Patent ID: 12241365

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG.1is a view showing an example of an optical cable monitoring system50according to embodiment 1.

As shown inFIG.1, in order to monitor a well100installed in the ocean floor, a monitoring center110is provided with a hybrid-type backscatter light measurement device40using both Brillouin scattering and Rayleigh scattering, for processing a signal from an optical fiber. In addition, an optical cable10including an optical fiber having a function of detecting hydrocarbon is provided so as to extend along the ocean floor from the monitoring center110to the position where the well100is installed, and after reaching the installation position of the well100(uppermost part of well100), further extend along the outer periphery of the well100, to reach the bottom (lowermost part) of the well100. It is noted that, inFIG.1, Q indicates the sea surface.

In this case, the backscatter light measurement device40and the optical cable10having a function of detecting hydrocarbon are connected to each other, to form the optical cable monitoring system50in which the backscatter light measurement device40measures a frequency shift of scattering light in association with the placed position of the optical cable and the location of leakage of oil from the well is detected on the basis of the measurement value. That is, the optical cable monitoring system50includes, as major components, the optical cable10and the backscatter light measurement device40.

By installing the optical cable monitoring system50as described above, it is possible to monitor, over a long term of fifty or more years, presence/absence of leakage of oil or the like which is a monitoring target, in a range from the height position corresponding to the ocean floor, which is the uppermost position of the well100, to the lowermost position of the well100. Hereinafter, the details of the optical cable monitoring system50will be described, focusing on the optical cable used in the optical cable monitoring system50.

First, the optical cable10used in the optical cable monitoring system50will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG.2andFIG.3are views showing an example of a basic structure of the optical cable10that can be used in the optical cable monitoring system according to embodiment 1. More specifically,FIG.2is a schematic view illustrating the structure of the optical cable10and shows the structure of the optical cable three-dimensionally. In addition, FIG. is a view showing a cross section in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the optical cable.

As shown inFIG.2andFIG.3, an optical fiber1is provided at a center axis part of a strand20formed by a plurality of twisted steel wires3arranged in an annular shape. The surrounding area of the optical fiber1is filled with hydrocarbon absorbing resin2awhich is resin for absorbing hydrocarbon. On the outer side of the strand20, a second strand21is provided which is formed by a plurality of steel wires4having a larger outer diameter than the steel wire3, the plurality of steel wires4being twisted in the direction opposite to the strand20and arranged in an annular shape.

It is noted that the strand20and the second strand21are normally formed by armored cables, and by providing an optical fiber therein, they can be used for a so-called universal purpose such as communication or data transmission.

In the optical cable10according to the present embodiment 1, the gaps between the strand20(formed by a total of six cables inFIG.2andFIG.3) and the second strand21are filled with hydrocarbon absorbing resin2bsimilar to the above resin. It is noted that, normally, after the optical fiber1, the strand20, and the second strand21are combined with each other, the gaps therebetween are filled with the hydrocarbon absorbing resin2, whereby the optical cable10is manufactured.

The hydrocarbon absorbing resin2is provided so as to entirely fill the gaps, and normally, the optical cable10having a long size of 3 km or longer is manufactured.

It is noted that the hydrocarbon absorbing resin2may be provided intermittently along the axial direction of the optical cable10, and in this case, the pitch of the positions where the hydrocarbon absorbing resin2is provided is determined in accordance with position detection accuracy for leakage of oil or the like.

In general, the hydrocarbon absorbing resin2has a property of expanding in three-axis directions (directions of axes of three dimensions) when absorbing hydrocarbon, unless the resin is constrained, and as a result, due to the influence of the resin that has absorbed hydrocarbon, strain by tensile stress occurs in the optical fiber (see, for example, Non-Patent Literature 1). However, the optical cable10according to the present embodiment is different in that, when the hydrocarbon absorbing resin2has absorbed hydrocarbon, deformation of the hydrocarbon absorbing resin2is constrained by the presence of the strand20, for example, and as a result, compressive strain (strain by compressive stress) occurs in the optical fiber1.

In the above description, the optical cable10in which double (two layers of) strands are formed on the outer side of the optical fiber1has been described. However, without limitation thereto, the optical cable may be formed by only the optical fiber1and the strand20provided on the outer side of the optical fiber1, whereby the same effect can be obtained.

Regarding the relationship between the twisting direction of the strand and the twisting direction of the second strand, forming the optical cable having a structure in which the twisting direction of the second strand is opposite to the twisting direction of the strand as shown inFIG.2in embodiment 1 is optimum in order to prevent fraying of the strands.

Embodiment 2

In an optical cable monitoring system50according to the present embodiment 2, the structure of the optical cable10used in the above embodiment 1 is modified to employ an optical cable that can extract only a signal that is purely based on hydrocarbon contained in an oil well by compensating for an influence of temperature, strain, pressure, or the like. Hereinafter, an optical cable10aobtained by modifying the structure of the optical cable10will be described.

In the optical cable10aaccording to the present embodiment 2, the steel wires4forming the second strand21of the optical cable10are partially changed so that an optical fiber sensor for sensing temperature, strain, pressure, or the like is provided in combination. By providing an optical fiber sensor that can sense temperature, strain, pressure, or the like in accordance with the purpose, it becomes possible to extract, from the optical fiber1, a signal which is based on only the influence of absorption of hydrocarbon and in which an influence of temperature, strain, pressure, or the like is compensated, by using a measurement result obtained by the optical fiber sensor as described above.

That is, in the case where it is required to employ a cable also having a function of DPATS (abbreviation of Distributed Pressure, Acoustic, Temperature and Strain sensing) in combination, the optical cable10aaccording to the present embodiment 2 can be used. In other words, if compensation for temperature is needed, another optical fiber for measuring temperature may be prepared, if compensation for strain is needed, another optical fiber for measuring strain may be prepared, and if compensation for pressure is needed, another optical fiber for measuring pressure may be prepared.

Hereinafter, a specific example of an optical cable having a DPATS function will be described with reference to the drawings.FIG.4is a view showing an example of a basic structure of the optical cable10aincluding a physical quantity measurement optical fiber6for measuring a physical quantity of a measurement target.FIG.5is a schematic sectional view in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the optical cable10ashown inFIG.4.

As shown inFIG.4andFIG.5, the optical cable10ahas a feature in which a third strand22formed by a plurality of steel wires5is newly provided at a position which corresponds to the outermost circumferential portion and which corresponds to the outer side of the optical cable described in embodiment 1, and a physical quantity measurement optical fiber6for measuring temperature, strain, pressure, or the like of a measurement target is newly provided on the inner side of the third strand22so as to replace a part of the second strand21. It is noted that the gaps between the optical fiber1, the strand20, the second strand21, and the third strand22are filled with hydrocarbon absorbing resin2as in the case of the optical cable10described above. Oil is to enter the areas filled with the hydrocarbon absorbing resin2.

The reason for having the above configuration is as follows. Normally, in an optical cable having multilayer (multiplex) strands, even if the physical quantity measurement optical fiber6(here, in particular, a temperature measurement optical fiber is meant) is located on the inner side to some extent, the outer temperature is transferred thereto and thus detection thereof is possible. In addition, providing the physical quantity measurement optical fiber6on the inner side has an advantage in protecting the physical quantity measurement optical fiber6itself. It is noted that the optical cable itself cannot become an oil leakage passage.

It is noted that, normally, in a multilayer optical cable, the gaps between the outer layer and the inner layer of the optical cable are filled with a protection material or the like. Therefore, it is also possible to provide, on the outermost circumference of the optical cable, a cable wire for the purpose of detecting leakage of oil or the like, and this is further advantageous in terms of enhancing detection performance.

In the above description, the optical cable is manufactured such that the hydrocarbon absorbing resin2fills the gaps between the optical fiber1, the strand20, and the second strand21, or the gaps between the optical fiber1, the strand20, the second strand21, and the third strand22. However, without limitation thereto, the optical cable manufactured such that an overcoat is provided on the surface of the optical fiber1may be used, whereby the same effect can be obtained.

The optical cable filled with the hydrocarbon absorbing resin2has a life of at least fifty years under an environment of 200° C. It is noted that, in the case where this optical cable is used under the environment of low temperature and shallow depth, the life thereof is expected to be semipermanent.

Next, a verification experiment conducted for the hydrocarbon detection function of the above optical cable, and a result thereof, will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, in particular, verification was conducted using an optical cable having a structure which was formed by only an optical fiber and a (one layer of) strand in the innermost layer on the immediately outer side of the optical fiber, and which is a basic structure for confirming the operation and effect in the case of providing resin for detecting hydrocarbon, as described in the above embodiment 1.

FIG.6shows a schematic configuration of experimental equipment used in the verification experiment. One sample cable (optical fiber cable having a hydrocarbon detection function) was immersed in each of two light oil containers, and the shift amount of backscatter light occurring when each cable absorbed hydrocarbon in the light oil was measured by a hybrid backscatter light measurement device DTSS (abbreviation of Distributed Temperature and Strain Sensing) which was connected to these cables and was capable of measuring two kinds of frequency shifts by one device.

Here, the two kinds of frequency shifts are respectively measured through frequency shift analysis by pulse pre-pump Brillouin optical time domain analysis (PPP-BOTDA) for Brillouin scattering light, and frequency shift analysis called tunable wavelength coherent optical time domain reflectometry (TW-COTDR) for Rayleigh scattering light. Therefore, even when the temperature and strain are changed at the same time, the amounts of both changes can be analyzed.

FIG.7shows the details of the specifications of each sample cable used in the verification experiment. An optical fiber having a sensing portion in which the surrounding area of the optical fiber is filled with resin having a hydrocarbon detection function, is retained inside an armored cable. A part having a length of 9 cm shown as “SENSING PORTION” inFIG.7is the sensing portion for detecting hydrocarbon.

A sectional view of the sensing portion at position A-A as a representative is shown as cross section AA downward of the sensing portion. As shown in the sectional view, the surrounding area of the optical fiber provided at the center part is filled with resin having hydrocarbon detection function, which is shown by a multi-dot pattern. In addition, a sectional view of the armored cable at position B-B is shown as cross section BB at the left of the cross section AA. As shown in the sectional view, at position B-B, the surrounding area of the optical fiber is not filled with the above resin having a hydrocarbon detection function. As described above, the sensing portion is filled with resin having a hydrocarbon detection function, whereas the part other than the sensing portion, of the armored cable is not filled with resin having a hydrocarbon detection function.

In addition, reference fibers (not in armored cable form) each having a length of 1 m are respectively connected to both ends of the optical fiber. The sample cable configured as described above is retained with the entire armored cable part immersed in a container (containing hydrocarbon) in which light oil is stored.

As described above, the length of the sensing portion is short as compared to the other part. Therefore, it is considered that strain change due to temperature change and/or pressure change thereof is small and negligible as compared to strain change due to absorption of hydrocarbon components.

FIG.8is a table showing the specifications of the hybrid backscatter light measurement device. Since the measurement functions thereof include two major functions of PPP-BOTDA and TW-COTDR described above, the specifications are shown for each of both functions. As shown in the table, both functions are the same in distance range, distance resolution, and the like, but are greatly different in frequency characteristics.

Next,FIG.9shows center frequency distributions in constituent component parts of the above two sample cables in the case where these sample cables were subjected to frequency shift analysis by PPP-BOTDA.

This diagram shows the characteristics before the sample cables were immersed in the light oil. It is found that the armored cable parts to be measured exhibit center frequencies of about 11.1 GHz, and the reference fiber parts exhibit center frequencies of about 10.8 GHz.

Next,FIG.10shows a measurement example of strain distributions of the two sample cables. For both samples, occurrence of strain is recognized which is considered to be caused by absorption of hydrocarbon as a result of immersion in the light oil (center part in the strain distribution of each sample is recessed).

Next,FIG.11shows temporal change in the strain distribution in the case where the strain distribution was measured for the sample cable #2during about one month. Numerical values indicating each data inFIG.11show the date of measurement of the strain distribution.

As shown inFIG.11, the strain distribution greatly changes. It is considered that such a change was caused due to gradual increase of the content of hydrocarbon compounds in the infill.

Finally,FIG.12shows temporal changes in strain distributions in the case of providing the infill which is resin having a hydrocarbon detection function and in the case of not providing the infill, with the horizontal axis indicating the measurement dates. InFIG.12, downward arrows (two in total) indicate the times at which the sample cables were immersed in the light oil, and upward arrows (two in total) indicate the times at which the sample cables immersed in the light oil were extracted therefrom. It is noted that an interval Ts indicated by a double-headed arrow is the period during which the measurement was stopped. It is found that strain change clearly occurred as a result of the infill absorbing hydrocarbon by the sample cable (having infill) being immersed in the light oil.

Next, the case where the optical cable10or10ais used for monitoring an oil well or the like over a long term (about fifty years) will be described with reference toFIG.1andFIG.13.

In the monitoring, presence/absence of leakage of oil or the like is determined on the basis of whether or not the optical cable10has detected hydrocarbon which is a main component of the oil. That is, if hydrocarbon is detected in the resin provided in the optical cable10at some part from the uppermost position of the well100shown inFIG.1(the height position corresponding to the ocean floor inFIG.1; inFIG.13, the point at which the depth value is 0 (zero) indicates the height position corresponding to the ocean floor) to the lowermost position of the well100(the height position corresponding to a depth value of 1 inFIG.13), the scattering light shift amount at the detection part is outputted as a leakage signal indicating a shift amount different from the shift amounts at the other positions (seeFIG.13). The location (depth position) indicating the above different output is a part where leakage of oil or the like has occurred. In addition, inFIG.13, it is found that a leakage signal is detected only after fifty years has passed since the oil well was installed. In addition, it is found that the leakage position is slightly lower than the center height position of the well100.

Here, it is considered that the scattering light shift amount that has changed due to hydrocarbon absorbed by the resin is not influenced by the position in the depth direction of the well100and changes depending on only the amount of the absorbed hydrocarbon, whereas the temperature, pressure, strain, and the like are highly likely to change depending on the position in the depth direction. In the case where the influences of these are great, it is necessary to correct the amount of scattering light shift due to these. In such a case, the optical cable10ahaving the DPATS function described above can be used.

As described above, in the optical cable monitoring system50using the optical cable10or10a, the depth position of leakage of oil or the like in a well that is an inspection target is detected, and therefore, by performing local repair at the position where the leakage is detected, the well can be repaired, so that the life thereof can be prolonged without disposing of the entire well.

In addition, after the local repair, presence/absence of a leakage signal in the optical cable monitoring system50is checked, and if no leakage signal is detected, it can be confirmed that an effect of the repair of the leakage has been obtained.

Although the present application is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations to one or more of the embodiments of the disclosure.

It is therefore understood that numerous modifications which have not been exemplified can be devised without departing from the scope of the present application. For example, at least one of the constituent components may be modified, added, or eliminated. At least one of the constituent components mentioned in at least one of the preferred embodiments may be selected and combined with the constituent components mentioned in another preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS

1optical fiber2,2a,2bhydrocarbon absorbing resin3,4,5steel wire6physical quantity measurement optical fiber10,10aoptical cable20strand21second strand22third strand40backscatter light measurement device50optical cable monitoring system100well