Alcatel Kabel in Norway is developing a downwell monitoring system for permanent installations, based on optical excitation and interrogation of micromachined resonant sensors. The optical measuring concept, integrated with fibre optic communication and in combination with silicon material properties, provide unique sensor system performance, which can meet the requirements of downwell monitoring.

The key components have been developed and comprises; sensor and sensor housing, fibre optic cable, fibre optic cable splices, fibre optic wet mateable connector, and optoelectronic equipment for system operation. The components have been fully characterised and tested in an onshore test well. The test results verify the inherent advantages of optical technology and demonstrate the system's high reliability potential and ability to function in high temperature applications.

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