Field applications of fiber-optic sensors : 1. Temperature measurements in a geothermal well (Report)

Abstract

We have initiated a program for developing and field testing fiber-optics-based sensors to monitor in situ physical and chemical parameters in highly corrosive environments, such as geothermal wells, oil wells, and hot-water boiler reactors. Inability to sample hot geothermal wells or to measure the chemical composition of hot brines limits our understanding of in situ conditions of geothermal fields. In this communication, we report preliminary results obtained using a temperature optrode to profile the temperature in a geothermal steam well. To our best knowledge, this is the first time in situ geothermal well measurements have been made using a fiber-optic sensor.