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MWD Introduction PDF
MWD Introduction PDF
Introduction
Andrea Navajas
MWD
Drilling & Measurements
D&M Services
Directional Drilling (DD)
Tools to optimize directional control from kickoff to target
PowerPak Motors
PowerDrive Rotary Steerable System
Measurements While Drilling (MWD)
Mud Pulse Telemetry and Surveying Tools
PowerPulse, IMPulse, SlimPulse, E-Pulse, Gyro-Pulse
Logging While Drilling (LWD)
Provides formation evaluation measurements
Resistivity (arcVISION, geoVISION)
Density Neutron (adnVISION)
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1. Introduction
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• While drilling is taking place, the drilling fluid, or "mud", is pumped
through drillpipe connecting the surface equipment to the bottomhole
assembly (BHA).
• Data from some of the MWD tools is transmitted uphole to the surface
by mud pulse telemetry, while other tools transmit data to the surface
electronically via a wire and are referred to as wireline MWD systems.
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Logging while drilling (LWD) is closely related to MWD. LWD provides
formation measurements, while MWD provides drilling mechanics and survey
measurements.
Both MWD and LWD data are
transmitted in real time to the
surface. However, LWD provides
better resolution than MWD
because the LWD measurements
are commonly stored in
downhole memory. The MWD
measurements have data
transmission limitations, which
hinder the resolution of the
measurement values.
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2. MWD System components
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2.1 MWD Surface System Components
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3. MWD System Component Functions
3.1 Power Supply
Batteries, or downhole
alternators, supply power to the
tools. The batteries allow the
tools to operate without the flow
of mud, but the operating time
and sensor power output is
limited. The alternators need
mud flow to generate their power
and can work in a wide range of
flow rates
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3.2 Measurement
All MWD systems measure the
direction and inclination (D&I) of the
wellbore. The measurements are used
to accurately map the well so the driller
can guide the bit to its ultimate or
intermediate targets, as well as avoid
other wells. The well being drilled may
require specific turn and build rates.
The MWD tool may also have the ability
to make secondary measurements,
such as downhole weight on bit and
annular temperature.
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3.3 Signal Production
The tool’s measuring device
produces data signals that need
to be sent to the surface.
Because the MWD tool is remote
from the driller, it is necessary to
transmit the data by way of a
signal from the tool to the driller.
This must be done in a manner
that maximizes data transmission
and reliability and minimizes the
impact on drilling operations.
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3.4 Transmitting and Telemetry
MWD systems use mud pulse
telemetry to transmit survey data
to the surface. Analog signals
produced by the tool measuring
devices are converted into digital
signals (1 and 0). The digital
signals are then converted into
pressure pulses that carry the
data to the surface through the
column of drilling fluid.
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3.4.1 Mud Pulse Telemetry Downhole
Information is transmitted to the surface through the mud by way of
a data signal created downhole. The surface equipment decodes the
data signals of the measurements so that the driller can make
adjustments. The three common types of signals generated are
positive pulse telemetry, negative pulse telemetry and continuous
wave telemetry.
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Positive Pulse Telemetry
A flow restrictor produces positive pulses as illustrated in the graphic.
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Negative Pulse Telemetry
A diverter valve produces negative pulses as illustrated in the graphic.
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Continuous Wave Telemetry
Rotating plates produce continuous waves as illustrated in the graphic.
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3.4.2 Wireline Telemetry
Data can also be sent to the surface
through a wire attached to the MWD tool.
This method was common with older types
of tools (called steering tools). However,
with an attached wire, the drillstring
cannot be rotated. Today, wireline is used
in conjunction with coiled tubing, where
the drillstring is a continuous length of
metal pipe fed into the wellbore from a
drum and so cannot be rotated.
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3.5 Receiving and Decoding
A transducer (or sensor) at the
surface receives the pressure
pulses and converts them to
electrical signals. A surface
sensor is not necessary for the
wireline type of MWD.
Surface computers decode the
electrical signals from the
transducer and turn the digital
information into engineering
values and survey computations.
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3.6 Data Processing and Usage
An important function of the surface computer is to process the data of the local
conditions, such as hole size and depth. The data produced by the MWD tool is
processed and used to provide information about the well. This information is used to
make critical decisions about the drilling process, such as the well direction.
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3.7 Display
Monitors display data in
realtime on the drillfloor so that
the driller can make well
steering decisions. Displays
are used in the Anadrill unit to
allow for production of logs (a
plot of data against depth) and
making formation-evaluation
interpretations. With remote
data links, displays located at
the client’s office allow them to
view MWD data from the
wellsite.
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3.8 Control Downhole
MWD allows the driller to control
downhole drilling in real time.
Directional information is sent to
the surface continuously so that
course corrections can be made.
MWD tools make applications
like geosteering possible. The
driller can use the measurement
data to maximize the productive
length of a wellbore within a
reservoir.
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4. How MWD Components Work
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4.2 Signal Production, Transmitting, and Telemetry
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Negative Pulse Telemetry
Negative pulse telemetry uses a diverter (or flapper) valve. When the flapper
valve is open the drilling fluid is diverted to the annulus, creating negative
pulses as the pressure fluctuates. The pressure changes are identified and
decoded at the surface as data.
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Standing or Continuous Wave Pulsers
Standing or continuous wave pulsers, also known as mud sirens, are a type of
positive pulse telemetry. Rotating baffled plates are used to temporarily
interrupt mud flow, creating a pressure wave in the standpipe. A carrier wave
is formed, allowing information to be embedded within the carrier wave by
changing the wave’s phase or frequency. The information carried by the wave
is identified at the surface and decoded.
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4.3 Receiving and Decoding
Pressure pulses are received and converted to electric voltages by a
transducer installed in the mud pump discharge piping. The surface
computers then perform the pressure pulse decoding and survey
computations to convert the data into useful measurements.
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4.4 Data Processing
Anadrill’s Integrated Drilling Evaluation
and Logging (IDEAL*) system combines
downhole directional drilling, drilling
mechanics, and petrophysical data
measurements within a few feet of the bit
and transmits the data to the surface in
real time. Downhole data is merged with
relevant surface measurements and is
automatically checked and translated
into useful information. The information
can be displayed simultaneously on the
rig floor, in the surface unit, and in the
company representative’s office.
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5. D&M MWD tools
• IMPulse
• SlimPulse
• PowerPulse
• TeleScope
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5.1 SlimPulse
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5.2 PowerPulse
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5.2 PowerPulse
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6. Survey Definition
A survey is simply three
measurements made at a point
below the surface of the earth:
– Measured Depth
– Inclination
– Azimuth
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A point along the path of a well is defined by a directional survey. The
survey consists of:
A Measured Depth along the well path…
An Inclination at that measured depth…
An Azimuth at that measured depth...
We use the survey to calculate the position of the point in space using
one of the four survey calculation methods described at the end of this
presentation.
Downhole surveys are taken by the MWD tool using accelerometers
and magnetometers that measure the gravitational force and magnetic
field strength at a survey point. These measurements are used to
calculate the inclination and direction of the survey point.
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Inclination
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Azimuth
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Measuring D&I with MWD tools
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7. Signal Demodulation
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HSPM Demodulation Window
Default Signal Strength Indicator and
Frame ID DSPScope Receiver
Signal Loss Threshold
Pressure
Recorder
Receiver
Input
Frame
Decoder
Status
Bit
Confidence
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Repeating Frames
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DSPScope Displays (1/2)
Bit Confidence
Select (blue)
Spectrogram
Signal Strength
(red)
Power
Spectrum
Frequency
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Low Signal Strength
Causes of Low Signal Strength
Drilling conditions can cause low signal strength at the surface. The
following are the most common causes of low signal strength.
– Depth of the well
– High mud viscosity
– Mud flow rate
– Mud condition
– Signal frequency
– Pipe ID
– Radiation loss
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Depth of the Well
The MWD signal always loses some energy as it propagates uphole to the surface. As
the MWD tool goes deeper, the signal must travel over longer distances. The longer the
distance, the more signal energy that is lost.
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Mud Condition
Gas or air in the mud has the effect of weakening the signal. For example, malfunctioning
pumps can pump air into the mud, thereby reducing signal strength as the signal
propagates uphole.
Signal Frequency
Low frequency waves propagate through the mud better than higher frequency waves
because the mud acts as a lowpass filter. Low frequency energy passes through the mud
while the energy at higher frequencies is filtered out. This filtering effect is more
pronounced with increasing depth. The severity of the filtering effect varies depending
on mud type.
Pipe ID
The drillstring can be made up from several different sizes of drillpipe. The smaller the
internal diameter of the pipe, the greater the loss of signal energy (attenuation) due to
friction as the signal propagates uphole inside the drillstring.
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Drilling Noise
• Drilling noise occurs at very
low frequencies.
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Mud Motor Stalls
• Mud motor stalls are
very bad for both the motor
itself and for telemetry.
• Reduce WOB
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Identifying Downhole Noise
Pump
Noise
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Electrical Noise (1/2)
• Electrical noise is broadband noise.
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