Abstract: A method and apparatus for seismic sensing is described. The apparatus includes an outer cable coupled to a formation and an outer fiber component proximate to the outer cable. When seismic P- and S-waves propagate from the formation to the outer cable, strain is placed on the outer fiber cable, which may be measured by a distributed acoustic sensing system coupled to the outer fiber cable. An inner cable positioned within the outer cable includes a corresponding inner fiber component. The innerduct between the outer and inner cables is filled with a gas or fluid which allows only P-waves to propagate to the inner cable. Those P-waves induce strain on the inner fiber component, which may be measured by the distributed acoustic sensing system. By measuring the seismic P- and S-waves at the outer fiber component, and the isolated seismic P-wave at the inner fiber component, it is possible to calculate an isolated seismic S-wave measurement. Methods for deploying the seismic sensing apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A downhole optical sensing system can include an optical fiber positioned in the well, the optical fiber including multiple cores, and one of the cores having a Brillouin scattering coefficient which is different from another one of the cores. A method of sensing strain and temperature as distributed along an optical fiber can include measuring Brillouin scattering in a core of the optical fiber disposed in a well, and measuring Brillouin scattering in another core of the optical fiber disposed in the well, the optical fiber cores being exposed to a same strain and temperature distribution in the well.

Abstract: A downhole optical system can include an optical fiber disposed in a subterranean well, and an optical fiber amplifier which amplifies optical power in a core of the optical fiber in the well, the amplifier being optically pumped with optical power in another core of the optical fiber in the well. Another downhole optical system can include an optical fiber disposed in a subterranean well, the optical fiber comprising multiple cores, and an optical fiber amplifier comprising multiple cores optically coupled respectively to the optical fiber multiple cores in the well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for seismic sensing is described. The apparatus includes an outer cable coupled to a formation and an outer fiber component proximate to the outer cable. When seismic P- and S-waves propagate from the formation to the outer cable, strain is placed on the outer fiber cable, which may be measured by a distributed acoustic sensing system coupled to the outer fiber cable. An inner cable positioned within the outer cable includes a corresponding inner fiber component. The innerduct between the outer and inner cables is filled with a gas or fluid which allows only P-waves to propagate to the inner cable. Those P-waves induce strain on the inner fiber component, which may be measured by the distributed acoustic sensing system. By measuring the seismic P- and S-waves at the outer fiber component, and the isolated seismic P-wave at the inner fiber component, it is possible to calculate an isolated seismic S-wave measurement. Methods for deploying the seismic sensing apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A system for sensing downhole pressure in in a hydrocarbon well using a Fabry-Perot (F-P) sensor in series with a Fiber Bragg Grating and maintaining the back pressure on the sensor system with a surface sealing system and a surface pressure control system.

Abstract: A downhole optical sensing system can include an optical fiber positioned in the well, the optical fiber including multiple cores, and at least one well parameter being sensed in response to light being transmitted via at least one of the multiple cores in the well. The multiple cores can include a single mode core surrounded by a multiple mode core. A method of sensing at least one well parameter in a subterranean well can include transmitting light via at least one of multiple cores of an optical fiber in the well, the at least one of the multiple cores being optically coupled to a sensor in the well, and/or the at least one of the multiple cores comprising a sensor in the well, and determining the at least one well parameter based on the transmitted light.

Abstract: A downhole optical system can include an optical fiber disposed in a subterranean well, and an optical fiber amplifier which amplifies optical power in a core of the optical fiber in the well, the amplifier being optically pumped with optical power in another core of the optical fiber in the well. Another downhole optical system can include an optical fiber disposed in a subterranean well, the optical fiber comprising multiple cores, and an optical fiber amplifier comprising multiple cores optically coupled respectively to the optical fiber multiple cores in the well.

Abstract: A downhole optical sensing system can include an optical fiber positioned in the well, the optical fiber including multiple cores, and one of the cores having a Brillouin scattering coefficient which is different from another one of the cores. A method of sensing strain and temperature as distributed along an optical fiber can include measuring Brillouin scattering in a core of the optical fiber disposed in a well, and measuring Brillouin scattering in another core of the optical fiber disposed in the well, the optical fiber cores being exposed to a same strain and temperature distribution in the well.