Downhole Gyroscopic Surveying With Cross-Axial Motion Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gyroscopic surveying measurements in wellbores are compromised by tool motion and magnetic interference, particularly in offshore operations, making accurate gyrocompass measurements challenging, especially in low inclinations and near vertical wells.

Innovation Solution

Compensate cross-axial gyroscope measurements by combining them with cross-axial accelerometer measurements to remove tool motion-induced rotational components, using a method that includes making and evaluating these measurements to correct for tool motion, particularly in orthogonal axes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the gyroscopic surveying tool remains perfectly stationary with respect to the Earth, then the gyroscopic measurements are accurate and not susceptible to magnetic interference, but downhole tools are seldom perfectly stationary in the wellbore due to sea motion and other factors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegyroscopic measurement accuracyVSAvoidtool stationarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses accelerometers to continuously monitor tool motion and feeds this information back to compute compensation values that are applied to the gyroscopic measurements, creating a closed-loop system that actively corrects for tool motion effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Accelerometers serve as intermediary sensors that detect tool motion and enable the computation of rotational components that affect gyroscope measurements, acting as a mediator between the tool motion and the gyroscopic measurement system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If gyroscopic measurements are made in offshore operations with tool motion, then surveying can be conducted in dynamic conditions, but the measurements are compromised by tool motion and magnetic interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to operate in dynamic conditionsVSAvoidgyrocompass measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors tool motion via accelerometers and dynamically compensates gyroscopic measurements in real-time, enabling accurate measurements despite offshore platform motion and wave-induced tool movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of tool motion into useful information by using accelerometers to detect motion patterns and compute rotational components, transforming the problem of tool motion into a solvable calculation that improves measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Measurement precision

If cross-axial rotational components are not compensated, then the measurement process is simple, but accurate gyroscopic toolface and azimuth measurements cannot be obtained in low inclination wells

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegyroscopic toolface and azimuth accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system computes cross-axial rotational components from accelerometer data and feeds this compensation back to correct the gyroscopic measurements, enabling accurate toolface and azimuth determination in low inclination wells where such compensation is critical

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary computation of rotational components from accelerometer measurements before applying compensation to the gyroscopic data, preparing correction values in advance to ensure accurate final measurements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate gyroscopic toolface and azimuth measurements in dynamic conditions, improving measurement accuracy and timeliness in near vertical and horizontal wells by compensating for tool motion.

Implementation Method 1

Gyroscopes are commonly utilized in wellbore surveying operations. Gyroscopic surveying measurements may be used to measure wellbore azimuth with respect to true north

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGyroscope: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 2

making accelerometer measurements including cross-axial accelerometer measurements in the subterranean wellbore; evaluating the cross-axial accelerometer measurements to determine at least one tool motion induced cross-axial rotational component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS12473817B2Downhole gyroscopic surveying measurements under dynamic conditions

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A method for making downhole gyroscopic surveying measurements includes making at least one cross-axial gyroscope measurement in the subterranean wellbore; making accelerometer measurements including cross-axial accelerometer measurements in the subterranean wellbore; evaluating the cross-axial accelerometer measurements to determine at least one tool motion induced cross-axial rotational component; and removing the tool motion induced cross-axial rotational component from the at least one cross-axial gyroscope measurement to determine a compensated cross-axial gyroscope measurement.