Optic Fiber Distributed Temperature for Fracture Stimulation Diagnostics and Well Performance Evaluation

TLDR

Optic fiber distributed temperature sensing (DTS) is applied to hydraulic fracturing stimulation diagnostics and well performance evaluation in unconventional gas well completions. OF‑DTS delivers quantitative inflow distribution, near‑wellbore dynamic placement during stimulation, superior volume‑distribution assessment versus radioactive tracer surveys, complementary tracer data, and validation of fracture containment in disposal well injection.

Abstract

Abstract This paper summarizes applications of optic fiber (OF) distributed temperature sensing (DTS) technology for hydraulic fracturing stimulation diagnostics and well performance evaluation in unconventional gas well completions. Results are presented for temporary "call-out" deployments, velocity string installations, and permanent "behind casing" installations in vertical and horizontal wellbores. It is demonstrated that OF-DTS enables quantitative inflow distribution measurement for well performance evaluations in commingled multiple interval completions. OF-DTS is also shown to demonstrate the near wellbore dynamic placement characteristics during hydraulic fracture stimulation operations and, in one example, enables a superior volume distribution evaluation than radioactive (RA) tracer surveys. OF-DTS is demonstrated to be complimentary to RA tracer surveys in some cases. Additionally, this technology is being applied successfully for validation of hydraulic fracture containment in disposal well injection applications.