Abstract:
A downhole fiber optic wet connect and gravel pack completion. In a described embodiment, a system for making fiber optic connections in a subterranean well includes a first fiber optic connector positioned in the well and a second fiber optic connector operatively connected to the first fiber optic connector after the first fiber optic connector is positioned in the well. A method of monitoring a subterranean well includes the steps of: positioning a fiber optic lo line in the well, the fiber optic line extending in a formation intersected by the well; positioning another fiber optic line in the well, the fiber optic line extending to a remote location; operatively connecting the fiber optic lines while the fiber optic lines are in the well; and monitoring a well parameter using a sensor operatively coupled to the fiber optic line extending in the formation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is related to the following copending applications filed concurrently herewith: attorney docket no. 009526 U1 USA, entitled GRAVEL PACK COMPLETION WITH FLUID LOSS CONTROL AND FIBER OPTIC WET CONNECT; and attorney docket no. 009531 U1 USA, entitled GRAVEL PACK COMPLETION WITH FIBER OPTIC MONITORING. The disclosures of these related applications are incorporated herein by this reference.  
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with subterranean wells and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a downhole fiber optic wet connect and gravel pack completion.  
         [0003]     It would be very desirable to be able to use a fiber optic line to monitor production from a well, for example, to monitor water encroachment, identify lo production sources, evaluate stimulation treatments and completion practices, etc. It is known to use fiber optic lines to transmit indications from downhole sensors, to communicate in the downhole environment and to use a fiber optic line as a sensor.  
         [0004]     However, fiber optic lines may be damaged in operations such as gravel packing, expanding tubulars downhole, etc. For this reason, it would be beneficial to be able to replace portions of a fiber optic line downhole, or to install a substitute fiber optic line. This replacement operation would be more economical if a completion string did not have to be retrieved from a well to replace/install the fiber optic line.  
         [0005]     Furthermore, it is sometimes desirable to complete a well in sections or intervals, for example, where a horizontal well is gravel packed in sections, or where zones intersected by a vertical well are separately gravel packed. In these cases, it would be beneficial to be able to connect separate sections of fiber optic line to each other downhole, so that the fiber optic line may be installed in sections along with the corresponding sections of the completion.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment thereof, a system is provided which permits fiber optic connectors to be connected downhole. Using this system, separate portions of lo fiber optic line may be installed in a well, and then operatively connected to each other. Furthermore, a fiber optic line previously installed in a well can be replaced, without having to pull a production tubing string out of the well.  
         [0007]     In one aspect of the invention, a system for making fiber optic connections in a subterranean well is provided. The system includes a fiber optic connector positioned in the well. Another fiber optic connector is operatively connected to the first fiber optic connector after the first fiber optic connector is positioned in the well.  
         [0008]     In another aspect of the invention, a system for making fiber optic connections in a subterranean well includes an assembly positioned in the well, the assembly including a fiber optic connector. Another assembly is positioned in the well which includes another fiber optic connector. An orienting device orients the assemblies relative to each other, thereby aligning the fiber optic connectors.  
         [0009]     In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of making fiber optic connections in a subterranean well is provided. The method includes the steps of: positioning an assembly in the well, the assembly including a fiber optic connector; positioning another assembly in the well which includes another fiber optic connector; orienting the assemblies in the well, thereby aligning the fiber optic connectors; and then operatively connecting the fiber optic connectors in the well.  
         [0010]     In a further aspect of the invention, an apparatus for making a fiber optic connection in a subterranean well is provided. The apparatus includes an outer housing having a sidewall, and a passage extending through the housing. A fiber optic connector is positioned in the housing sidewall. Another fiber optic connector is received within the passage. The fiber optic connectors are operatively connectable after the apparatus is positioned in the well.  
         [0011]     In a still further aspect of the invention, a system for making fiber optic connections in a subterranean well includes a packer assembly having an orienting device and a fiber optic connector. A tubular string of the system includes another orienting device and another fiber optic connector. The orienting devices align the fiber optic connectors for operative connection therebetween when the tubular string is engaged with the packer in the well.  
         [0012]     In yet another aspect of the invention, a system for making fiber optic connections in a subterranean well is provided. The system includes a tubular string having a passage formed through the tubular string, and a fiber optic connector and an assembly received in the passage, the assembly having another fiber optic connector.  
         [0013]     A further aspect of the invention includes a method of monitoring a subterranean well. The method includes the steps of: positioning a fiber optic line in the well, the fiber optic line extending in a formation intersected by the well; positioning another fiber optic line in the well, the fiber optic line extending to a remote location; operatively connecting the fiber optic lines while the fiber optic lines are in the well; and monitoring a well parameter using a sensor operatively coupled to the fiber optic line extending in the formation.  
         [0014]     These and other features, advantages, benefits and objects of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon careful consideration of the detailed description of representative embodiments of the invention hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIGS. 1-4  are successive schematic partially cross-sectional views of a system and method embodying principles of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 5A  &amp; B are enlarged cross-sectional views of a fiber optic wet connect apparatus embodying principles of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 6A  &amp; B are cross-sectional views of the wet connect apparatus of  FIGS. 5A  &amp; B with a fiber optic probe engaged therewith;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a schematic partially cross-sectional view of another system and method embodying principles of the invention; and  
         [0019]      FIGS. 8-11  are successive schematic partially cross-sectional views of yet another system and method embodying principles of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     Representatively illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  is a system  10  and method which embody principles of the present invention. In the following description of the system  10  and other apparatus and methods described herein, directional terms, such as “above”, “below”, “upper”, “lower”, etc., are used only for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. Additionally, it is to be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention described herein may be utilized in various orientations, such as inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various configurations, without departing from the principles of the present invention.  
         [0021]     The system  10  and method are used to demonstrate how the principles of the invention may provide various benefits in a well monitoring application. However, it should be clearly understood that the principles of the invention are not limited to use with the system  10  and method depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , but are instead adaptable to a wide variety of applications. Therefore, the details of the system  10  and method of  FIGS. 1-4 , or of any of the other systems and methods described herein, are not to be taken as limiting the principles of the invention.  
         [0022]     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , a gravel packing assembly  12  has been positioned in a wellbore  14  which intersects a formation or zone  16 . All or part of the gravel packing assembly  12  may be positioned in a cased or uncased portion of the wellbore  14 .  
         [0023]     The assembly  12  includes a well screen  18  and a gravel pack packer  20 . The packer  20  is set in the wellbore  14 , and the annulus between the well screen  18  and the wellbore is packed with gravel  22 , using techniques well known to those skilled in the art. A fluid loss control device  24  may be used to prevent fluid in the wellbore  14  from flowing into the formation  16  after the gravel packing operation.  
         [0024]     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , a tubular string  26 , such as a production tubing string, is conveyed into the wellbore  14  and engaged with the gravel packing assembly  12 . Seals  28  carried on the tubular string  26  sealingly engage a seal bore  30  of the assembly  12 , such as a polished bore of the packer  20 .  
         [0025]     The tubing string  26  includes a generally tubular housing assembly or receptacle  32 . A fiber optic line  34  extends from a remote location (not shown), such as the earth&#39;s surface or another location in the well, to a fiber optic connector  36  located in the housing assembly  32 .  
         [0026]     As used herein, the term “fiber optic connector” is used to indicate a connector which is operably coupled to a fiber optic line so that, when one fiber optic connector is connected to another fiber optic connector, light may be transmitted from one fiber optic line to another fiber optic line. Thus, each fiber optic connector has a fiber optic line operably coupled thereto, and the fiber optic lines are connected for light transmission therebetween when the connectors are connected to each other.  
         [0027]     Although in the following description of the system  10  and associated method only one fiber optic line  34  is specifically described, it is to be clearly understood that any number of fiber optic lines may be used in the system and method, and any number of connections between fiber optic lines may be made downhole in keeping with the principles of the invention. For example, in a seismic application, there may be approximately 12 or more fiber optic lines  34  connected downhole.  
         [0028]     In addition, other types of lines may be used in conjunction with the fiber optic line  34 . For example, hydraulic and electrical lines may be connected downhole along with the fiber optic line  34 . These other types of lines may be connected downhole using the same connectors as the fiber optic line, or other additional connectors may be used.  
         [0029]     The tubing string  26  may also include a packer  38  which is set in the wellbore  14  to secure the tubing string. Note that the fiber optic line  34  extends longitudinally through the packer  38 . Alternatively, the packer  38  could be positioned below the housing  32 , in which case the fiber optic line  34  may not extend through the packer.  
         [0030]     In  FIG. 3 , a conveyance  40  is used to transport another assembly  42  into an inner passage  44  extending through the tubing string  26  and housing  32 . Representatively, the conveyance  40  is a coiled tubing string, but any other conveyance, such as wireline, slickline, segmented tubing, etc., may be used if desired.  
         [0031]     The assembly  42  includes a running tool  46  and a probe  48 . The probe  48  has a fiber optic line  50  extending longitudinally within, or external to, a perforated tubular member  52  attached to the running tool  46 . The fiber optic line  50  is operatively coupled to another fiber optic connector  54 . As discussed above, more than one fiber optic line  50  may be used in the system  10 , and other types of lines (such as hydraulic and/or electrical) may be used and connected using the connectors  36 ,  54 .  
         [0032]     When the probe  48  is appropriately positioned in the housing  32 , the probe is rotationally oriented relative to the housing, so that the fiber optic connectors  36 ,  54  are aligned with each other, and the probe is anchored in place relative to the housing. In this position, the fiber optic line  50  extends longitudinally within the gravel packing assembly  12 .  
         [0033]     Pressure is applied via the coiled tubing string  40  and through the running tool  46  to the housing  32 , causing the fiber optic connector  36  to displace toward the fiber optic connector  54 . The fiber optic connectors  36 ,  54  are, thus, operatively connected. The fiber optic line  50  may now be used to monitor one or more parameters of the well environment.  
         [0034]     For example, the fiber optic line  50  may be configured to sense temperature along its length. It is well known to those skilled in the art that a fiber optic line may be used as a distributed temperature sensor. By positioning the fiber optic line  50  longitudinally within the gravel packing assembly  12 , the lo fiber optic line can sense temperature distribution along the wellbore  14  as fluid flows from the formation  16  therein. An influx of water from the formation  16  into the wellbore  14  may be located by monitoring the temperature distribution along the gravel packing assembly  12  using the fiber optic line  50 .  
         [0035]     As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the running tool  46  has been removed from the well, leaving the probe  48  anchored in the passage  44 , and with the fiber optic connectors  36 ,  54  connected. The connector  36  is shown in  FIG. 4  as having been rotated relative to the housing  32  into engagement with the other connector  54 . However, it should be clearly understood that either of the connectors  36 ,  54  may be displaced in any manner in order to bring the connectors into operative engagement.  
         [0036]     The probe  48  as depicted in  FIG. 4  has an optional fiber optic line  56  which extends external to the tubular member  52 . This demonstrates that the fiber optic lines  50 ,  56  may be located in any position on the probe  48 . In addition, separate internal and external sensors  58 ,  60 ,  62  are connected to the fiber optic lines  50 ,  56 , demonstrating that the lines themselves are not necessarily sensors in the system  10 . Sensors  58 ,  60 ,  62  may be used to sense any well parameter, such as pressure, temperature, seismic waves, radioactivity, water cut, flow rate, etc.  
         [0037]     If the fiber optic lines  50 ,  56  or sensors  58 ,  60 ,  62  should fail, or different sensors need to be installed, or if for any other reason it is desired to retrieve the probe  48 , the system  10  provides for convenient retrieval. The running tool  46  is again conveyed into the wellbore  14  and is engaged with the probe  48 . Pressure is applied through the running tool  46  to the housing  32  to retract the fiber optic connector  36  out of engagement with the other fiber optic connector  54 , the probe  48  is released from the housing  32 , and the running tool and probe are retrieved from the well.  
         [0038]     Representatively illustrated in  FIGS. 5A  &amp; B is a specific embodiment of the housing assembly  32 . Of course, the principles of the invention are not limited to the details of this specific embodiment. Instead, many different forms of the housing  32  may be used, if desired. For example, the housing assembly  32  described below utilizes pressure to displace and operatively connect the fiber optic connectors  36 ,  54 , but it will be readily appreciated that a fiber optic connector may be displaced mechanically, electrically, magnetically, etc., and other means may be used to operatively connect fiber optic connectors, in keeping with the principles of the invention.  
         [0039]     The housing assembly  32  includes an orienting device  64  depicted as a helical profile having a vertically extending slot at a lower end thereof. This orienting device  64  is shown merely as an example of a variety of orienting devices which may be used. Any type of orienting device may be used in keeping with the principles of the invention. A latching profile  66  in the passage  44  is used to secure the probe  48  in the housing  32 . Any type of securing means may be used in keeping with the principles of the invention.  
         [0040]     Two fluid passages  68 ,  70  communicate with the inner passage  44 . The passage  70  is in communication with an upper side of a piston  72  reciprocably received in a sidewall of the housing  32 . Pressure applied to the passage  70  will bias the piston  72  downward. The other passage  68  is not completely visible in  FIG. 5A , but it is in communication with a lower side of the piston  72 , so that pressure applied to the passage  68  biases the piston to displace upward.  
         [0041]     The fiber optic line  34  extends through an outer conduit  76  to the housing assembly  32 . The conduit  76  may be, for example, tubing such as control line tubing, or a protective enclosure for the fiber optic line  34 , etc. A seal  78  seals between the housing  32  and the conduit  76 .  
         [0042]     The fiber optic line  34  extends through the piston  72  to the fiber optic connector  36  positioned at a lower end of the piston. As the piston displaces downward in response to pressure applied to the passage  70 , the connector  36  is also displaced downward, along with the conduit  76  which displaces through the seal  78 .  
         [0043]     As noted above, more than one fiber optic line  34  may be connected downhole using the connectors  36 ,  54 , in which case the multiple fiber optic lines may extend through the piston  72  to the fiber optic connector at the lower end of the piston. Furthermore, other types of lines (such as hydraulic and/or electrical) may extend to the connector  36 .  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A  &amp; B, the housing assembly  32  is representatively illustrated after the probe  48  has been installed and secured in the passage  44 . The running tool  46  (not shown in  FIGS. 6A  &amp; B, see  FIG. 3 ) is releasably attached to the probe  48  at a latching profile  80  when the probe  48  is installed in the housing assembly  32 , and when the probe is retrieved from the housing assembly.  
         [0045]     The probe  48  includes an orienting device  82  depicted in  FIG. 6A  as a lug engaged with the orienting profile  64 . This engagement rotationally orients the probe  48  relative to the housing assembly  32 , so that the fiber optic connector  54  carried on the probe is radially aligned with the fiber optic connector  36  in the housing sidewall  74 . Again, any other means of orienting the probe  48  relative to the housing assembly  32 , and any other means of aligning the connectors  36 ,  54 , may be used in keeping with the principles of the invention.  
         [0046]     A series of collets  84  are engaged in the profile  66 . A sleeve  86  is displaced downwardly by the running tool  46  when it is desired to anchor the probe  48  in the passage  44  of the housing assembly  32 . The sleeve  86  inwardly supports the collets  84 , preventing their disengagement from the profile  66 . When it is desired to retrieve the probe  48  from the housing assembly  32 , the sleeve  86  is displaced upwardly, thereby permitting the collets  84  to displace inwardly when the probe is retrieved. Again, any other means of securing the probe  48  in the housing assembly  32  may be used in keeping with the principles of the invention.  
         [0047]     A series of longitudinally spaced apart seals  88  on the probe  48  straddle the passages  68 ,  70 . The probe  48  has openings  90 ,  92  which correspond to the respective passages  68 ,  70 . The upper opening  90  is in communication with the passage  68 , whereas the opening  92  is in communication with the passage  70 .  
         [0048]     In this configuration, pressure may be applied via the opening  92  to the passage  70 , and then to the upper side of the piston  72  to displace it downwardly. Pressure may alternatively be applied via the opening go to the passage  68 , and then to the lower side of the piston  72  to displace it upwardly. Thus, the connectors  36 ,  54  may be alternately connected and disconnected by applying pressure to corresponding alternate ones of the openings  90 ,  92 .  
         [0049]     If multiple fiber optic lines  34  are coupled to the connector  36 , and multiple fiber optic lines  50  are coupled to the connector  54 , then the application of pressure to the piston  72  may operate to alternately connect and disconnect these multiple fiber optic lines. If other types of lines are also, or alternatively, coupled to the connectors  36 ,  54 , then these other types of lines may be connected and disconnected by application of pressure to alternating sides of the piston  72 .  
         [0050]     The running tool  46  includes the plumbing associated with directing pressure to the appropriate openings  90 ,  92 . It will be appreciated that, when the probe  48  is to be installed in the housing assembly  32 , the running tool will be configured to apply pressure to the opening  92 , and when the probe is to be retrieved from the housing assembly, the running tool will be configured to apply pressure to the opening  90 .  
         [0051]     Referring additionally now to  FIG. 7 , another system  100  and method embodying principles of the present invention is representatively illustrated. The system  100  is similar in many respects to the system  10  described above, and so similar elements are indicated in  FIG. 7  using the same reference numbers.  
         [0052]     Instead of installing the probe  48  in the tubing string  26  after installing the tubing string in the well and engaging it with the gravel packing assembly  12 , in the system  100  the probe  48  is secured in the tubing string  26  at the time the tubing string is installed in the well. The probe  48  is initially secured in the tubing string  26  with a latching device  102 . After the tubing string  26  is engaged with the gravel packing assembly  12 , the latching device  102  is released, permitting the probe  48  to displace downwardly into operative engagement with the housing assembly  32 .  
         [0053]     The latching device  102  could be released, for example, by applying pressure to the tubing string  26 , to thereby pump the probe  48  into the housing assembly  32 . This application of pressure could also serve to orient the probe  48  relative to the housing assembly  32  (aligning the fiber optic connectors  36 ,  54 ), anchor the probe relative to the housing assembly (such as, by displacing the sleeve  86  downward to support the collets  84 ) and displace the connector  36  into operative engagement with the connector  54 .  
         [0054]     Alternatively, a running tool conveyed by coiled tubing, wireline or slickline, etc. could be used if desired to displace the probe  48  into engagement with the housing assembly  32 , and/or to retrieve the probe from within the housing assembly. Any means of displacing the probe  48  in the passage  44  may lo be used in keeping with the principles of the invention.  
         [0055]     As with the system  10  described above, multiple fiber optic lines may be connected and disconnected downhole using the connectors  36 ,  54 , and other types of lines (such as hydraulic and/or electrical) may be connected and disconnected downhole using the connectors in the system  100 .  
         [0056]     Referring additionally now to  FIGS. 8-11 , another system  110  and method embodying principles of the invention is representatively illustrated. As depicted in  FIG. 8 , a gravel packing assembly  112  is installed in a wellbore  114  opposite a formation or zone  116  intersected by the wellbore. The gravel packing assembly  112  includes a well screen  118  and a gravel pack packer  120 .  
         [0057]     Gravel  122  is placed in the annulus formed between the screen  118  and the wellbore  114  using techniques well known to those skilled in the art. A fluid loss control device  124  may be used to prevent loss of fluid into the formation  116  from the wellbore  114 .  
         [0058]     The gravel packing assembly  112  is similar in many respects to the gravel packing assembly  12  used in the system  10  described above. However, the gravel packing assembly  112  used in the system  110  also includes an orienting device  126 , a fiber optic line  128  and a fiber optic connector  130 . These additional elements permit the fiber optic line  128  to be connected to other fiber optic lines subsequently installed in the wellbore  114 .  
         [0059]     The orienting device  126  may be similar to the helical profile and vertical slot of the orienting device  64  used in the housing assembly  32  described above. Other types of orienting devices may alternatively be used, if desired.  
         [0060]     The fiber optic line  128  is operatively coupled to the fiber optic connector  130 . From the fiber optic connector  130 , the fiber optic line  128  extends through the packer  120  and longitudinally downward adjacent the screen  118 . However, it should be understood that the fiber optic line  128  may extend internally, externally or within a sidewall of the screen  118 . Preferably, the fiber optic line  128  extends longitudinally across the formation  116  intersected by the wellbore  114 , so that a parameter of fluid flowing between the formation and the wellbore may be monitored along the length of the intersection between the formation and the wellbore.  
         [0061]     As depicted in  FIG. 9 , another gravel packing assembly  132  is installed in the wellbore  114  and engaged with the gravel packing assembly  112 . Preferably, the gravel packing assembly  132  is secured to the gravel packing assembly  112  when the assemblies are engaged with each other, such as by using collets engaging an internal profile as described above, etc.  
         [0062]     As the gravel packing assembly  132  is installed, it is rotationally oriented relative to the gravel packing assembly  112 , so that the fiber optic connector  130  is aligned with another fiber optic connector  134  carried at a lower end of the gravel packing assembly  132 . This rotational orientation is facilitated by an orienting device (not visible in  FIG. 9 ) of the gravel packing assembly  132  engaging the orienting device  126  of the gravel packing assembly  112 . For example, the gravel packing assembly  132  may have a lug thereon similar to the orienting device  82  of the probe  48  described above.  
         [0063]     The fiber optic connector  134  is operably coupled to a fiber optic line  136  extending to another fiber optic connector  138  at an upper end of the gravel packing assembly  132 . The fiber optic line  136  extends through a gravel pack packer  140  and longitudinally adjacent a well screen  142  of the gravel packing assembly  132 . The screen  142  is positioned opposite another formation or zone  144  intersected by the wellbore  114 .  
         [0064]     As with the fiber optic line  128 , the fiber optic line  136  preferably extends along the intersection between the formation  144  and the wellbore  114 , so that it may be used to sense a parameter of fluid flowing between the formation and the wellbore along the length of the intersection. The fiber optic line  136  may be positioned externally, internally or within a sidewall of the screen  142 . Each of the fiber optic lines  128 ,  136  may be used with one or more separate sensors connected thereto (such as the sensors  58 ,  60 ,  62  described above), and/or portions of the fiber optic lines may serve as sensors.  
         [0065]     It may now be fully appreciated that the system  110  provides for convenient downhole interconnection of the fiber optic lines  128 ,  136  of the gravel packing assemblies  112 ,  132 . Using the principles of the invention, it is not necessary to install a single continuous fiber optic line in a well to monitor separate portions of the well. Instead, separate fiber optic lines may be installed, and then connected downhole. This is very beneficial where, as in the system  110 , different portions of the well are separately completed, gravel packed, etc. This is of particular benefit in highly deviated or horizontal wellbores where productive intervals are separately completed, or intervals are completed in separate sections.  
         [0066]     In the system  110  as depicted in  FIG. 9 , gravel  146  is placed in the annulus between the screen  142  and the wellbore  114 . Note that seals  148  carried at a lower end of the gravel packing assembly  132  sealingly engage a seal bore of the packer  120  of the gravel packing assembly  112 . When the gravel packing operation is completed, a fluid loss control device  150  may be used to prevent loss of fluid from the wellbore  114  into the formations  116 ,  144 .  
         [0067]     The gravel packing assembly  132  includes another orienting device  152  at an upper end thereof The orienting device  152  may be similar to the orienting device  64  described above.  
         [0068]     As depicted in  FIG. 10 , the orienting device  152  is used to rotationally orient a tubular string  156  including a housing assembly  154  relative to the gravel packing assembly  132 , so that the fiber optic connector  138  is aligned with another fiber optic connector  158  carried at a lower end of the housing assembly. Preferably, the tubular string  156  is secured to the gravel packing assembly  132  when the tubular string is engaged with the gravel packing assembly, such as by using collets engaging an internal profile as described above, etc.  
         [0069]     The fiber optic connector  158  is operatively coupled to another fiber optic line  160  extending to a remote location, such as the earth&#39;s surface or another location in the well. The fiber optic line  160  extends through a packer  162  interconnected in the tubular string  156 , and generally extends external to the tubular string. However, the fiber optic line  160  could be otherwise positioned, such as internal to the tubular string  156  or in a sidewall of the tubular string, in keeping with the principles of the invention.  
         [0070]     The housing assembly  154  may be substantially similar to the housing assembly  32  described above, with the addition of the fiber optic connector  158  and fiber optic line  160 . For example, the housing assembly  154  includes the fiber optic connector  36  and fiber optic line  34  described above. As the housing assembly  154  is engaged with the gravel packing assembly  132 , an orienting device (such as the orienting device  82 ) on the housing assembly engages the orienting device  152  on the gravel packing assembly, thereby rotationally aligning the fiber optic connectors  138 ,  158 . Seals  164  carried on the housing assembly  154  sealingly engage a seal bore of the packer  140 .  
         [0071]     Thus, as depicted in  FIG. 10 , the fiber optic connectors  130 ,  134  are operatively connected and the fiber optic connectors  138 ,  158  are operatively connected. This permits the fiber optic lines  128 ,  136 ,  160  to transmit optical signals therebetween which, in turn, permits monitoring of well parameters along the intersections between the wellbore  114  and the formations  116 ,  144 .  
         [0072]     Unfortunately, the installed fiber optic sensors, lines, etc. could possibly malfunction or become damaged. In that event, the system  110  provides for a backup fiber optic sensing system to be installed, without the need for pulling the tubular string  156  from the well. Instead, a probe  166  (similar to the probe  48  described above) is installed in the housing assembly  154 .  
         [0073]     As depicted in  FIG. 11 , the probe  166  is conveyed into a passage  168  extending through the tubular string  156 , the housing assembly  154  and the gravel packing assemblies  112 ,  132 . The probe  166  may be conveyed into and through the passage  168  by any type of conveyance and it may be displaced by pressure or another biasing means. The probe  166  may be installed in the passage  168  either before or after the tubular string  156  is installed in the wellbore  114 .  
         [0074]     The probe  166  is engaged with the housing assembly  154  and rotationally oriented relative thereto, for example, by using orienting devices  64 ,  82  as described above. This rotational orientation aligns the fiber optic connector  36  with the fiber optic connector  54  carried on the probe  166 . The probe  166  is anchored in the housing assembly  154 , for example, using the collets  84  and sleeve  86  as described above.  
         [0075]     The fiber optic connector  36  is displaced into operative engagement with the fiber optic connector  54 , for example, using pressure applied via the running tool  46  as described above. The fiber optic connector  54  is operatively coupled to the fiber optic line  50  which, in the system  110 , extends external to the tubular member  52  and longitudinally through the gravel packing assemblies  112 ,  132 .  
         [0076]     The fiber optic line  50  may now be used to sense parameters of fluid flowing from the formations  116 ,  144  into the wellbore  114  along the length of the intersections of the wellbore with the formations. Thus, the fiber optic sensing capabilities of the system  110  have been restored by installing the probe  166 , and without the necessity of retrieving the tubular string  156 , or either of the gravel packing assemblies  112 ,  132 , from the well. This feature of the system  110  is particularly beneficial if the screens  118 ,  142  are expanding screens, since expansion of the screens could cause damage to the fiber optic lines  128 ,  136  and/or associated sensors.  
         [0077]     As with the system  10  described above, the probe  166  is separately retrievable from the well, in case a portion of the probe malfunctions or becomes damaged in the well. Thus, the invention provides a fiber optic sensing system which may be retrieved and replaced without pulling a completion string from the well. This retrievability and replaceability is enhanced by the use of fiber optic connectors  36 ,  54  which may be oriented, aligned and connected downhole. The other fiber optic connectors  130 ,  134 ,  138 ,  158  permit the well to be completed in sections without the need to install a single continuous fiber optic line for monitoring parameters of fluid in the wellbore  114 .  
         [0078]     As with the systems  10 ,  100  described above, multiple fiber optic lines may be connected and disconnected downhole using the connectors  36 ,  54 ,  130 ,  134 ,  138 ,  158 , and other types of lines (such as hydraulic and/or electrical) may be connected and disconnected downhole using the connectors in the system  110 .  
         [0079]     Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a careful consideration of the above description of representative embodiments of the invention, readily appreciate that many modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes may be made to these specific embodiments, and such changes are contemplated by the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims and their equivalents.