METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESCALING MEASUREMENTS WHILE DRILLING IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20070235226A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrodata Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gyrodata Incorporated
• Inventors: Wright, Eric, Brosnahan, James, Neubauer, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/45
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022

Abstract

A method of using a survey system comprising at least one sensor. The method comprises operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a first resolution level while the sensor is a first distance relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface and operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a second resolution level while the sensor is a second distance relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface. The second distance is larger than the first distance. The second resolution level is higher than the first resolution level.

Claims

1. A method of using a survey system comprising at least one sensor, the method comprising:

operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a first resolution level while the sensor is a first distance relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface; and

operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a second resolution level while the sensor is a second distance relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface, the second distance larger than the first distance, the second resolution level higher than the first resolution level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the survey system switches between the first resolution level and the second resolution level in response to a signal from the sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the survey system is operated to provide information at the second resolution level when the second distance of the sensor relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface exceeds a first predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the survey system switches between the first resolution level and the second resolution level when the inclination angle of the sensor exceeds a first predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a gyroscopic sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first resolution level has a corresponding range of rotation rate measurements of approximately zero to approximately 3,600 degrees per hour.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second resolution level has a corresponding range of rotation rate measurements of approximately zero to approximately 15 degrees per hour.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second resolution level has a corresponding range of rotation rate measurements of approximately zero to approximately 200 degrees per hour.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a third resolution level while the sensor is a third distance relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface, the third distance larger than the second distance, the third resolution level higher than the second resolution level.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the survey system switches between the second resolution level and the third resolution level in response to a signal from the sensor.

11. A drilling system comprising:

a drilling tool; and

a survey system configured to be operable to provide information regarding the orientation of the drilling tool relative to the Earth at a plurality of resolution levels, the survey system comprising;

at least one sensor within the drilling system, the sensor configured to provide information regarding the orientation of the drilling tool relative to the Earth; and

a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller configured to operate to provide information regarding the orientation of the drilling tool relative to the Earth at a first resolution level when the drilling tool is in a first position or orientation relative to the Earth and to operate to provide information regarding the orientation of the drilling tool relative to the Earth at a second resolution level when the drilling tool is in a second position or direction relative to the Earth, the second resolution level greater than the first resolution level.

12. The drilling system of claim 11, wherein the first position or orientation is either a first distance of the drilling tool relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface or a first inclination angle of the drilling tool relative to the Earth.

13. The drilling system of claim 11, wherein the second position or orientation is either a second distance of the drilling tool relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface or a second inclination angle of the drilling tool relative to the Earth.

14. The drilling system of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a gyroscopic sensor.

15. The drilling system of claim 11, wherein the controller is adapted to receive a signal from the sensor.

16. The drilling system of claim 15, wherein the signal is an acoustic signal.

17. The drilling system of claim 15, wherein the signal is an electrical signal.