Making the Most of

Borehole Surveying
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary

This Presentation Covers ...

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Why survey
Coordinate Systems
North References
Survey Tools
Error Models
Correction Techniques
Common Pitfalls

Section 1
Why Survey ?
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary

Dont be in the wrong place

at the wrong time !!

Why do we survey at all ?

Ensure

a safe well path to the target

Ensure you hit the target
Ensure you dont hit another well
Provide good log positions to G&G
Provide good reserves estimates
Report data to the regulators
Conduct forensics investigations afterwards
Prepared for relief well if necessary

Business Case ?
A
A
A
A
A
A
A

shorter gyro run

proximity shut in
plug back sidetrack
dry well or Dead Zone
deep landing
minor collision blowout
major collision blowout

$10,000 +
$100,000 +
$1 million +
$10 million +
$100 million +
$1 billion +
$10 billion +

Poor Surveying costs Production

Poor Surveying costs Production

Poor Surveying costs Production

10% production
lost but we saved
the cost of a gyro !

How serious is a blowout ?

Blow out with no fire

Very High Pressures

Add Fire and we have disaster

Low probability High Impact

In Summary

Saving money
on surveying is a high
stakes gamble which,
if lost, will make you
famous

Section 2
Coordinate Systems
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary

Mapping the World

Any Projection distorts the World

Gerardus Mercator 1512

Project from the centre of the Earth

Mercator Projection

Greenland is actually only 10% of

the size of Africa

The Equator

The Centre of the World

The Centre of the World

The Worlds Time Zones

UTM Zones

UTM Zones

Section 3
North Reference
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary

The World

The Greenwich Meridian

The Equator

Latitude & Longitude

Transverse Mercator

Transverse Mercator

For Any Point on the Earths Surface

True North is towards the North Pole

If a TM cylinder is wrapped at another

longitude, Map North follows the
cylinder

So unless youre at the centreline of

the map, True and Grid DONT line up

The True Direction of Grid North is

called the CONVERGENCE

Universal Transverse Mercator

Grid Convergence

Grid Convergence

The True Direction of Magnetic North

is called the DECLINATION

With three Norths it is easy to get

confused

MWD measures from Magnetic North

Gyros usually measure from True

But most surveys are finally reported

in Grid

For Example if Declination was -6 degs

and Convergence was +2 degs

Section 4
Survey Tools
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary

MWD

MWD

Modern Gravity and Magnetic

Sensors
(1) Accelerometers use gravity field vector (0 degrees inclination reference)
Several designs are available
Single axis
Torquer
Exciter /
pick-offs

Dual axes

permanent
magnet
restoring
coil
pendulous arm
hinge

G
(2) Magnetometers use magnetic field vector (magnetic North reference)

Primary coil

N
S

cores
S

S
Secondary coil

Two identical cores with primary winding around (in

opposite directions). Secondary coil around all.
Primary current produces magnetic field in each core,
equal and opposite so no voltage induced in secondary
winding. When placed in an external magnetic field, an
unbalance occurs and a voltage is produced in the
secondary coil, this is directly proportional to the
external magnetic field.

Photo-Mechanical Multishot

A Magnetic Drop Tool

Compass v Magnetometer
The Compass Measures
Both Inclination and
Direction but is less
accurate and less robust

The Magnetometer has no moving

parts but requires three
orthogonal instruments to
measure the magnetic field.
Accelerometers measure
Inclination from vertical.

Gyroscopic Effects
A

gyro does not want to change the

orientation of the spin axis.

Conventional

Gyros are lined up on a

reference azimuth and remain facing that
way for azimuth measurement down hole.

Gyroscopic Principles
Inertia:
when the spinning portion of
a gyroscope (called a rotor)
is set in motion it will
attempt to keep its axis of
rotation continuously
pointing in the same
direction

Precession:

images 2002 Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc.

when a force is applied to a

spinning rotor, it will
attempt to compensate by
rotating around an axis that
is perpendicular to the
applied force

Conventional Gyro

Gyroscopic Effects
A

gyro forced to torque around its X axis

when spinning around the Y axis will start to
rotate around the Z axis.
This is known as Precession and can be
used to measure rate of change of
orientation against time.
Continuous Gyro surveying integrates rate
of azimuth change against time to measure
its current direction.

Continuous Gyro

Horizontal Earth
Rotation Vector

Vertical Earth
Rotation Vector

Gyro Sensor
Wellbore Direction

North Seeking Gyros

A

North Seeking Gyro is simply a highly

sensitive rate gyro which measures the
earths rotation and senses the direction to
the polar axis.

This

usually takes about 1 2 minutes of

stationary sensing so is often only used in
top hole (up to 15 degrees) after which the
survey is run in continuous mode.

Gyroscopic Tools

Section 5
Error Models
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary

A Normal Distribution

A Normal Distribution

A Normal Distribution

A Normal Distribution

Probability in two dimensions

The full distribution in 3D

Co-variance determines the

orientation

Standard Deviations in 3D
2

SDs in 1D cover 95%

BUT......

2.38

SDs in 3D cover approx 95%

2.79 SDs in 3D cover approx 98.5%

The Magic Formula

The Magic Formula

The Magic Formula

The Magic Formula

Building a detailed error model

Find

all error sources affecting Md, Inc & Az

Find 1 sd values for each coefficient
Work out affects on Md,inc and az
Decide whether Random or Systematic
Covert to errors in North, East & Vertical
Build a Co Variance Matrix
Work out Ellipse dimensions and orientation

SPE Paper # 67616 by Hugh Williamson of BP.

Accuracy Prediction for Directional Measurement While Drilling

Processes

& procedures are followed

Tools are properly calibrated
Survey intervals no greater than 100 ft
Non-magnetic spacing as recommended
Individual surveys pass QC checks

Propagation of Errors
The model recognises 4 modes of error propagation:
Random

next

uncorrelated from one measurement to the

Systematic

correlated from one measurement to the

next within one single tool run

Well-by-well

correlated from one measurement to

the next within an entire well

Global

always correlated, including well to well

The ISCWSA MWD Model

Convert Observation Error to Position

Error

Effect of Inclination Error

Azimuth Error only affects horizontal

position

Building the Covariance

For

systematic errors

dN = dN1 + dN2 + dN3 ......

For

random errors

dN = sqrt(dN1^2 + dN2^2 + dN3^2 ...)

For

each error source

Add up all effects in a survey station

Add up all survey stations in a leg
Add up all legs in a survey

The Co-Variance Matrix

In the North East Vertical Reference

there may be covariances

Imagine a different set of orthogonal

axes that dont see any covariances

Rotate to a new Covariance

Matrix

Covariances are zero

The viewing vectors are Eigen Vectors

The ellipse dimensions are Eigen Values

Collision Risk

High Collision Risk

Section 6
Correction Techniques
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary

Major Corrections
Depth Correction

There are many sources of error affecting both drill pipe and wireline
length downhole but depth correction will usually address the
mechanical and thermal stretch. These account for the major depth
errors and can be as much as 0.2%

Sag Correction

This is an inclination correction to allow for the natural bending of the

BHA under its own weight. It increases with inclination and can be 0.5
degrees or more.

IFR Correction

This usually refers to the local correction of magnetic declination and is

derived from an In-Field Referencing survey of the oilfield. This can be
up to 1 degree in places

Magnetic Interference

This applies to azimuth only and corrects for the magnetic influence of
the BHA itself. It is particularly important when using short non-mag
collars.

5 Sources of Depth Error

Mechanical

Stretch
Survey Resolution
Tool Misalignment
Temperature Effects
BHA Deflection (Sag)

Mechanical Stretch

Survey Resolution

Normal Minimum Curvature

Tool Misalignment

Temperature Effects
Steel

will stretch by

1.3m / 1000 / 100 degs C

Sag Correction

IFR Correction

The Earths Magnetic Vector

A Powerful Force but subject to three Variations

1. Secular Variation
Long slow changes in the earths magnetic core.
Typical Size: Fractions of a deg/year
Cured By: BGGM or HDGM magnetic model

2. Diurnal Variation
Rapid daily variations caused by solar wind and earth rotation.
Typical Size: 0.2 degs (Randomized)
Cured By: Interpolated In Field Referencing (IIFR)

3. Crustal Variation
Permanent local effects caused by deep, magnetic basement rock
Typical Size: 1 degree
Cured By: In Field Referencing (described later) IFR

Declination is on the Move

Rapidly in Geological Time !

Diurnal Variation

Crustal Variation

Crustal Variation

Interactive IFR Map

Magnetic Interference

The interference created by the collars in the BHA can

influence the observed by several degrees.

Short Collar solutions only use the X and Y mags to

calculate the azimuth
Multi Station Analysis uses the fact that as the BHA
changes toolface and attitude, the background magnetic
field is unchanged but interference components rotate
with the BHA. We can therefore back out the
interference components over several survey stations

Summary
Reducing

error is nearly always possible

Sag is usually the biggest benefit in Vertical
IFR is usually the biggest benefit in Horizontal
Short Collar should only be used with caution
MSA is only reliable in an accurate mag field
SC and MSA do not work well when Bz small
For high accuracy work nothing beats gyros

Section 7
Common Pitfalls
Prof Angus Jamieson
University of the Highlands and Islands
Video presentation available at
www.uhi.ac.uk/surveying-summary

Top 10 List of what can go wrong

Units and conversion factors
TVD Referencing
Failure to use sag correction
Uncertain Connection to Map
Misapplied Convergence
Old Declination Values
Bad Computer Data Unchallenged
Use of GPS on wrong Datum
Not Enough Surveys
Home made software

Conclusion

If we dont get the message

out that wellbore positioning
is worth spending money on,
we will continue to waste
reserves and occasionally risk
lives.