Mature Asset Rejuvenation by Surveillance (MARS): Maximizing value from aging wells

THE CHALLENGE OF MATURE ASSETS 

Mature oil fields, often decades old, present a host of challenges: declining production rates, increased water cut, aging infrastructure, and most importantly, lack of real-time data needed to uncover the hidden issues. Traditional approaches to field rejuvenation have relied on diagnosing problems with conventional single-point logging methods, periodic well interventions, and scheduled maintenance, which can be inefficient, time-consuming, costly, disruptive, and often reactive, rather than proactive. As the industry seeks to extend the life of aging fields and extract untapped reserves, there is a growing need for smarter, data-driven, integrated asset management strategies. 

AN INTEGRATED SOLUTION TO MATURE ASSET CHALLENGES 

Fig. 1. Distributed fiber optic sensing—enabling high-resolution acoustic and temperature data acquisition along the wellbore—is a foundational element of the MARS system’s integrated diagnostics for mature asset rejuvenation.

Combining advanced diagnostics and rigless intervention, the MARS Mature Asset Rejuvenation by Surveillance System breathes new life into aging wells, reducing costs and downtime while improving efficiency. Harnessing real-time data, advanced analytics, and integrated asset management ensures mature assets remain productive, safe, and environmentally sustainable. 

The MARS system offers an innovative through-tubing and retrievable distributed fiber optic sensing technology, Fig. 1. With the use of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and distributed temperature sensing (DTS)—advanced technologies that convert fiber-optic cables into continuous sensing arrays along the wellbore—the MARS System collects acoustic signals along the entire length of a well, with the option to simultaneously deploy conventional logging sensors alongside optical pressure and temperature sensors within the bottomhole assembly (BHA). 

Traditional diagnostics rely on point-based measurements that offer limited snapshots of well performance, often resulting in incomplete data that fails to capture the full picture of the phenomenon. The MARS system employs distributed sensing, which provides continuous, high-resolution data along the full wellbore, precise identification of problem areas, early detection of issues, and real-time understanding of well dynamics. 

The fiber optic sensing technology can be conveyed, using capillary tubing and coiled tubing. This allows a wide range of options for various well conditions. Capillary tubing, with a slim 0.25-in. cable, can be deployed in less-deviated wells with smaller completions, while coiled tubing is suitable for more complex well trajectories, harsher environments, and wells requiring fluid circulation. 

The MARS system offers a wide range of applications across oil and gas, CCS, and geothermal reservoirs, including well integrity, gas-lift monitoring, production and injection monitoring, vertical seismic profiling (VSP), and hydraulic fracturing. 

Distributed sensing technology can identify and locate a wide range of well issues in aging wells, such as detecting leaks and equipment failures, identifying zones where unwanted water or gas is entering the production stream, pinpointing fluid migration between reservoir layers, and locating obstructions that reduce production efficiency. 

Mature wells often face complex, overlapping problems. With distributed sensing, operators can prioritize interventions and address more critical issues earlier. By providing actionable data in real time, the MARS system gives operators the opportunity to employ targeted rigless interventions, identifying issues and precisely pinpointing where interventions should occur. 

TARGETED, RIGLESS INTERVENTION 

Fig. 2. Capillary tubing unit deployed for chemical injection—enabling precise, rigless well remediation as part of the MARS system’s targeted intervention capabilities.

When issues are identified, the MARS system provides rigless options for remediation, including: 

• Capillary tubing for chemical injection and pressure monitoring—Best suited for continuous well conditioning, scale inhibition, and localized pressure buildup issues, providing targeted chemical treatments and pressure control without requiring a full rig, Fig. 2. 
• Slickline—Ideal for wells with minor obstructions or valve malfunctions, offering a lightweight, cost-effective method for deploying simple mechanical interventions like setting plugs, retrieving valves or gauges. 
• Coiled tubing—Provides greater flexibility and control for more complex operations, such as wellbore cleanouts and acid stimulation, or deploying advanced tools like perforating guns, milling systems, and logging tools. Preferable for severe blockages, high-angle wells, and multi-zone interventions. 

CONCLUSION 

By providing a clear understanding of wellbore conditions, the MARS system gives operators certainty, leading to reduced diagnostic time, lower intervention costs, increased recovery, extended well life, and optimized resource allocation. Continuous monitoring enables predictive maintenance, reducing future disruptions and ensuring sustained revenue growth. 

As digital transformation accelerates in the oil and gas sector, technologies like the MARS system will be a necessity for mature asset management. The integration of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and edge analytics will further enhance the system’s capabilities, enabling even greater automation, insight, and operational agility. 

For operators seeking to maximize the value of their mature fields while meeting the twin demands of profitability and sustainability, embracing advanced surveillance and rejuvenation technologies is essential.