Highlights

• Gravel packing monitoring with distributed strain sensing
• Radial heat flux assessment through inner and outer cable
• Distributed reservoir temperature monitoring

ATES (Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage) Fasanenstraße was drilled in 2016 as a research well to investigate the energy storage potential of shallow reservoirs beneath the city of Berlin. Three fiber-optic cables were installed permanently behind casing to monitor the completion and production of the research well.
The outer cable was installed behind the 11 ¾“ anchor casing in a looped configuration to a depth of 192 m (TVD). Fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) was used to monitor the cement pumping process and the hydration kinetics.
The inner cables were installed behind the 4.5“-6 5/8“ production casing, one cable in a looped, and one in single-ended configuration. The cables were landed at the shoe of the casing at 233 m (TVD). Distributed strain and temperature sensing (DSS + DTS) was used to monitor the gravel packing operation, cement pumping, hydration kinetics and injection testing.
The joint analysis of inner and outer cable was further used for a radial heat flux analysis.
This research drilling project was coordinated by GFZ Potsdam in collaboration with Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) and Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK). (project link)

Funding

This study has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 654497 (GeoWell project) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) under funding code 03ESP409A.

References

Lipus, M. P., Reinsch, T., Schmidt-Hattenberger, C., Henninges, J., Reich, M. (2018): Gravel pack monitoring with a strain sensing fiber optic cable. - Oil Gas-European Magazine, 44, 4, 179-185 (open access link)

Lipus, M. P. (2020): Wellbore completion monitoring using fiber optic distributed strain sensing, PhD Thesis, Freiberg : Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, xvii, 139 (open access link)