Success Story: 64 Wells with Hybrid Real Time DTS/DAS Monitoring and Permanent Downhole Gauges Installed in the United Arab Emirates

The latest well completions developments for extended-reach wells include advanced techniques to improve the effectiveness of production and optimization solutions to achieve sustainable well production. Monitoring systems installed during the completion use real-time distributed temperature sensing (DTS), distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), and downhole gauge data to obtain better reservoir insight throughout the life of the well. This enables informed decision making to achieve optimal well production and gas injection. Permanent downhole gauges (PDGs) with dual sensors (tubing + tubing) are installed, along with hybrid cable as part of the upper completion string. The hybrid cable has an electrical conductor and two fiber-optic lines for DTS and DAS measurements. The cable is clamped onto the tubing at each coupling and passes through the upper completion subassemblies, which include gas lift mandrels (GLMs) and tubing-retrievable safety valves (TRSVs). An intermediate completion is run before the upper completion, which comprises a two-trip permanent packer and remote actuated barrier device (multicycle). Completions monitoring with hybrid cables provides an advantage over conventional gauge-only systems, with only a slight increase in completion costs. Using a single cable provides more run-in-hole (RIH) efficiency, fewer lines to manage, and a smaller equipment footprint. PDG data are used by production engineers, field development personnel, and subsurface personnel to determine pressure drawdown and optimize surface production choke size. Distributed fiber-sensing technology determines the effectiveness of gas lift operations to optimize injection rates, which effectively optimizes pumping rates and flow from surface. Fiber-sensing technology also helps identify tubing and annulus leaks, monitor the health of the completion during the life of the well, and minimize wellbore damage. This type of completion has been installed successfully in 64 wells (60 production and 4 injection), and all systems are operational with data accessible from all wells. This approach benefits the industry by highlighting best practices, providing advanced technology options for evaluating data and reservoir productivity, and providing completion and drilling effectiveness for extended deep-reach wells.