Unfogging the glass

摘要

A new generation of fiber-optic technology will pay dividends in thermal recovery operations. On the surface it makes a lot of sense to install a permanent monitoring system in a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) field. It's extremely helpful to know where the steam fronts are moving to ensure higher recovery rates. But steam injection is not kind to downhole equipment. Fiber-optic systems, which are more heat-resistant than electronics, suffer from hydrogen degradation, which shortens their lifetimes considerably.