Patent · US Expired

Drill steering in high magnetic interference areas

US4909336A · kind A · utility

71Cited by
29References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 29, 1988
Grant dateMar 20, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 29, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B47/022
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method for steering the direction of drilling for oil, gas, or other boreholes drilled in locations such that the level of magnetic interference from nearby magnetic materials or fields is so large that conventional methods using magnetic compass steering tools cannot meet required accuracies. The method is based upon using gyroscope-based survey tools having an inertial angular rate sensor with one or more axes of rate sensitivity and an inertial acceleration or tilt sensor with one or more axes of sensitivity to perform both the normal survey purpose for such tools and the steering function during drilling. The method includes the measurement of initial azimuthal direction, tilt angle, gyro tool face and high side tool face at the beginning of the borehole and the continuous measurement of one or more of these quantities as drilling progresses.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.