IP Library Granted Patent US 9,234,999
Granted Patent B2
US 9,234,999 · App. 13/996,452 · Granted Jan 12, 2016

System and method for making distributed measurements using fiber optic cable

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,234,999
App. No.
13/996,452
Granted
Jan 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for determining the physical location of a fiber optic channel in a fiber optic cable comprises the steps of a) providing at least one location key having a known physical location, b) establishing the location of the location key with respect to the fiber optic channel, and c) using the location information established in step b) to determine the physical location of the channel. The location key may comprises an acoustic source, a section of fiber optic cable that is acoustically masked, or at least one magnetic field source and step b) comprises using a Lorentz force to establish the location of the magnetic field source with respect to the fiber optic channel.

Claims (12)

1. A method for determining the physical location of a fiber optic channel in a fiber optic cable within a well-bore, which comprises the steps of:

a) providing at least one location key having a known physical location;

b) establishing the location of the location key with respect to the fiber optic channel; and

c) using the location information established in step b) to determine the physical location of the channel;

wherein step a) has the location key comprised of the movement of a tool hitting or rubbing against the inside of the well-bore and step b) comprises of the time-depth pairs given by the contractor of the location of the tool with respect to time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic cable follows the well-bore.

3. The method of claim 1 , including a step of interpolating depth between total depth and surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein relying on noise made when the tool hits casing collar locators as the well is logged.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises gauge collars.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool is a wireline tool that is being lowered into the well-bore.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising tracking the tool.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising tracking the position of the tool as a function of time, while recording distributed signals from the fiber optic cable over the same period, and subsequently correlating the distributed signals to the position information of the tool.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 7, 2022
From: SHELL OIL COMPANY
To: SHELL USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 059694/0819 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2013
From: KOELMAN, JOHANNES MARIA VIANNEY ANTONIUS; WILLS, PETER BERKELEY; MOLENAAR, MENNO MATHIEW; COX, BARBARA ELLEN; JOINSON, DANIEL
To: SHELL OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 030655/0641 →