Fiber Optic Cable Orientation Detection via Perforation Shockwaves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining cable orientation during perforation operations are costly and time-consuming, requiring special tools and equipment to protect and locate fiber optic cables, which increases the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and system complexity.
Innovation Solution
The method utilizes the shockwave generated from perforation operations to determine the orientation of fiber optic cables by measuring responses at various angles, allowing the perforation gun to be rotated 90 or 270 degrees away from the cables, eliminating the need for dedicated cable logging and protection tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If special tools and equipment are used to locate and protect fiber optic cables during perforation operations, then cable protection and location accuracy are improved, but system complexity and total cost of ownership increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber optic cable itself serves as the sensing element for location detection. By measuring the shockwave response at the cable location, the system uses the cable's own physical properties (its response to mechanical shock) to determine its position and orientation, eliminating the need for separate sensing tools or equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The shockwave acts as an intermediary medium to transfer information about the cable's location and orientation. Instead of directly sensing the cable position with complex tools, the system uses the shockwave generated during perforation to indirectly detect cable characteristics through measurement of the shockwave's effect at the cable location.
2Reliability
If special tools and equipment are used to locate and protect fiber optic cables during perforation operations, then cable protection and location accuracy are improved, but the total cost of ownership increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber optic cable performs dual functions: it serves as both the communication/power transmission medium and as the sensing element for location detection. This eliminates the need for separate specialized tools, reducing equipment costs and total cost of ownership while maintaining reliable cable protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber optic cable is used for multiple purposes: transmitting power and data signals, and simultaneously serving as the detection sensor for shockwave measurements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated cable location tools, reducing overall system cost.
3Measurement precision
If dedicated cable logging and protection tools are deployed, then cable location accuracy is improved, but time required for operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable location and orientation information is determined during the perforation operation itself by measuring shockwave responses at various angles. This preliminary determination of cable position eliminates the need for separate pre-perforation logging operations, saving time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable's own response to the shockwave provides the location information needed for safe perforation. By using the cable's intrinsic response characteristics, the system obtains accurate location data without requiring external sensing tools or separate logging operations.
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 significantly reduces time, equipment, and personnel costs by more than 15% and minimizes cable damage during perforation, as the shockwave measurements provide accurate cable positioning without the need for additional tools or complex systems.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the shockwave at a fiber optic cable in the wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
A method of perforating a wellbore is provided. The method includes generating a shockwave that propagates throughout said wellbore by firing a perforation device at a perforating direction, and measuring the shockwave at a fiber optic cable in the wellbore using the fiber optic cable. The method further includes determining an orientation of the fiber optic cable relative to the perforating direction based on the shockwave and the perforating direction, and changing the perforating direction based on the orientation of said the optic cable for a subsequent perforation of the wellbore to minimize damage to the fiber optic cable during the subsequent perforation. The fiber optic cable is an existing cable that has been deployed before the method starts.