Abstract This work explores the application of optical fiber-based sensing technologies to monitor and characterize sustained annular pressure behavior in wellbores. Identifying and mitigating this sustained pressure in annuli is critical to maintaining pressure control, protecting the environment, and ensuring long-term well reliability and operational efficiency. This approach utilizes the use of distributed temperature sensing (DTS) alongside the new generations of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) systems. This combination is used to monitor well integrity breaches and diagnose the source of sustained annulus pressure. Hybrid wireline Fiber optic cables are deployed into wells up to the maximum reachable depth to collect real-time data that are further processed to diagnose the exact source of sustained annulus pressure (SAP) and track the effluent to its source. Identifying the specific depths and the sources responsible is critical so an efficient workover plan can be made to mitigate and bring the well back under production. Based on this detailed diagnosis, targeted mitigation strategies can be developed, including focused workover operations tailored to the diagnosis. Well planned workover activities executed with precision can eliminate the root causes of pressure buildup. The use of optical fiber-based sensing significantly enhances the ability to detect and analyze complex pressure behavior that might otherwise go unnoticed with conventional monitoring tools. Real-time DAS data allow for the identification of localized acoustic anomalies related to fluid movement. Simultaneously, DTS enables the visualization of temperature gradients that reflect dynamic thermal behavior linked to flow. The fusion of these datasets provides a complete diagnostic picture, allowing for pattern recognition across different depths and time intervals. With preplanned well manipulation tailored for each objective this innovative technology supports real time data visualization and comprehensive coverage, enabling us to understand evolving downhole conditions relating to fluid dynamics downhole. Data acquisition time using fiber optic sensing is substantially shorter than conventional methods thus improving overall efficiency. Statistically saving over 70% of the rig time consumed during conventional stations-based survey. This distributed sensing approach establishes a new standard for proactive annular pressure characterization by combining high-resolution data capture with scalable deployment and advanced interpretation workflows This demonstrates the innovative use of fiber optic technology as a reliable diagnostic tool for source of sustained annulus pressure identification. The integration of DTS and DAS systems provided unprecedented accuracy in identifying pressure sources, facilitating targeted and efficient remediation. This approach represents a significant advancement in well integrity management, offering a new standard for diagnosing and resolving SAP.
Alatigue et al. (Mon,) studied this question.