Abstract
Harsh environments and access limitations continually challenge well surveillance in oil and gas production. Knowledge of subsurface characteristics, such as fluid flow, helps mitigate safety and operational risk while enhancing economic viability. As operators pursue technically challenging reservoirs, the development and use of advanced sensor technology has become crucial to exploring, developing and producing hydrocarbon reserves - while maintaining system integrity from the producing zone to transportation. Research and technical commercialization in fiber optic sensing has the potential to enhance many aspects of flow integrity and assurance, including barrier monitoring, reservoir and flow characterization, leading to increased safety, production protection, and production enhancement.
Fiber optic sensing has evolved over time at BP. This is with respect to diversity of applications and realization of benefits, while increasing our learning from implementation challenges. We will use this context to highlight the research, commercial ecosystem and business aspects of fiber optic sensing– particularly to provide a perspective on future uses of this technology. Using an integrated approach, the goal of this paper is to increase awareness and promote adoption. We do this by making a case for accelerating integration, collaboration and standardization among the operators, service providers, equipment manufacturers and systems integrators to stimulate and to drive efficiencies and value.
