Fiber-optic monitoring preserves Utah well isolation

Overview

A Utah operator in development of a 5,000‑ft exploration lateral in the Cane Creek reservoir required a long‑term monitoring approach that would help maintain wellbore integrity, as it provides high‑quality data for reservoir evaluation. The objective was to assess the reservoir’s commercial viability and quantify contributions from natural fractures and matrix permeability. This required a reliable pathway to monitor instrumentation and fluid flow, without compromising zonal isolation.

Halliburton engineered a long‑term monitoring system that helped preserve isolation throughout the wellbore and provided continuous, high‑sensitivity fiber‑optic data acquisition capabilities.

Challenge

The operator required a tieback completion that could deliver an airtight seal between the casing and packer, tapered to a smaller internal diameter to house fiber‑optic monitoring equipment, and still maintain an unobstructed flow path for well fluid. The design demanded precise integration with third‑party hardware to support continuous monitoring without risk to well integrity.

Solution

Halliburton delivered a feed‑through completion system designed to integrate seamlessly with the operator’s third‑party liner hanger and to provide long‑term monitoring using fiber-optic technology and the DataSphere® Array permanent monitoring suite system.

The system centered on a Halliburton‑designed feedthrough no‑go locator, which aided the transition from 2 7/8‑in. to 2 3/8‑in. tubing and accommodated the fiber cable and monitoring suite. The locator incorporated internal 3/8‑in. EUE pins and external 4 1/2‑in. LTC pins to provide reliable engagement with the seal assembly and maintain pressure integrity.

It also included a mule shoe for smooth entry into the liner hanger, nipples for wireline plug deployment, and a tailored seal assembly to match the existing hanger design. A fluted centralizer aided proper alignment during installation.

Together, these components created a cohesive, reliable system that supported real‑time data acquisition and well integrity objectives.

Result

This standalone, self‑acquisition monitoring system delivered high‑sensitivity fiber‑optic data that allowed the operator to evaluate reservoir potential for non‑frac hydra-jet perforating and acid completions, distinguish natural fracture from matrix flow, identify reservoir facies with higher flow capacity, and help optimize well spacing.

Stimulation effectiveness was supported throughout the lateral based on the fiber acoustic data collected while the well flowed. The fiber system revealed that tighter perforation spacing in lower‑permeability zones could improve productivity. The data also helped identify which zones actively contributed to flow and indicated potential production-rate variations between intervals. These findings gave the operator actionable intelligence to refine completion strategies and help improve future well designs.