Distributed Acoustic Sensing as a Distributed Hydraulic Sensor in Fractured Bedrock

Becker, M. W.; Coleman, T. I.; Ciervo, C. C.

doi:10.1029/2020wr028140

Distributed Acoustic Sensing as a Distributed Hydraulic Sensor in Fractured Bedrock

Journal Article · Fri Aug 14 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Water Resources Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2020wr028140· OSTI ID:1799240

^[1]; ^[2]; Ciervo, C. C. ^[3]

California State Univ. (CalState), Long Beach, CA (United States); University of California, Long Beach
Silixa, LLC, Missoula, MT (United States)
California State Univ. (CalState), Long Beach, CA (United States)

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) was originally intended to measure oscillatory strain at frequencies of 1 Hz or more on a fiber optic cable. Recently, measurements at much lower frequencies have opened the possibility of using DAS as a dynamic strain sensor in boreholes. A fiber optic cable mechanically coupled to a geologic formation will strain in response to hydraulic stresses in pores and fractures. A DAS interrogator can measure dynamic strain in the borehole, which can be related to fluid pressure through the mechanical compliance properties of the formation. Because DAS makes distributed measurements, it is capable of both locating hydraulically active features and quantifying the fluid pressure in the formation. We present field experiments in which a fiber optic cable was mechanically coupled to two crystalline rock boreholes. The formation was stressed hydraulically at another well using alternating injection and pumping. The DAS instrument measured oscillating strain at the location of a fracture zone known to be hydraulically active. Rock displacements of less than 1 nm were measured. Laboratory experiments confirm that displacement is measured correctly. These results suggest that fiber optic cable embedded in geologic formations may be used to map hydraulic connections in three-dimensional fracture networks. A great advantage of this approach is that strain, an indirect measure of hydraulic stress, can be measured without beforehand knowledge of flowing fractures that intersect boreholes. The technology has obvious applications in water resources, geothermal energy, CO₂ sequestration, and remediation of groundwater in fractured bedrock.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: California State University (CalState), Long Beach, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0006763

OSTI ID:: 1799240

Journal Information:: Water Resources Research, Journal Name: Water Resources Research Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 56; ISSN 0043-1397

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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