System and method for deploying optical fiber

Abstract

A technique is provided for utilizing optical fiber in a well environment. A well system is combined with a tube-in-tube system designed to protect one or more internal optical fibers. The tube-in-tube system has an entry at one end and a turn around at an opposite end to enable fluid flow between a flow passage within an inner tube and a flow passage within an annulus between the inner tube and a surrounding outer tube. An optical fiber is deployed in and protected by the tube-in-tube system.

1 . A method, comprising:
 deploying an optical fiber along a tubular for flowing a hydrocarbon based fluid;   positioning the optical fiber within an inner tube;   protecting the inner tube and the optical fiber with an outer tube surrounding the inner tube; and   using a fluid to move the optical fiber through the inner tube.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises providing access to the inner tube at only one end of the inner tube. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein deploying comprises deploying the optical fiber through wellbore hardware with only a single penetration. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises pumping the fluid through the inner tube, through a turn around, and through the outer tube external to the inner tube. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein positioning comprises positioning a plurality of optical fibers in a plurality of inner tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising placing a splice along the inner tube and the outer tube while maintaining pressure integrity along both a flow path within the inner tube and a flow path along the annulus between the inner tube and the outer tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising routing the inner tube and the outer tube through a well head outlet. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a well system;   a tube-in-tube system disposed along the well system, the tube-in-tube system having an entry at one end and a turn around at an opposite end; and   an optical fiber deployed in the tube-in-tube system.   
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the well system comprises a completion system deployed in a wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tube-in-tube system comprises an inner tube within an outer tube, further wherein the optical fiber extends through at least one of the inner tube and the outer tube. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a fluid is circulated between a first flow passage through the inner tube and a second flow passage along an annulus between the inner tube and the outer tube. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tube-in-tube system further comprises a splice. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 placing an inner optical fiber tube within an outer tube to create an inner flow path through the inner tube and an outer flow path between the inner tube and the outer tube;   connecting the inner flow path with the outer flow path;   isolating the inner flow path and the outer flow path from the surrounding environment; and   deploying an optical fiber by circulating a fluid along the inner flow path and the outer flow path.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising retrieving the optical fiber by reversing circulation of the fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein connecting comprises connecting the inner flow path and the outer flow path with a turn around positioned downhole in a wellbore. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising separately routing the inner flow path and the outer flow path through a well head.