BUOG Elective Course , 2nd Semester

OIL & GAS ENGINEERING

D E PA R T M E N T

Survey Tools
Prepared by :
Najah Saeed Abdulridha BUOG
www.buog.edu.iq
N. SAEED@B UOG.EDU.I Q
Objectives
At the end of this module you should be able to
▪ Classify different types of surveying instruments
▪ Provide the benefits of current technologies over the past
▪ Name two main types of the directional tools and explain their difference
▪ Be able to advise on the reference system used by the tools and convert the
azimuth into the reference used by the client
WHAT IS A SURVEY?
◼ A survey (or Directional Survey):
▪ 3D measurement taken at a given depth and point
▪ Provides information on borehole direction
▪ Survey Depth, Inclination, Azimuth
◼ With a known starting point, a survey allows for plotting
the current borehole location on a wall plot or computer.
What is a Survey?

SURFACE LOCATION DEPTH AZIMUTH INCLINATION

start point measured from a datum aligned to a North ref from vertical

J-67 K-57
I-67
MD = length
G-67 E-57 Of wellbore
A-67 D-57 Along path
M-66
C-67 TVD =
O-66
P-76
P-66
P-56 Vertical depth
Independent
K-66 J-66 Of path

D-66

Existing well
Currently drilling
Surface well location Wellbore
Wellbore trajectories

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 Classification of the Survey Instruments
Surveying Instruments are classified by the following:

✓ Inclination-Only tools - “I record Inclination only”

By what they record ✓ Directional tools - “I record inclination and direction of the well”

✓ Chemical methods
✓ Pendulum methods
By the record method ✓ Electronically created record
✓ While drilling (mud pulse)
 Classification of the Survey Instruments
Surveying Instruments are classified by the following:

•Chemically

1930
– Single-Shot • Punching
By number of surveys • Photographically
– Multi-Shot

Schlumberger-Private
• Electronically

1960
(electronic number vs
manually defined)
By the delivery method – Slickline
– Wireline • Mud pulse telemetry

1980
– Drill Pipe (MWD)
 Surveying Tools

◼ Inclination only
◼ Magnetic (Azimuth reference is Magnetic North)
◼ Gyroscopic (Azimuth reference is True North)

Surveying Tools

AZIMUTH INCLINATION

True North Magnetic North After Drilling While Drilling

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Types of Surveying Tools – Inclination Only

Provides borehole inclination

Used to monitor verticality of well bore – cheaply
Available for “whilst drilling” & “after drilling”
◼ TOTCO → after drilling → punched card-board disc
◼ AnderDrift → whilst drilling → mechanical device sending pressure pulses up
hole
Not very accurate – give a general indication
Inclination and Azimuth Tools
Magnetic Azimuth Tools
MN referenced
◼ Single Shot
– Film disc or electronic
◼ Multi Shot
– Film strip or electronic
◼ MWD tools
– Electronic components
Gyroscopic Azimuth Tools
TN referenced
◼ Free Gyro
◼ Earth Rate Gyro
Why two technologies exists?
Gyroscope tools
◼ Contain gyroscopes
◼ Referenced to True North
– Earth rotation rate = 15.041 x Cos
(Latitude)
– Not affected by magnetic interference
– Fail with shock and vibrations
– Mostly still run after the well is drilled
Both technologies allow an excellent control over the wellbore position when used simultaneously
Magnetic tools
◼ Contain magnetometers
◼ Referenced to Magnetic North
– Changing reference
– Affected by magnetic interference
– Survive in drilling environment
– Provide data in real time
Exercise 6- Which North is yours?

Magnetic North ◼ The MWD survey provided TOOL

azimuth of 270º
◼ Show the direction of the well relative
Our location to True, Grid and Magnetic North.
WHICH SURVEY INSTRUMENT SHOULD I USE?

Magnetic Devices
Gyros
Referenced to Magnetic North
Referenced to True North
Robust
Fragile
Can be used while drilling
Not used while drilling
No extra surveying time
Expensive
Safety concerns
Affected by all sources of magnetism
Not affected by magnetism
Uncertainty in reference system
Perfect reference system
Less accurate than gyros*
More accurate than mag.devices*

* - applied NSG (not GWD) vs MWD/wireline magnetic instruments; between photomechanical devices

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Survey Result
Reader line

Reading the survey film

S35W
The Direction
– Is read by setting the reader line
S
from the center of the compass W

– through the crosshair.

–The direction is the reading crossed
by the reader line.
crosshair

Center of
compass
Survey Result

Reading the survey film

1.75 deg
The Inclination
◼ Is read by counting the number of concentric
rings from one that is marked to the crosshair.

crosshair

1.5 deg
1.25 deg
1 deg
Survey Result
28 deg Right
Reading the survey film
The Toolface
◼ Is read in degrees from the azimuth line.

crosshair
Survey Result

Try to read the survey

Direction = S70E
Inclination = 10.6 ~ 10.5
Survey Problems

The drillstring moved

during illumination or
survey time
Timer setting is too short
Survey Problems
Under Exposure
◼ Timers may come on for too short a time
Monel Survey tool didn’t reach bottom
◼ TOTCO ring not inplaced
◼ Obstruction inside drillstring
◼ High angled wells
Broken Sensor/timers due to very high impact
Busted bulbs or batteries