Real-Time Monitoring of Sand Control Completions

Subsurface geomechanical stresses can cause formation faults, slippage, and compaction. These movements result in well failures, impacting production and resulting in significant expense and lost revenue. Traditional means for detecting such failures are limited and usually require interrupting production to re-enter the well, resulting in late detection of the problem and limited counteractive options.

A fiber optic support device has been developed to permanently monitor strain and temperature on sand screen products for gravel-pack and frac-pack applications. This technology, especially when paired with an optical wet connect, provides for long-term reservoir monitoring at the sand face, resulting in early detection of subsurface movements at a high resolution. With this information, operators can plan early mitigative actions, and monitor the results of these actions in real time.

This fiber support device provides a means of holding a helically wrapped optic fiber rigidly in place at the sand face, with no negative impact on the sand control functionality of the sand screens. New techniques were developed to manufacture this technology, as well as a new method to install the fiber. Dry connects have also been developed to allow connections between individual sand screens and enable longer monitored intervals.

The paper will describe this new technology, review test results to date, and discuss potential applications.