Press Release April 2006

FlexIT introduce the new direction in downhole survey toolsGYROSMART Field tests a huge success
Never before has such a revolutionary system been used. The size of the gyro sensors is
remarkably small and to the surprise of the testing team the results shown below out
performed all expectations.
The GyroSmart will completely change the way downhole surveying is carried out
today, providing highly accurate azimuth and dip data from inside the drill string Mike
Ayris, Managing Director Downhole Surveys said.
Not since 1974 when Claes Ericsson first introduced the Fotobor has such a
revolutionary design change in downhole surveying equipment been developed and made
available to the mining and civil engineering industry.
Ericsson has been in the downhole surveying industry manufacturing instruments for 32
years developing a range of leading edge multishot survey instruments that are now in
daily use in exploration, mining and engineering projects around the world.
The GyroSmart uses Imegos MEMS gyro sensor
Claes Ericsson of FlexIT in Sweden has once again created what many thought was
impossible. The GyroSmart downhole survey tool has been designed together with a
development team at Imego AB, which is an independent contract research organization
engaged in sensory systems development.
The GyroSmart uses Imegos highly advanced MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical
System) gyro sensor. This is known to the market as the IBG10, Imegos digital Butterfly
Gyroscope, and is exclusively licensed to FlexIT for borehole surveying.

Photo: Manoo Eibpoosh/Imego

The sensor package is so small it fits on your index finger.

Photo: Manoo Eibpoosh/Imego

GyroSmart: the size of the electronics section.

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Testing the GyroSmart

To prove the functionality of the GyroSmart, two prototype tools were run at a test
facility over two days in Sweden to a depth of 790m in early April 2006. The hole had
been drilled to 800m at a dip angle of -55 degrees with the top 100m of the hole steel
cased ranging in sizes from 300mm to 76mm, thus creating a challenge for any survey
instrument. The GyroSmarts were housed in standard 38mm brass running gear and run
In and Out of the hole at a speed of 20 metres per minute. At each 10 metre survey station
the GyroSmart was held steady for 10 seconds allowing the system to become stationary
before moving to the next station. The total time taken to survey In and Out the 790m
drill hole was 1 hrs.
Unlike other Gyro Systems the GyroSmart requires no surface calibration. The surface
computer and GyroSmart are initialized through blue tooth communication within
seconds. For the purpose of the trial and due to surface freezing conditions the
GyroSmart assembly was placed in the water filled borehole for approximately 10
minutes to stabilize to the in-hole temperature.

Photo: Mike Ayris/Downhole Surveys

The GyroSmart field test team at the test hole in Sweden. From left:
Dr James Tweedie, GeoMEM, software developer; Claes Ericsson, Owner of FlexIT, Dr Duncan McLeod,
Imego, Navigation Specialist and Dr Dag Billger, Imego GyroSmart Project leader.

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The results
GyroSmart surveys compared to a known hole produced by SKB from various surveys
from other tools believed to be accurate.

Technical data
Borehole KFM01D
Reference point

Reference level 0.00 m

m
9m m
33 .7 m
=
9
)
/30
ole
eh 23.9
or
3
(b
/i =
o

Soil cover approx. 7.55 m

1
.6
11
m

Gap injection (cement)

0
.4
86
m
4
.4
89

m
m
.0
45 m m
2
0
.
=
e) /200
ol
eh 08.0
or
(b i = 2
mm m
/
0.0 m
o
17 60.0
/
0
1
8.
20 ) =
i = ol e
m
/ eh
m
o (bor
.0
86

=
)
ole
eh
or
(b

m
9
.4
89
m
2
.7
89
m
7
.7
89
m
6
.1
91
8
.4
91

m
m
24
0.
80

(b

mm
5.8
=7
)
e
ol
eh
or

Reference
marks (m):
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
750

Drilling reference point

6699542.07 (m), RT90 2,5 gon V 0:-15
Northing:
1631404.52 (m), RT90 2,5 gon V 0:-15
Easting:
2.95 (m), RHB 70
Elevation:
Orientation
o
35.04
Bearing (degrees):
o
Inclination (degrees): -54.90
Borehole
800.24 m
Length:

Percussion drilling period

Drilling start date: 2005-11-21
Drilling stop date: 2005-12-05
Core drilling period
Drilling start date: 2006-02-04
Drilling stop date: 2006-02-18

Rev 2006-03-01

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Repeatability
From 6 x 790m In and Out runs:
Azimuth
0.39
Inclination
0.26
Accuracy
Data

Azimuth
Inclination
North
East
Elevation

Average data from

Reference Survey
Differences
8x790m surveys In and
Out runs
30.98
31.09
0.11
-45.09
-45.12
0.03
9960.16
9960.29
0.13
1682.41
1682.54
0.13
-605.25
-605.12
0.13

Statistics
The differences between In and Out surveys were used to produce a total of 7 sets of
difference data for both Inclination and Azimuth.
The basic statistics (Mean and Standard Deviation) were calculated for each for data from
0 to 790 metres and from 150 to 790 metres (to lie in the zone of the holes unaffected by
the initial cased section).
The mean of the Standard Deviations for all the Inclinations and the Azimuths were
calculated to show the average variation for these items overall:
Station range
0 - 790 m
150 - 790 m

Inclination Std.Dev.(deg)
0.26
0.14

Azimuth Std.Dev.(deg)
0.39
0.29

This shows:
1) An improvement in data quality if the bad initial section is removed from
the calculations.
2) An average Standard Deviation of 0.14 for Inclination. This is almost at the
level of resolution for the GyroSmart.
3) An average Standard Deviation of 0.29 for Azimuth. Twice the level of
Inclination but still a very low variation between surveys.

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Inclination (Individual surveys against depth):

This plot shows that the GyroSmart inclination data is consistent and repeatable with
different instruments and on different days.
-44

GyroSmart tests: 3rd & 4th April 2006.

INCLINATION plots with depth compared to Reference Survey.
Common orientation data is at 300m.

-45

Inclination (degrees from horizontal)

-46
-47
-48
-49
-50

Inclination
Reference Survey
Run2B_Beta2_IN
Run2B_Beta2_OUT
Run3B_Beta2_IN(Corr)
Run3B_Beta2_OUT(Corr)
Run2C_Beta2_IN
Run2C_Beta2_OUT
Run5C_Beta1_IN
Run5C_Beta1_OUT

-51
-52
-53
-54
-55
-56
-57
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Depth (metres)

Page 5 of 8

800

Azimuth (Individual surveys against depth)

This plot shows slightly more variation than the inclination plot but is still very close to
the Reference survey apart from the bad zone at 0 to 100m.
41

GyroSmart tests: 3rd & 4th April 2006.

AZIMUTH plots with depth compared to Reference Survey.
Common orientation data is at 300m.

40

Azimuth
Run2B_Beta2_IN
Run2B_Beta2_OUT
Run3B_Beta2_IN(Corr)
Run3B_Beta2_OUT(Corr)
Run2C_Beta2_IN
Run2C_Beta2_OUT
Run5C_Beta1_IN
Run5C_Beta1_OUT
Reference Survey

39

Azimuth (Degrees)

38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Depth (metres)

Page 6 of 8

800

GyroSmart Benefits

Gyro survey tool

Operates at all angles
No Conductor cable required
No cable Head
No Slip Rings
Less Rig downtime
Fast survey time
Results available at rig
Rugged MEMS Gyro sensors
Slim Barrel

Independent QA check

Less Capital equipment required

Surveys inside steel rods and open hole

with magnetic zones
3 Gyro sensors provide Azimuth and Dip
data from any hole vertical to horizontal
GyroSmart uses onboard memory and a
rechargeable battery pack
Swivel and D clamps attach cable to top of
GyroSmart
Can operate on any cable type or drill rods
No surface calibration required
Operates at 30m/min with 10 second stops
per user defined survey interval.
Easy post processing using field computer
Sensors rated to 6000g shock level.
The GyroSmarts OD measures just 32mm
And fits into 38mm and 45mm running
gear
3 x magnetometers measure XYZ
providing independent magnetic Azimuth
check (Only useful in non magnetic
environments)
GyroSmart will operate on any cable and
winch fitted with a mechanical or optical
depth encoder. No expensive conductor
cable or cable head required. In most cases
drill rigs wireline will be sufficient

Where to from here

The GyroSmart tests have proven beyond doubt that the system is accurate and functions
well. Further field trials will be completed in Kalgoorlie Western Australia mid May
2006. The next stage is to produce a batch of 50 as the first production run to be
completed end of June 2006
Orders for some 40 GyroSmarts have already been received from around the world.
The GyroSmart will be commercially available from FlexIT help centres located
worldwide by June 2006.

Page 7 of 8

Birgitta and Claes Ericsson proud owner of Flexit during the Launch of the Gyro Smart at
the PDAC in Toronto March 2006.

For further information please Contact:

Flexit AB ( Sweden )
Claes Ericsson
info@flexit.se
www.flexit.se
Ph +46 (0)851430362

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