In the realm of geophysics, the application of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) has predominantly been concentrated on seismic applications such as Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) for reservoir characterization, microseismic monitoring for hydraulic fracturing and induced seismicity, and seismic interferometry for near-surface imaging. Nevertheless, optical fibers have the capability to support multiphysics measurements, enabling the simultaneous acquisition of distributed temperature, strain, and vibration data along a wellbore using a single sensing cable. This multiphysics capability facilitates various applications throughout the lifecycle of an oil and gas well, spanning from completion and production to abandonment. The large DFOS data volume necessitates advanced signal processing and data visualization techniques to enhance interpretation results, creating significant prospects for geophysicists to collaborate with petroleum engineers to address subsurface and well-related challenges.

In this lecture, I’ll showcase several non-seismic applications of DFOS, with a focus on distributed strain sensing based hydraulic fracture monitoring and distributed temperature sensing based well integrity monitoring. Through a series of field case studies, I will demonstrate the value of DFOS measurements in the hydrocarbon exploitation and carbon dioxide sequestration sectors, emphasizing the significant business impact of cross-disciplinary research in this domain.