Gyroscopic steering tool using only a two-axis rate gyroscope and deriving the missing third axis

• US 7,813,878 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Riggs, Randell, Bynum, Jonathan R., Epplin, David M., Estes, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feliciano; Eliseo Ramos
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suglo; Janet L
• Application Number:
  US11/734,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20070175055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 702/6, 702/11, 702/94, 702/99
• US Class Current: 702/6
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/022 of the borehole, e.g. using geomagnetism
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/00 Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects

Abstract

A two-axis gyroscope used on a bottom hole assembly can be used for determining a rate of rotation about the rotational axis of a BHA. The method takes advantage of possible misalignment of at least one axis of the two axis gyroscope from orthogonality with respect to the rotational axis of the BHA, resulting in the misaligned gyro being sensitive to BHA rotation.

Claims

1. A method of compensating measurements made by a downhole survey instrument, the method comprising:

(a) making measurements with the downhole survey instrument at a plurality of rotational positions;

(b) using a processor to;

(i) apply first correction to said measurements using a thermal model to give a first set of corrected measurements;

(ii) fit a sinusoidal function of angular position to said first set of corrected measurements;

(iii) fit a polynomial function of temperature to a residual remaining after said sinusoidal fitting; and

(iv) determine a corrected bias for said measurements made by the downhole gyroscope using results of said polynomial fitting.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said survey instrument comprises a gyroscope.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said survey instrument comprises an accelerometer.

4. A system for making downhole survey measurements, the system comprising:

(a) a downhole survey instrument configured to make survey measurements at a plurality of rotational positions, and

b) a processor configured to;

(i) apply a first correction to said measurements using a laboratory-derived thermal model to give a first set of corrected measurements,

(ii) fit a sinusoidal function of angular position to said first set of corrected measurements,

(iii) fit a polynomial function of temperature to a residual remaining after said sinusoidal fitting; and

(iv) determine determines a corrected bias for said measurements made by the downhole gyroscope using results of said polynomial fitting.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said survey instrument comprises a gyroscope.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said survey instrument comprises an accelerometer.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said survey instrument is conveyed downhole on one of (A) a wireline, and, (B) a drilling tubular.