Real-Time Fiber-Optic Casing Imager (2007)

Real-Time Fiber-Optic Casing Imager Matthias Appel; Matthias Appel Shell E&P Technology Co. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Dennis Edward Dria; Dennis Edward Dria Shell Intl. E&P Inc. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Justin Freeman; Justin Freeman Shell Oil Co. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Frederick H.K. Rambow; Frederick H.K. Rambow Shell Intl. E&P Co. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Michelle Shuck; Michelle Shuck Shell Int'l. E&P Inc. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Brooks Allen Childers; Brooks Allen Childers Luna Energy Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Tyrone Dominique; Tyrone Dominique Baker Hughes Production Quest Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Stephen H. Poland Stephen H. Poland Baker Hughes Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, California, U.S.A., November 2007. Paper Number: SPE-109941-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/109941-MS Published: November 11 2007 Connected Content Related to: Real-Time Fiber-Optic Casing Imager for Continuous High-Resolution Casing Monitoring Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Appel, Matthias, Dria, Dennis Edward, Freeman, Justin, Rambow, Frederick H.K., Shuck, Michelle, Childers, Brooks Allen, Dominique, Tyrone, and Stephen H. Poland. "Real-Time Fiber-Optic Casing Imager." Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, California, U.S.A., November 2007. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/109941-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search AbstractDuring the last years, significant progress has been made in the use of fiber-optic technology for well and reservoir surveillance purposes. While most effort in this field appears to be concentrated on the development of fiber-optic based temperature-, pressure- and flow meters, comparably few publications have been made to-date about the use of fiber-optic technology for monitoring deformations of well tubulars and casings.In this article we report on recent advances in our development of a real-time fiber-optic based casing imager. This device is designed for continuous, high-resolution monitoring of the shape of casings or well tubulars and, therefore, enables the determination of strain imposed on the well. Small-scale and full-casing-size laboratory tests have demonstrated that the latest generation of this system is sufficiently sensitive to detect casing deformations of less than 10 degrees per hundred feet and covers compressive and tensile axial strain ranges from less than 0.1% to 10%. We will discuss the background technology, the measurement sensitivity and strain-response characterization, as well as the scale-up work that has been performed to-date. Our article also includes an overview of field test results and illustrates how real-time deformation monitoring could form a significant component of reservoir surveillance strategies.IntroductionIn many regions of the world, regular monitoring of casing deformation needs to be an essential part of the reservoir surveillance program since reservoir compaction and other geological conditions can impart significant loads on casings, which may ultimately lead to complete loss of a well.1 By monitoring the shape of well casing or the strain imposed on casing, data may be available to the operator at a sufficiently early stage to allow remedial actions aimed at preventing casing damage to be properly planned and executed - for example, by controlling production rates via smart-well components or conducting planned stimulation or other interventions.2 In addition, continuously monitoring of casing deformations in real time improves the understanding of compaction and other strain-related conditions of the reservoir, which, in turn, is essential for optimizing production and reserve recovery.3Historically, direct measurement of compaction effects in the reservoir have been made by installing radioactive tags on the casing or by placing radioactive bullets in the formation. Combining such measurements with calipers and gyro tools (kink meters) dates back nearly half a century. More recently, acoustic imaging tools and high-resolution multi-finger calipers have been available and have significantly improved the awareness of well tubular deformations. However, all of these methods require entry into the well with a logging tool. Besides the risks and costs related to wireline surveys of well tubulars, those measurements are also typically limited to a snapshot in time, at the time of each intervention or tool re-entry.4–6Compaction and stress change behavior of the subsurface can also be investigated remotely using several indirect measurement techniques. On land, surface subsidence monitoring in combination with microseismic detection, supported by tiltmeters and data derived from Global Positioning Systems (GPS), have been employed in attempts to characterize reservoir compaction. Microseismic, seafloor pressure gauges, and seafloor tiltmeters may give indications of the changes occurring on the seafloor and in the subsurface.7,8 More recently, reservoir changes have been analysed using time-lapse (4D) seismic techniques. Concerns with these methods of data collection often include resolution and useful quantification within the reservoir and particularly near the wells. For example, microseismic may be able to detect fault movement in the subsurface, but the data acquired will not likely allow identifying the origin of fault movement with suffient accuracy required for the planning of remedial actions in a particular well or reservoir.9 In addition, even when combining several remote techniques of compaction monitoring, it is still often impossible to uniquely quantify the underlying deformation of the various subsurface layers. Keywords: Reservoir Surveillance, wavelength, production monitoring, wavelength shift, experiment, production control, Upstream Oil & Gas, axial strain, real time system, production logging Subjects: Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Formation Evaluation & Management, Production logging This content is only available via PDF. 2007. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.