Historically seismic and other data have been stored on tape media of various types. The density of data on tape has increased over time. Access times have improved as well but they are not as fast as disk. Disk storage comes in various guises from cheap commodity to highly resilient. A cost benefit analysis shows that high speed intelligent disks are more cost effective than multiple cheap disks. Additional work has demonstrated that using Object storage on disk significantly improves access time to data as compared with standard Btree storage. The advent of cheap solid-state storage has changed the way we view storage and more and more systems are appearing with solid-state only storage (laptops, phones, tablets and high end analytics machines). Has the time now come to ditch tapes and disks and switch to solid state?

Time-lapse information can be used for different purposes, depending on whether it spans several years or only a few months between snapshots, or even reflects producton/injection-induced seismicity in real time. Synchronizing the availability of such 4D data with production-relevant decision gates, and ensuring sufficient resolution for these decisions, is the key to improve efficiency and optimize impact of 4D. PRM systems need to reliably function over the entire production lifetime of an asset and provide the sensitivity to both detect small 4D signals over short repeat intervals and continuously monitor tiny production-induced deformations. A fiberoptic solution is best capable of providing the required endurance in the seafloor environment over the entire asset lifetime. We present the next generation Optoseis pressure-balanced technology, and some novel procesing techniques that are very useful for PRM with sparse receiver sampling.

At the end of 2012, Petrobras installed the first deep-water optical permanent reservoir monitoring (PRM) system over the Jubarte oilfield in the Campos basin offshore Brazil. The PRM pilot project covered approximately 9 sq. km with a fully fiberoptic 4-component (4C) sensor array. All topside optoeletronic equipment was installed on FPSO P-57. The primary objective was to validate the fiberoptic sensing technology to detect subtle impedance changes in the reservoir. This goal was achieved, allowing interpreters to apply an interpretation strategy to improve the understanding of flow patterns and to update the geological scenarios of the area based on very high quality 3D/4D images provided by the permanent system.

Summary Upon successful installation and acquisition of 4D data from the Jubarte pilot PRM system, we would like to share some of the lessons learned from the Jubarte experience. Discussion includes the technical challenges and supply chain difficulties that needed to be overcome. We successfully dealt with manufacturing and installation challenges, leading to the delivery of the system in 2012. After the third active acquisition of seismic on the field, the system continues to operate providing excellent data to Petrobras. As a result of the data from the Jubarte PRM system, decisions have been made by Petrobras to relocate various well placements. During the process we have taken the issues and incorporated them into a new revision of the system which shall also be explained, comparing the current “Next Generation” OptoSeis design to that which was installed on the Jubarte field. While the design changes are subtle they will lead to a more cost effective and reliable system in the future.

Two novel approaches to extend the lifetimes of commercial FeCrAIRE alloys, such as Aluchrom YHf and Kanthal AF, for industrial usage have been developed by the CEC funded SMILER Project. These surface treatments either increased the available alloy Al reservoir by alloying, aluminising, or cladding/plating or preformed an alpha-Al2O3 protective scale by gas annealing. An extensive series of evaluation testing in laboratory air, extending to either 3000 h or chemical failure whichever was shorter, has been under-taken at temperatures between 800 degrees and 1300 degrees C on alloy coupons in the form of both 50,mu m thick foil or 1 mm thick sheet. This has been augmented by selected further exposures of surface treated near real-life components (fibre mat heater burners and alloy supports for automobile emission control catalysts). The results of all these evaluation tests are fully detailed in this paper and have established both the viability of these procedures and their range of technological applicability.