Temperature Sensor for Oil, Gas and Industrial Production Operations

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Netherlands) announces the release of the DTSX200 distributed temperature sensor (DTS): a distributed temperature sensor for oil/gas and industrial production operations developed by a production control systems manufacturer.

The DTSX200 is designed to monitor temperature and flow in oil/gas upstream unconventional and conventional in-well applications, LNG and refinery tank and pipelines as well as for leak detection, fire detection, and other thermal monitoring applications. This product can be used in extreme temperature environments like the desert and arctic locations, and in both onshore and offshore applications.

The DTSX200 is already being evaluated for use in oil/gas in-well production by Yokogawa’s customers, and more on-site testing is planned. With the DTSX200 distributed temperature sensor, Yokogawa can offer an even more comprehensive set of solutions ranging from temperature monitoring to production control that help improve production operation efficiency.

Development background

The development of unconventional oil/gas resources and enhanced oil recovery technologies has attracted attention as alternatives to oil and gas production. When heavy oil is extracted from oil sands by using steam or some other means, it is necessary to monitor the underground temperature to ensure efficient collection.

To monitor temperature changes in underground formations that contain heavy oil, an optical fibre is fed into a well and the acquired data are used for controlling production. Although Yokogawa previously offered the AQ8920 distributed temperature sensor, this was designed for indoor use and was not suitable for production sites that are typically located in harsh environments. Oil and gas developers need a robust fibre-optic temperature sensor that can withstand harsh environments.

To meet this need, Yokogawa has developed the DTSX200 rugged distributed temperature sensor. In so doing, Yokogawa has applied its optical measurement technologies for the first time in a control application.

Product features

Unlike all other distributed temperature sensors on the market, the DTSX200 is optimised to work smoothly with the production control systems that oil and gas developers use in their operations. The DTSX200 thus helps to improve the efficiency of production processes, from temperature measurement to production control.

With the ability to have stable operation in temperatures ranging from -40°C to +65°C, the DTSX200 is ideal for use in harsh environments. Moreover, with its low power consumption of 16 W or less, it can be easily powered by a solar panel and battery if no other power source is available.

The DTSX200 is just one quarter the size of the AQ8920, and, based on a Yokogawa market survey, is the smallest such product available today. A compact optical switch module for selecting monitoring points (up to 16 channels) is available for rack mounting with the sensor.