Apparatus, system and method of a magnetically shielded wellbore gyroscope
First Claim
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1. A magnetically shielded inductive-type MEMS gyroscope package for use in a downhole tool suitable for operation within a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- a housing coupleable with the downhole tool;
a motor within the housing;
a gyroscope body rotatably provided within the housing and coupled to the motor, wherein the gyroscope body comprises an axle that comprises a rotation axis and a hollow body coupled to the axle wherein the axle passes through hollow body axle openings of the hollow body, wherein;
the gyroscope body contains a single gyroscope therein;
the single gyroscope in the gyroscope body is an inductive-type MEMS gyroscope that comprises a casing and an input axis orthogonal to the rotation axis, wherein the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope and casing are mounted to the axle within the hollow body; and
the rotation axis of the gyroscope body is selectively rotatable by the motor in each of x, y, and z directions, such rotation rotating the gyroscope body and thereby changing an orientation of the input axis of the single gyroscope;
a magnetic shield covering a surface of the hollow body around all regions of the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope to magnetically shield the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope; and
a protective material disposed on, covering and mechanically protecting the surface of the magnetic shield.
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Abstract
A gyroscope package, system and method for use in a downhole tool suitable are provided. The gyroscope package, system and method includes a housing coupleable with a downhole tool, a gyroscope body within the housing, and an inductive-type MEMS gyroscope. The MEMS gyroscope includes a magnetic shield disposed around the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope to magnetically shield the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A magnetically shielded inductive-type MEMS gyroscope package for use in a downhole tool suitable for operation within a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:
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a housing coupleable with the downhole tool; a motor within the housing; a gyroscope body rotatably provided within the housing and coupled to the motor, wherein the gyroscope body comprises an axle that comprises a rotation axis and a hollow body coupled to the axle wherein the axle passes through hollow body axle openings of the hollow body, wherein; the gyroscope body contains a single gyroscope therein; the single gyroscope in the gyroscope body is an inductive-type MEMS gyroscope that comprises a casing and an input axis orthogonal to the rotation axis, wherein the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope and casing are mounted to the axle within the hollow body; and the rotation axis of the gyroscope body is selectively rotatable by the motor in each of x, y, and z directions, such rotation rotating the gyroscope body and thereby changing an orientation of the input axis of the single gyroscope; a magnetic shield covering a surface of the hollow body around all regions of the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope to magnetically shield the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope; and a protective material disposed on, covering and mechanically protecting the surface of the magnetic shield. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for providing angular measurement in subterranean oil well drilling and logging environments, comprising:
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a downhole tool positionable within a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the downhole tool comprising a housing; a motor within the housing; a gyroscope body rotatably provided within the housing and coupled to the motor, wherein the gyroscope body comprises an axle that comprises a rotation axis and a hollow body coupled to the axle wherein the axle passes through hollow body axle openings of the hollow body, and wherein; the gyroscope body contains a single gyroscope therein; the single gyroscope in the gyroscope body is an inductive-type MEMS gyroscope that comprises a casing and an input axis orthogonal to the rotation axis, wherein the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope and casing are mounted to the axle within the hollow body; and the rotation axis of the single gyroscope is selectively rotatable by the motor in each of x, y, and z directions, such rotation rotating the gyroscope body and thereby changing an orientation of the input axis of the single gyroscope; a magnetic shield integrally formed with the hollow body to completely envelope the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope with the magnetic shield and magnetically shield the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope; and a protective material disposed on, covering and mechanically protecting the surface of the magnetic shield. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of monitoring angular measurement of a downhole tool, the method comprising:
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securing a single inductive-type MEMS gyroscope within a gyroscope body, wherein the gyroscope body comprises an axle that comprises a rotation axis and a hollow body coupled to the axle wherein the axle passes through hollow body axle openings of the hollow body, the rotation axis being movable relative in x, y, and z directions and the hollow body having a hollow body inner surface and a hollow body outer surface and wherein the single inductive-type MEMS gyroscope comprises a casing and an input axis orthogonal to the rotation axis, wherein the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope and casing are mounted to the axle within the hollow body; providing a downhole tool, the downhole tool having a housing with a housing outer surface and a housing inner surface, and being constructed to hold the gyroscope body therein; positioning a magnetic shield on one or more of the hollow body inner surface or the hollow body outer surface, wherein positioning the magnetic shield includes completely enveloping the inductive-type MEMS gyroscope in the magnetic shield; providing a protective material in the form of a layer or a film on the magnetic shield for mechanically protecting at least part of the magnetic shield; and activating a motor within the housing both to selectively change an orientation of the rotation axis in any of the x, y, and z directions and to rotate the gyroscope body about the rotation axis, and thereby change an orientation of the rotation axis and the input axis within the downhole tool. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification