Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method for providing a photonic sensing system to perform an automated method to characterize displacement of equipment surfaces and monitor changes in real-time. A three-dimensional (3D) point cloud of one or more objects is generated by an analysis and presentation system using light information collected through structured light illumination by an array of structured-light sensors (SLSes) directed toward the one or more objects. Generating the point cloud includes defining points of the 3D point cloud that are relative to reference points on the one or more objects. Real-time contactless 3D surface measurements of the one or more objects are performed using the 3D point cloud. Changes in one or more parts of the one or more objects are determined by the an analysis and presentation system by analyzing the real-time contactless 3D surface measurements.

Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method for providing a photonic sensing system to perform an automated method to characterize displacement of equipment surfaces and monitor changes in real-time. A three-dimensional (3D) point cloud of one or more objects is generated by an analysis and presentation system using light information collected through structured light illumination by an array of structured-light sensors (SLSes) directed toward the one or more objects. Generating the point cloud includes defining points of the 3D point cloud that are relative to reference points on the one or more objects. Real-time contactless 3D surface measurements of the one or more objects are performed using the 3D point cloud. Changes in one or more parts of the one or more objects are determined by the an analysis and presentation system by analyzing the real-time contactless 3D surface measurements.

Fiber optic sensors are described for detecting the operational position of a downhole moveable device. In one example, an electric or magnetic field is emitted into the wellbore and interacts with the moveable assembly, thereby producing a secondary electric or magnetic field. The secondary field is detected by a fiber optic sensor which produces a corresponding response signal. The response signal is then processed in a variety of ways to determine the operational position of the moveable device. In another example, the operational position is determined using fiber optic temperature or acoustic sensors. A temperature or acoustic vibration reading is acquired before and after actuation of the moveable device. The two readings are then compared to determine the operation position of the moveable device.

Fiber optic sensors are described for detecting the operational position of a downhole moveable device. In one example, an electric or magnetic field is emitted into the wellbore and interacts with the moveable assembly, thereby producing a secondary electric or magnetic field. The secondary field is detected by a fiber optic sensor which produces a corresponding response signal. The response signal is then processed in a variety of ways to determine the operational position of the moveable device. In another example, the operational position is determined using fiber optic temperature or acoustic sensors. A temperature or acoustic vibration reading is acquired before and after actuation of the moveable device. The two readings are then compared to determine the operation position of the moveable device.

A method of identifying events within a wellbore comprises obtaining a first set of measurements of a first signal within a wellbore, identifying one or more events within the wellbore using the first set of measurements, obtaining a second set of measurements of a second signal within the wellbore, wherein the first signal and the second signal represent different physical measurements, training one or more event models using the second set of measurements and the identification of the one or more events as inputs, and using the one or more event models to identify at least one additional event within the wellbore.

A method to produce in-situ steam comprising the steps of producing a laser beam in a steam generator segment positioned in a wellbore in a formation; introducing the laser beam to an activated carbon container, where the activated carbon container comprises activated carbon; increasing a temperature of the activated carbon with the laser beam to produce a hot activated carbon; introducing water to the activated carbon container through a water supply line; producing steam in the activated carbon container when the water contacts the hot activated carbon; increasing pressure in the activated carbon container as steam is produced until a pressure set point of an inter-container valve is reached; releasing steam through the inter-container valve to a steam container; increasing a pressure in the steam container until a release set point of one or more release valves is reached; and releasing steam through the release valve to the formation.

A DAS VSP technique is used to determine the induced fracture height and fracture density of an induced fracture region. The DAS VSP technique obtains pre-hydraulic fracturing DAS VSP survey time-lapse data to establish a baseline reference for the direct acoustic wave travel time. The DAS VSP technique obtains one or more time-lapse data corresponding to the subsequent monitor surveys conducted after each hydraulic fracturing stage along the well. Forward modeling is used to determine a theoretical acoustic wave travel time difference. The forward modeling uses seismic anisotropy to describe the behavior of seismic waves traveling through the induced fracture regions. An inversion scheme is then used to invert for the induced fracture height and the fracture density using the forward modeling. The two extracted induced fracture characteristics may then be used to determine optimal hydraulic fracturing parameters.

Systems and methods for harvesting geothermal energy use temperature-based flow control to optimize the extraction of thermal energy from a geothermal reservoir. In one example, a thermal transport fluid is flowed into a wellbore traversing a thermal reservoir of a formation. Flow of the thermal transport fluid into and out of the thermal reservoir is dynamically controlled at each of a plurality of injection and/or return locations in response to a downhole parameter such as temperature. For example, flow may be controlled so that the flow into the thermal reservoir is greater at the injection locations where the temperature is hotter and that the flow out of the thermal reservoir is greater at the return locations where the temperature is hotter. The thermal transport fluid produced from the return locations is then conveyed to surface to extra the thermal energy.

A system can calculate estimated strain data for a fracture in a geological formation at each of a plurality of selected locations detectable by a strain measurement device. The system can receive real strain data from the strain measurement device for the geological formation. The system can perform an inversion to determine a probable distribution of fluid volume and hydraulic fracture orientation in the geological formation based on the estimated strain data and real strain data. The system can determine adjustments for a fracturing operation based on the inversion.

A distributed acoustic system may comprise an interrogator which includes a single photon detector, an umbilical line comprising a first fiber optic cable and a second fiber optic cable attached at one end to the interrogator, and a downhole fiber attached to the umbilical line at the end opposite the interrogator. A method for optimizing a sampling frequency may comprise identifying a length of a fiber optic cable connected to an interrogator, identifying one or more regions on the fiber optic cable in which a backscatter is received, and optimizing a sampling frequency of a distributed acoustic system by identifying a minimum time interval that is between an emission of a light pulse such that at no point in time the backscatter arrives back at the interrogator that corresponds to more than one spatial location along a sensing portion of the fiber optic cable.