Saudi Arabian Oil Company

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Frode Hveding

Muhammad Arsalan

Boon Siew Ooi

Islam Ashry

Mao Yuan

Howard Khan Schmidt

Jesus Manuel Felix Servin

Daniele Colombo

Mohd Sharizal Bin Alias

Damian Pablo San Roman Alerigi

Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi

Brett Bouldin

Robert Turner

Weichang Li

Saeed Mohammed AlMubarak

Karam Chand

Saeed M AIMubarak

Robert John Turner

Brett W Bouldin

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method for removing intermodal distortion that includes receiving a collection of distorted backscattered Rayleigh signals from a collection of modes of an optical fiber, where the collection of distorted backscattered Rayleigh signals are distorted by an intermodal coupling among the collection of modes, receiving a collection of distortion parameters that are descriptive of distortion effects of the intermodal coupling, and determining an undistorted backscattered Rayleigh signal based on the collection of distorted backscattered Rayleigh signals and the collection of distortion parameters.

Downhole monitoring using few-mode optical fiber based distributed acoustic sensing

A system and methods for quantitative hydraulic fracturing surveillance from fiber optic sensing using machine learning is described herein. An exemplary method provides capturing distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) data, distributed temperature sensing (DTS) data, and microseismic data over monitored stages. Operation states and variables at a respective stage are predicted, based on, at least in part, the DAS data, DTS data, or microseismic data. At least one event associated with the predicted operation states and variables is localized at the respective stage.

Quantitative hydraulic fracturing surveillance from fiber optic sensing using machine learning

Embodiments provide systems and methods for creating and storing energy using the magnetohydrodynamic principle and the flow of a conductive fluid through a magnetic field downhole in a pipeline system. The system can also be configured to determine water holdup using the magnetohydrodynamic principle. The energy the system generates can be used to control electric valves and other electronic devices along the pipeline. The power storing and generating system can be configured to include permanent magnets, electrode pairs, isolation material, and a conductive flowing multiphase media. The multiphase media, i.e., oil, gas, water, or a mixture, flows through a pipeline that has electrodes in direct contact with the media and magnets also configured adjacent the media. The electrode pairs can be arranged inside of the pipeline opposite each other, with a permanent magnet placed between the electrodes and flush to the inside of the pipe, with flux lines perpendicular to the flow direction. Power output from the system is a function of the conductive fluid volume, flow velocity, magnet strength, and electrode size. Various embodiments include different arrangements of permanent magnets and electrode pairs.

Systems and methods to harvest energy and determine water holdup using the magnetohydrodynamic principle

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method for remotely sensing vibration includes transmitting a collection of optical pulses through an optical fiber at a predetermined frequency, detecting a collection of backscattered Rayleigh traces from the optical fiber based on a vibration of the optical fiber at a vibration frequency at a location along the optical fiber, determining a normalized differential trace based on the collection of Rayleigh traces, determining, based on the normalized differential trace, the location in the optical fiber of the vibration, and determining, based on the raw Rayleigh traces, the vibration frequency.

Signal to noise ratio management

Systems and methods include a method for overcoming optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) dead zone limitations by using a few-mode fiber (FMF). Optical pulses are transmitted by a transmitter of an OTDR system through a mode MUX/DEMUX into an FMF. Light signals directed by the FMF in a backward direction through the mode MUX/DEMUX are received by the OTDR system through N single-mode fiber (SMF) ports corresponding to N modes in the FMF. Light signals from N&#x2212;1 dead-zone-free SMF ports are collected by the OTDR system. Losses are measured and faults are located in the FMF based at least on the light signals.

Overcoming OTDR dead zones using a few-mode fiber

A variable-frequency light source is configured to emit a light beam and modulate a frequency of the light beam. A fiber optic cable is attached to the variable frequency light source. The fiber optic cable is configured to receive the light beam at an inlet and pass the light beam to an exit. Multiple optical detectors are attached to the fiber optic cable. Each of the optical detectors is configured to detect a specified frequency of light that is backscattered through the fiber optic cable. An actuation mechanism is attached to the fiber optic cable. The actuation mechanism is configured to deform the fiber optic cable in response to a stimulus.

Determining structural tomographic properties of a geologic formation

A wellbore tractor is capable of being positioned in a wellbore that includes a cased section, a first uncased section downhole of the cased section, and a second uncased section downhole of the first uncased section. The wellbore tractor is capable of self-propelling itself through the wellbore. An anchoring system is connected to the wellbore tractor. The anchoring system includes an appendage. When the wellbore tractor is in the cased section, the anchoring system is capable of extending the appendage from the cased section through the first uncased section into the second uncased section, anchoring the appendage in the second uncased section, and guiding the wellbore tractor from the cased section past the first uncased section and into the second uncased section.

Traversing across a wash-out zone in a wellbore

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes separating, from a few mode optical fiber, a collection of backscattered Rayleigh signals based on a vibration of the few mode optical fiber at a vibration frequency at a first location along the few mode optical fiber, separating, from the few mode optical fiber, a collection of backscattered Stokes Raman signals and Anti-Stokes Raman signals based on a temperature of the few mode optical fiber at a second location along the few mode optical fiber, detecting the separated Rayleigh signals and Raman signals, determining, based on detecting the collection of backscattered Rayleigh traces, at least one of the first location, the vibration frequency, and an amplitude of the vibration, and determining, based on the detecting the collection of backscattered Raman signals, the temperature at the second location.

Hybrid distributed acoustic testing

A fiber optic cable assembly includes an elongate housing, a plurality of fiber optic cables placed inside the housing and extending longitudinally, and acoustic isolating material placed inside the housing and extending longitudinally. The acoustic isolating material includes a plurality of outwardly radially extending arms extending from a center of the housing towards a circumference of the housing. The plurality of arms divides a space inside the housing into a plurality of acoustically isolated sections. Each acoustically isolated section extends longitudinally. Each acoustically isolated section includes at least one of the plurality of fiber optic cables. Each acoustically isolated section is acoustically insulated from remaining sections of the plurality of acoustically isolated sections. A surface of the acoustic isolating material of each acoustically isolated section is covered by acoustic reflective material.

Directional sensitive fiber optic cable wellbore system

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for detecting components of a multiphasic flow are disclosed. A flowmeter may include a plurality of optical fibers disposed across a fluid flow. The optical fibers may generate backscattering of a portion of a laser beam transmitted along the optical fibers. The backscattering may be produced by a grating formed by zinc dicyanoaurate formed in each of the optical fibers. Heterodyne detection may be used to determine a Brillouin frequency shift that is used to determine strain and temperature measurements at different locations along the optical fibers. Artificial Intelligence uses the strain and temperature measurements to determine a flow regime of the fluid flow and flow rates of components forming the fluid flow.

Pipe cross-sectional fiber optic multiphase apparatus

Systems and methods include a number of optical pulses are transmitted by transmitting, by a distributed acoustic sensor (DAS), where the optical pulses are transmitted at an input port associated with a multimode fibers (MMF) used by the DAS, and where the fundamental mode of the MMF is excited. A number of backscattered Rayleigh signals are collected by the DAS. The Rayleigh signals are recorded as an output intensity profile. A position along the MMF that is subject to vibrations and corresponding vibration parameters are determined by analyzing the recorded output intensity profile.

Quasi-fundamental-mode operated multimode fiber for distributed acoustic sensing

A flow meter includes a cylindrical tubing configured to be positioned in a wellbore, the cylindrical tubing including a flow mixer configured to produce a turbulent fluid flow of a multiphase fluid in the wellbore. The flow meter includes a tuning fork disposed in the cylindrical tubing separate from the flow mixer, the tuning fork configured to contact the turbulent fluid flow of the multiphase fluid and vibrate at a vibration frequency in response to contact with the turbulent fluid flow, and a controller to determine a fluid density measurement of the multiphase fluid based at least in part on the vibration frequency of the tuning fork.

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Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Frode Hveding