Optical Fiber Interferometer for Wellbore Acoustic Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current monitoring techniques for hydrocarbon reservoirs, wellbores, and pipelines are invasive, expensive, and provide sporadic, disjointed data, failing to offer continuous, simultaneous monitoring of multiple locations or long-term deployments, which is crucial for optimizing hydrocarbon production and managing processes like gravel packing and carbon dioxide sequestration.
Innovation Solution
A distributed interferometer system using optical fibers to detect Coherent Rayleigh Noise (CRN), which acts as a sensitive acoustic sensor to monitor mechanical waves, temperature, and pressure changes in wellbores, reservoirs, and pipelines, enabling continuous, simultaneous data collection along entire sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireline tools are used for monitoring, then measurement capability is provided, but production delay and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical wireline monitoring tools with an optical fiber-based distributed interferometer system. The optical fiber acts as a continuous sensor along the wellbore, using light interference patterns to detect acoustic events, sand particles, and fluid flow without requiring mechanical intervention or production shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber system provides self-service monitoring by continuously detecting conditions along the wellbore without requiring external intervention. The distributed interferometer autonomously measures acoustic events, sand presence, and fluid flow characteristics, eliminating the need for periodic wireline tool deployments and enabling continuous production monitoring.
2Duration of action of moving object
If wireline tools are deployed for extended period monitoring, then continuous data is obtained, but the tools must be removed for other procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces removable mechanical wireline tools with a permanent optical fiber installation that remains in the wellbore indefinitely. The optical fiber is distributed along the wellbore and can monitor conditions continuously without being removed, allowing other wellbore procedures to proceed uninterrupted while maintaining monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber system serves multiple functions simultaneously - it monitors acoustic events, detects sand particles, measures fluid flow characteristics, and can be left in place for other wellbore operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the trade-off between monitoring duration and operational flexibility.
3Measurement precision
If production logging tools are used to measure flow conditions, then flow data is obtained, but the installation changes conditions and logging below architecture is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical production logging tools with an optical fiber-based acoustic sensing system. The optical fiber detects flow conditions indirectly through acoustic events and vibrations in the wellbore fluid, rather than directly measuring flow parameters. This indirect measurement approach does not interfere with actual flow conditions or require installation below wellbore architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber acts as an intermediary that detects flow conditions through acoustic events and vibrations transmitted through the wellbore fluid, rather than directly interacting with the flow. This intermediary approach allows measurement without interference, as the optical fiber senses the acoustic signature of flow rather than physically obstructing or altering it.
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 system provides real-time monitoring of conditions, including sand presence, gravel packing, and hydrocarbon flow, optimizing production and reducing costs by eliminating the need for invasive wireline tools and enabling long-term, cost-effective data collection.
Implementation Method 1
A distributed interferometer system using optical fibers to detect Coherent Rayleigh Noise (CRN), which acts as a sensitive acoustic sensor to monitor mechanical waves, temperature, and pressure changes
Implementation Method 2
A distributed interferometer system using optical fibers to detect Coherent Rayleigh Noise (CRN)
Implementation Method 3
using an optical fiber as a distributed interferometer that may be used to monitor the conduit, wellbore or reservoir
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2
AI summary
This disclosure relates in general to a method and system for monitoring a conduit (10), a wellbore or a reservoir associated with hydrocarbon production or transportation and/or carbon dioxide sequestration. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide for using an optical fiber (5) as a distributed interferometer that may be used to monitor (30) the conduit, wellbore or reservoir (10).