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Wellbore inertial directional surveying system

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5629994
; ; ;
A wellbore inertial directional surveying system for providing a complete directional survey of an oil or gas well borehole to determine the displacement in all three directions of the borehole path relative to the well head at the surface. The information generated by the present invention is especially useful when numerous wells are drilled to different geographical targets from a single offshore platform. Accurate knowledge of the path of the borehole allows proper well spacing and provides assurance that target formations are reached. The tool is lowered down into a borehole on an electrical cable. A computer positioned on the surface communicates with the tool via the cable. The tool contains a sensor block which is supported on a single gimbal, the rotation axis of which is aligned with the cylinder axis of the tool and, correspondingly, the borehole. The gyroscope measurement of the sensor block rotation is used in a null-seeking servo loop which essentially prevents rotation of the sensor block about the gimbal axis. Angular rates of the sensor block about axes which are perpendicular to te gimbal axis are measured by gyroscopes in a manner similar to a strapped-down arrangement. Three accelerometers provide acceleration information as the tool is lowered within the borehole. The uphole computer derives position information based upon acceleration information and angular rate information. Kalman estimation techniques are used to compensate for system errors. 25 figures.
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
Assignee:
SNL; ERA-08-053436; EDB-83-174440
Patent Number(s):
None
Application Number:
ON: DE83018102
OSTI ID:
5629994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
440400 -- Well Logging Instrumentation
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
ALGORITHMS
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
COMPUTERS
DESIGN
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
EQUIPMENT
ERRORS
GYROSCOPES
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
ORIENTATION
WELL DRILLING
WELL LOGGING
WELL LOGGING EQUIPMENT
WELL SPACING
WELLS