Advances have been made to temperature monitoring with the application of distributed temperature sensing with fiber optics over the length of the wellbore to provide data for analysis of the well conditions. With this method, an optical fiber to monitor temperature over the entire length of a well is installed. Custom visualization and analysis software then uses the distributed temperature sensing data that is retrieved to perform analysis of well conditions in environments in which heat management is needed.

The capability to retrieve real-time data allows use of visualization and analytical software to provide rapid qualitative analysis prior to obtaining final quantitative results. This process enables improvement of heat management in heavy oil wells by detection of problem areas within the well. The improvements are provided by the capability to compare a large number of data sets.

The fiber-optic technology was initially deployed in a steamflood well in Bakersfield, California over ten years ago.1  Since that time, the technology has been applied in many different producing environments and has proven that monitoring of downhole conditions can provide valuable information for production assessment.

This paper will discuss the significant benefits gained from using this technology in heavy-oil monitoring scenarios.

Keywords:
production control, Reservoir Surveillance, downhole sensor, production logging, wavelength, perforated interval temperature, application, wellbore temperature, information, operation
Subjects:
Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Downhole sensors & control equipment, Production logging, Completion Monitoring Systems/Intelligent Wells, Well Monitoring Systems/Intelligent Wells
Copyright 2006, Society of Petroleum Engineers
You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.