ABSTRACT
One of the most important uses of optoelectronics in the oil and gas industry is for oilfield production monitoring, as part of a process to enhance production and yields. Much of this monitoring involves insertion of various sensors into oil wells. The active seismic source for such surveys is normally a towed air gun array. The receiver network can be realized in a number of ways, but the highest performance and most repeatable approach is to use a network of seismic sensors, permanently installed on the seabed above the field. The seabed sensor networks which can act as the acoustic receivers are amongst the largest and most complex sensor systems ever constructed. Multiple sensor packages can be multiplexed onto a smaller number of fibers by extension of these multiplexing techniques. Irrespective of the sensor operating principles and optical multiplexing architecture, mechanical design is a key factor in ensuring a stable and reliable system.
