Applications of Fiber Optical Sensors in Petroleum Industry

Fiber optic sensor systems have been in the oilfield for a number of years now, however, they have had many shortcomings, including high price points, which have prevented widespread adoption. We can integrate fiber optic sensors into oil and gas companies products and processes and take advantage both technically and economically of the ever more rapid advances in technology. We can design all sorts of fiber optic sensors that cover various sections of petroleum industry operations. Most of researches have been in this part of technology since that is where most of the applications are. However, the other types of sensors have also developed as well. Most of fiber optical sensors have just one or perhaps a few detectors, but some high resolution imaging systems with large detector element arrays have also developed. Some fiber optical sensors are frequently incorporated as components in larger products. They are also used independently in process control and other types of applications in petroleum industry. This paper describes various aspects of fiber optic sensors and their applications, and addresses their role in petroleum industry.