Geometrical Steering

Like a driver steers the car, the directional driller

steers the well to its final destination. Involves using
only survey and toolface data to adjust theposition
of the well bore.

During kick off stage in the drilling of directional well

survey is necessary to ensure the well path is
following the intended trajectory.

If not the bent sub has to be re-oriented to bring the

deviated well bore on track.
- The well bore is surveyed continuously while being
drilled with mud motor by running an instrument in
the BHA.
- These surveying tools are known as Steering
tools.

Steering tool - MWD

- The sensors used in steering tools and MWD

tools are solid state electronic devices known
as magnetometer and accelerometer which
responds to the earths magnetic field and
gravitational field respectively.
Since the magnetometer reading is affected
by steel collars/drill pipe the devices are
seated inside non-magnetic drill collars.
- Gives real time survey for directional
control: wellbore geometry (inclination,
azimuth), drilling system orientation (tool
face),

Magnetometer

Magnetometer is an instrument used for

determining the strength and direction of the
magnetic field in the vicinity of the instrument.

Magnetometers are sensitive to the earths

magnetic field; each magnetometer has two
primary coils and a pick up secondary coil
surrounds the primary coils.

An alternating current passes through the two primary coils; symmetrical voltage pulses are then
generated in the secondary coil each time the AC current changes direction. However, if an
external magnetic field exists, it can distort the voltage pulses in the secondary coil. The
magnetometer reacts by supplying a buckling current through the second coil to drive the voltage
pulses back to their symmetric state. The magnitude of the buckling current is proportional to the
earths magnetic field strength and aligned to the axis of the magnetometers.

Fluxgate Magnetometer

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Accelerometer

They are used to measure the earths local

gravitational field.

Each accelerometer consists of a magnetic

mass (pendulum) suspended in an
electromagnetic field. Gravity deflects the
mass from its null position.
Sufficientcurrent is applied to the sensor
to return the mass to the null position. This
current is directly proportional to the
gravitational force acting on the mass. The
gravitational readings are used to calculate
the hole inclination, toolface, and the
vertical reference used to determine dip
angle.

Basics : Inclination

Inclination is the angle between a

vertical line and the path of the
well bore at that point.

An inclination of 0 is a vertical
hole and 90is a horizontal hole.

Earths Magnetic Field

Electrically charged molten magma flowing around a solid iron core.

The earths field is similar to the field generated around a very large bar magnet as
if it were located at the center of the earth.

The lines of magnetic flux are drawn exiting

from the north end of the bar magnet, looping
around the earth, and entering at the south end
of the magnet.

The north end of the bar magnet points towards

the earths Magnetic South Pole (Antarctic) and the
South end of the bar magnet points towards the
earths Magnetic North Pole (Arctic).

Magnetic Declination

Magnetic Declination: Magnetic north and true

north do not coincide. The divergence between
true north and magnetic north is different for
most points on the earths surface, and in
addition to this the magnetic north pole changes
its position very slightly each year.

The angle in degrees between true and magnetic

north is called the declination angle.

West Declination is always Subtracted and East

Declination is always Added. i.e.,

TRUE NORTH = MAGNETIC NORTH

(DECLINATION)