Distributed Temperature Sensing Monitoring of Well Completion Processes in a CO₂ Geological Storage Demonstration...

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Petroleum Engineering
• Environmental Monitoring

Background:

• Well completion operations generate distinct thermal signatures.
• Accurate depth referencing is crucial for interpreting downhole sensor data.
• Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) offers a continuous temperature profile for wellbore analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze DTS temperature profiles for characterizing CO₂ well completion processes.
• To evaluate depth correction techniques and temperature calibration methods for DTS data.
• To identify unique temperature anomaly patterns associated with different completion stages.

Main Methods:

• Depth correction using error redistribution techniques.
• Comparison of three temperature calibration methods: conventional, heat coil, and in-well diver.
• Analysis of DTS temperature data during gravel packing, cementing, and gas lift operations.

Main Results:

• Depth discrepancies were effectively corrected using conventional error redistribution.
• The conventional temperature calibration method yielded the best results, with pointwise methods as viable alternatives.
• Distinct temperature anomaly patterns were observed for gravel packing (sand progression), cementing (slurry rise and exothermic reaction), and gas lift (casing transition, oscillations).

Conclusions:

• DTS is a valuable tool for characterizing well completion stages through temperature anomaly analysis.
• Validated depth correction and calibration methods enhance DTS data reliability.
• Specific thermal signatures allow for real-time monitoring and understanding of completion processes like gravel packing, cementing, and gas lift.