Horsham, Pa. – Custom opto-electronic design and production specialist Avo Photonics in collaboration with the Wireline R&D optical sensor group at Weatherford International has successfully designed and validated the performance of a downhole multi-channel photometer. The sensor has now completed several field trials and is being volume manufactured by Avo Photonics for Weatherford commercial deployment.
The Reservoir Fluid Analyzer (RFA) sensor conforms to a 4.5 inch diameter space performing downhole fluid analysis up to five kilometers below the earth’s surface. The sensor design allows the device to perform high-quality photometric analysis while withstanding operating temperatures from -20 to 177°C with total differential pressures up to 30,000 psi.
“Avo’s optical and opto-mechanical design and manufacturing expertise for harsh environment operations and their rapid understanding of the downhole challenges were critical to create a sensor assembly that would work within our existing wireline equipment,” said Dr. Jess V. Ford, Weatherford Senior Staff Scientist.
“Designing and manufacturing an optical fluid analyzer for downhole is challenging, and Weatherford’s extended long wavelength requirements compounded the difficulties of high temperature performance,” said Dr. Thomas Haslett, Avo Photonics Chief Technology Officer. “We created an original design from our unique perspective. The result has been a high-quality, high-fidelity instrument that is continually produced at Avo.”
