Continuous measurement-while-drilling surveying
First Claim
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1. A method of continuous measurement-while-drilling (“
- MWD”
) surveying the progress of a bottom hole assembly (“
BHA”
) having a tool-spin axis, an azimuth angle and a tool face angle, said method comprising the steps of;
(a) providing a toroidal fiber-optic gyroscope within the BHA, wherein said gyroscope is oriented horizontally when the BHA is oriented vertically and defines a central passage for the flow of drilling fluid; and
(b) monitoring the rotation of the BHA about the tool-spin axis with the gyroscope.
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Abstract
A continuous measurement-while-drilling surveying apparatus includes a fiber optic gyroscope sensitive to rotation about the tool spin axis of the bottom hole assembly and a second fiber optic gyroscope sensitive to rotation of the bottom hole assembly about an axis normal to the tool spin axis. The first gyroscope may be shaped as a torus to accommodate flow of drilling mud through the bottom hole assembly. The outputs of the first and second gyroscopes are processed together with acceleration signals from three accelerometers in a microprocessor which determines the orientation, velocity and position of the bottom hole assembly on a continuous basis.
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11 Claims
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1. A method of continuous measurement-while-drilling (“
- MWD”
) surveying the progress of a bottom hole assembly (“
BHA”
) having a tool-spin axis, an azimuth angle and a tool face angle, said method comprising the steps of;(a) providing a toroidal fiber-optic gyroscope within the BHA, wherein said gyroscope is oriented horizontally when the BHA is oriented vertically and defines a central passage for the flow of drilling fluid; and
(b) monitoring the rotation of the BHA about the tool-spin axis with the gyroscope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- MWD”
Specification