A groundbreaking study led by Linqing Luo, Diana Abdulhameed, Gang Tao, Tianchen Xu, Jiangnan Wang, David Xu, Professor Kenichi Soga, and Yuxin Wu has been published in IEEE Access. The paper, “Large-Scale Experimental Validation of Real-Time Monitoring in Underground Gas Storage Wells Using Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing”, presents the first large-scale field demonstration of distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) technologies—combining distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and distributed strain sensing (DSS)—for live monitoring of underground gas storage wells.
What the Study Did
-
Installed DFOS cables along full-scale gas storage wellbores.
-
Simulated operational events and disturbances to validate real-time detection capabilities.
-
Collected high-resolution temperature and strain data to track both routine operations and anomalies.
Key Findings
-
High sensitivity: The DFOS system reliably detected subtle changes in both temperature and strain associated with well operations.
-
Leak detection: Potential leaks and well integrity issues were identified in real time through localized measurements.
-
Operational insights: The distributed sensing data captured dynamic behaviors—such as pressure changes and thermal effects—previously inaccessible with conventional monitoring tools .
Significance
This real-world validation confirms DFOS as a powerful technology for enhancing monitoring, diagnostics, and safety in subsurface energy systems. It supports infrastructure operators and regulators aiming to maintain integrity, optimize well performance, and prevent environmental risks in gas storage facilities.