Making the Most of
Borehole Surveying
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary
This Presentation Covers ...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Why survey
Coordinate Systems
North References
Survey Tools
Error Models
Correction Techniques
Common Pitfalls
Section 1
Why Survey ?
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary
Dont be in the wrong place
at the wrong time !!
Why do we survey at all ?
Ensure
a safe well path to the target
Ensure you hit the target
Ensure you dont hit another well
Provide good log positions to G&G
Provide good reserves estimates
Report data to the regulators
Conduct forensics investigations afterwards
Prepared for relief well if necessary
Business Case ?
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
shorter gyro run
proximity shut in
plug back sidetrack
dry well or Dead Zone
deep landing
minor collision blowout
major collision blowout
$10,000 +
$100,000 +
$1 million +
$10 million +
$100 million +
$1 billion +
$10 billion +
Poor Surveying costs Production
Poor Surveying costs Production
Poor Surveying costs Production
10% production
lost but we saved
the cost of a gyro !
How serious is a blowout ?
Blow out with no fire
Very High Pressures
Add Fire and we have disaster
Low probability High Impact
In Summary
Saving money
on surveying is a high
stakes gamble which,
if lost, will make you
famous
Section 2
Coordinate Systems
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary
Mapping the World
Any Projection distorts the World
Gerardus Mercator 1512
Project from the centre of the Earth
Mercator Projection
Greenland is actually only 10% of
the size of Africa
The Equator
The Centre of the World
The Centre of the World
The Worlds Time Zones
UTM Zones
UTM Zones
Section 3
North Reference
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary
The World
The Greenwich Meridian
The Equator
Latitude & Longitude
Transverse Mercator
Transverse Mercator
For Any Point on the Earths Surface
True North is towards the North Pole
If a TM cylinder is wrapped at another
longitude, Map North follows the
cylinder
So unless youre at the centreline of
the map, True and Grid DONT line up
The True Direction of Grid North is
called the CONVERGENCE
Universal Transverse Mercator
Grid Convergence
Grid Convergence
The True Direction of Magnetic North
is called the DECLINATION
With three Norths it is easy to get
confused
MWD measures from Magnetic North
Gyros usually measure from True
But most surveys are finally reported
in Grid
For Example if Declination was -6 degs
and Convergence was +2 degs
Section 4
Survey Tools
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary
MWD
MWD
Modern Gravity and Magnetic
Sensors
(1) Accelerometers use gravity field vector (0 degrees inclination reference)
Several designs are available
Single axis
Torquer
Exciter /
pick-offs
Dual axes
permanent
magnet
restoring
coil
pendulous arm
hinge
G
(2) Magnetometers use magnetic field vector (magnetic North reference)
Primary coil
N
S
cores
S
S
Secondary coil
Two identical cores with primary winding around (in
opposite directions). Secondary coil around all.
Primary current produces magnetic field in each core,
equal and opposite so no voltage induced in secondary
winding. When placed in an external magnetic field, an
unbalance occurs and a voltage is produced in the
secondary coil, this is directly proportional to the
external magnetic field.
Photo-Mechanical Multishot
A Magnetic Drop Tool
Compass v Magnetometer
The Compass Measures
Both Inclination and
Direction but is less
accurate and less robust
The Magnetometer has no moving
parts but requires three
orthogonal instruments to
measure the magnetic field.
Accelerometers measure
Inclination from vertical.
Gyroscopic Effects
A
gyro does not want to change the
orientation of the spin axis.
Conventional
Gyros are lined up on a
reference azimuth and remain facing that
way for azimuth measurement down hole.
Gyroscopic Principles
Inertia:
when the spinning portion of
a gyroscope (called a rotor)
is set in motion it will
attempt to keep its axis of
rotation continuously
pointing in the same
direction
Precession:
images 2002 Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc.
when a force is applied to a
spinning rotor, it will
attempt to compensate by
rotating around an axis that
is perpendicular to the
applied force
Conventional Gyro
Gyroscopic Effects
A
gyro forced to torque around its X axis
when spinning around the Y axis will start to
rotate around the Z axis.
This is known as Precession and can be
used to measure rate of change of
orientation against time.
Continuous Gyro surveying integrates rate
of azimuth change against time to measure
its current direction.
Continuous Gyro
Horizontal Earth
Rotation Vector
Vertical Earth
Rotation Vector
Gyro Sensor
Wellbore Direction
North Seeking Gyros
A
North Seeking Gyro is simply a highly
sensitive rate gyro which measures the
earths rotation and senses the direction to
the polar axis.
This
usually takes about 1 2 minutes of
stationary sensing so is often only used in
top hole (up to 15 degrees) after which the
survey is run in continuous mode.
Gyroscopic Tools
Section 5
Error Models
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary
A Normal Distribution
A Normal Distribution
A Normal Distribution
A Normal Distribution
Probability in two dimensions
The full distribution in 3D
Co-variance determines the
orientation
Standard Deviations in 3D
2
SDs in 1D cover 95%
BUT......
2.38
SDs in 3D cover approx 95%
2.79 SDs in 3D cover approx 98.5%
The Magic Formula
The Magic Formula
The Magic Formula
The Magic Formula
Building a detailed error model
Find
all error sources affecting Md, Inc & Az
Find 1 sd values for each coefficient
Work out affects on Md,inc and az
Decide whether Random or Systematic
Covert to errors in North, East & Vertical
Build a Co Variance Matrix
Work out Ellipse dimensions and orientation
SPE Paper # 67616 by Hugh Williamson of BP.
Accuracy Prediction for Directional Measurement While Drilling
Processes
& procedures are followed
Tools are properly calibrated
Survey intervals no greater than 100 ft
Non-magnetic spacing as recommended
Individual surveys pass QC checks
Propagation of Errors
The model recognises 4 modes of error propagation:
Random
next
uncorrelated from one measurement to the
Systematic
correlated from one measurement to the
next within one single tool run
Well-by-well
correlated from one measurement to
the next within an entire well
Global
always correlated, including well to well
The ISCWSA MWD Model
Convert Observation Error to Position
Error
Effect of Inclination Error
Azimuth Error only affects horizontal
position
Building the Covariance
For
systematic errors
dN = dN1 + dN2 + dN3 ......
For
random errors
dN = sqrt(dN1^2 + dN2^2 + dN3^2 ...)
For
each error source
Add up all effects in a survey station
Add up all survey stations in a leg
Add up all legs in a survey
The Co-Variance Matrix
In the North East Vertical Reference
there may be covariances
Imagine a different set of orthogonal
axes that dont see any covariances
Rotate to a new Covariance
Matrix
Covariances are zero
The viewing vectors are Eigen Vectors
The ellipse dimensions are Eigen Values
Collision Risk
High Collision Risk
Section 6
Correction Techniques
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary
Major Corrections
Depth Correction
There are many sources of error affecting both drill pipe and wireline
length downhole but depth correction will usually address the
mechanical and thermal stretch. These account for the major depth
errors and can be as much as 0.2%
Sag Correction
This is an inclination correction to allow for the natural bending of the
BHA under its own weight. It increases with inclination and can be 0.5
degrees or more.
IFR Correction
This usually refers to the local correction of magnetic declination and is
derived from an In-Field Referencing survey of the oilfield. This can be
up to 1 degree in places
Magnetic Interference
This applies to azimuth only and corrects for the magnetic influence of
the BHA itself. It is particularly important when using short non-mag
collars.
5 Sources of Depth Error
Mechanical
Stretch
Survey Resolution
Tool Misalignment
Temperature Effects
BHA Deflection (Sag)
Mechanical Stretch
Survey Resolution
Normal Minimum Curvature
Tool Misalignment
Temperature Effects
Steel
will stretch by
1.3m / 1000 / 100 degs C
Sag Correction
IFR Correction
The Earths Magnetic Vector
A Powerful Force but subject to three Variations
1. Secular Variation
Long slow changes in the earths magnetic core.
Typical Size: Fractions of a deg/year
Cured By: BGGM or HDGM magnetic model
2. Diurnal Variation
Rapid daily variations caused by solar wind and earth rotation.
Typical Size: 0.2 degs (Randomized)
Cured By: Interpolated In Field Referencing (IIFR)
3. Crustal Variation
Permanent local effects caused by deep, magnetic basement rock
Typical Size: 1 degree
Cured By: In Field Referencing (described later) IFR
Declination is on the Move
Rapidly in Geological Time !
Diurnal Variation
Crustal Variation
Crustal Variation
Interactive IFR Map
Magnetic Interference
The interference created by the collars in the BHA can
influence the observed by several degrees.
Short Collar solutions only use the X and Y mags to
calculate the azimuth
Multi Station Analysis uses the fact that as the BHA
changes toolface and attitude, the background magnetic
field is unchanged but interference components rotate
with the BHA. We can therefore back out the
interference components over several survey stations
Summary
Reducing
error is nearly always possible
Sag is usually the biggest benefit in Vertical
IFR is usually the biggest benefit in Horizontal
Short Collar should only be used with caution
MSA is only reliable in an accurate mag field
SC and MSA do not work well when Bz small
For high accuracy work nothing beats gyros
Section 7
Common Pitfalls
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary
Top 10 List of what can go wrong
Units and conversion factors
TVD Referencing
Failure to use sag correction
Uncertain Connection to Map
Misapplied Convergence
Old Declination Values
Bad Computer Data Unchallenged
Use of GPS on wrong Datum
Not Enough Surveys
Home made software
Conclusion
If we dont get the message
out that wellbore positioning
is worth spending money on,
we will continue to waste
reserves and occasionally risk
lives.
