Subsurface Deployment for Monitoring Along a Borehole

Abstract

A technique facilitates deployment of a communication line in a borehole, e.g. a wellbore, to enable monitoring of parameters along the borehole. A communication line is coupled with an anchor and conveyed into the borehole from a surface location. The anchor is then released at a desired location along the borehole with the communication line. The communication line is deployed from the anchor so as to extend along the borehole until reaching a desired uphole location, e.g. a location proximate the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method enabling monitoring of a well, comprising:
 deploying an optical fiber downhole with a conveyance into a wellbore to a desired location;   anchoring the optical fiber at the desired location; and   retracting the conveyance from the wellbore while deploying the optical fiber along the wellbore from the desired location.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein deploying comprises deploying the optical fiber with a tractor. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein anchoring comprises deploying an anchor coupled to the optical fiber at the desired location and wherein retracting comprises deploying the optical fiber from a spool coupled to the anchor. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein retracting comprises deploying the optical fiber with a flat tape which is folded over the optical fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein retracting comprises deploying the optical fiber with a flat tape formed of a metallic material. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising forming the flat tape of metallic material to enclose the optical fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein forming comprises enclosing the optical fiber as the tractor is retracted. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein retracting comprises deploying the optical fiber while in a protective tube. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising routing the optical fiber through a wellhead. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising obtaining data on conditions downhole in the wellbore via the optical fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising securing the optical fiber along a casing. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 coupling a communication line with an anchor;   conveying the communication line and the anchor into a borehole extending downhole from a surface;   releasing the anchor at a desired location along the borehole; and   deploying the communication line from the anchor to an uphole location proximate the surface.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising forming the communication line with optical fiber, and moving the optical fiber and the anchor downhole via a tractor. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein deploying comprises releasing the optical fiber along the borehole by retracting the tractor. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein deploying comprises unspooling the optical fiber from a spool while retracting the tractor. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising enclosing the optical fiber in a tape as the optical fiber is released along the borehole. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising enclosing the optical fiber in a tube. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising using the communication line to facilitate monitoring of conditions downhole in the wellbore. 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 a tractor sized to move along a borehole;   a tool coupled to the tractor, the tool having a releasable anchor which may be selectively released in the borehole; and   a spool of communication line coupled to the tool, an end of the communication line being coupled so the communication line is deployed as the tractor is moved away from the releasable anchor.   
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the spool is mounted to a portion of the tool which remains coupled to the tractor upon release of the anchor, and wherein the spool of communication line comprises a spool of optical fiber.