time, effectively distributing optical power without requiring continuous high power to all channels simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If modular automated systems are implemented, then ease of operation and productivity improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular system allows dynamic configuration where sensor channels can be selectively activated or deactivated based on operational needs. The automated control system dynamically manages multiple fibers and channels, providing ease of operation through software control while the modular architecture manages complexity through standardized interfaces.
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 design significantly reduces costs and complexity, enhances reliability, and improves thermal and acoustic stability, enabling large-scale deployment of DAS systems for subterranean monitoring applications.
Implementation Method 1
Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) along with a fiber optic system may be utilized together to determine borehole and/or formation properties
Implementation Method 2
a laser or plurality of lasers transmitting a continuous wave light into a distributed acoustic system
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed acoustic system (DAS) that may include two or more lasers that each transmit a continuous wave (CW) light, a pulser disposed after the two the two or more lasers and optically connected to each of the two or more lasers to receive the CW light from each of the two or more lasers and form a light pulse, and an optical amplifier, wherein the pulser is optically connected to the optical amplifier to receive the light pulse from the pulser as an input. The DAS may further include a splitter optically connected to the optical amplifier to optically split the light pulse into two or more light pulses for each output of the splitter a circulator optically connected to each output of the splitter, and a sensor fiber attached to each of the circulators as an output for each circulator.