QOREX is heralding a next generation of optical sensing technology built upon a platform of all-fiber, fully distributed optical sensing technology. Where the inherent elegance of distributed temperature sensor (DTS) technology, in which the fiber itself is the sensor, revolutionized the industry, QOREX is bringing this technology a major step forward in multi-parameter sensing along this same sensing fiber. This will bring step change enhancement in sensor functionality, cost-efficiency, and the sophistication and accuracy of interpretive data modeling. QOREX is developing optical sensing product innovations that are at various stages of development.
Integrated DTS + Pressure
QOREX has a proprietary (patent-pending) optical pressure gauge in development that operates in tandem with Raman DTS systems. Legacy optical P/T gauges are connected to surface with a downhole optical transmission cable, in contrast the QOREX integrated solution uses the DTS sensing fiber to connect the downhole optical pressure sensor, sharing the same DTS sensing fiber and surface interrogator. This single system capable of simultaneous DTS and bottom-hole pressure is a step-change improvement in elegance and functionality over discrete optical DTS and pressure gauges operating on hybrid cables through multi-pin well penetrations.
Brillouin Distributed Temperature and Strain Sensor (DTSS)
While both Raman and Brillouin distributed temperature sensors have been in the commercial stream for over a decade, Raman DTS is by far the most prevalent today due to its inherent insensitivity to strain, relegating Brillouin more as a distributed strain sensor in known thermal environments. Means to compensate Brillouin cross-sensitivity to temperature and strain through complex signal processing using special sensing fibers have limited success in unlocking the significant advantages of Brillouin in power, reach, and resolution. QOREX has developed a patented method of accurate discrimination of temperature and strain in Brillouin OTDR sensors, enabling accurate bi-modal temperature and strain measurement on standard single mode sensing fibers. This new Brillouin sensor will be especially useful in a range of applications that benefit from the distinct advantages Brillouin technology offers, and promises to be a practical means to operate DTS on single mode fiber and achieve high resolution DTS measurements on short time scales.
Optical Flow Velocity Meter
Oil and gas production efficiencies are driven by the management of fluid flow, which can be greatly augmented by intelligent completion that merges in-well sensors and flow control. Intelligent wells can be greatly enhanced by direct downhole flow measurement- unfortunately legacy flow meters typically involve obstructions in the flow path that present significant risk to well operations. Optical flow meters have emerged that address these shortcomings, but involve complicated and expensive sensor interrogation and transducer designs. QOREX has demonstrated a proprietary Optical Flow Velocity Meter (patent pending) that likewise has no obstruction in the flow path, yet operates on a streamlined interrogation system and transducer design for a significant cost advantage. The QOREX solution also allows operation of other sensors, such as DTS, along the same sensing fiber to open up new possibilities in data interpretation and modeling over single parameter data.
(Click to download .pdfs)
Contributed Paper Submission - Geophysical Fiber- CLEO 2010
Technical Paper- Proceeding 2009 GRC Annual Meeting- Reservoir Engineering-QOREX
