SPEC 11210-REV A

MWD SURVEY FIELD NOTES

This document is written for the following area(s) checked below:

R&D Production Repair & Maintenance Customer

1.0 PURPOSE
This document outlines the testing process used to ensure APS directional data accuracy in the
shop and in the field, including recommended field survey quality control procedures.

2.0 DIRECTIONAL DATA ACCURACY

The APS directional sensor employs either an APS built directional survey package or one
purchased from a well known vendor - RSS (UK). Each uses proprietary tri-axial fluxgate
magnetometers and industry standard quartz accelerometers made by either Honeywell (APS
units) or JAE (RSS units). Each package is calibrated to meet APS specifications, which are
equivalent to the established industry standards:
 Inclination: ± 0.1º
 Azimuth: ± 1.0º (Inc > 10º, Dip < 70º)
 Gravity Tool Face: ± 1.0º (Inclination > 10º)
 Magnetic Tool Face: ± 2.25º (Dip < 70º)
When a purchased sensor arrives at APS or one is completed by the APS manufacturing
department, it undergoes physical inspection, electrical and thermal testing. After passing this
initial acceptance testing it is assembled into a complete directional sensor assembly. The
completed sensor then undergoes a variety of tests, including heated roll testing and calibration
verification, a process designed to highlight any problems with the calibration.
While a roll test is not equivalent to a full survey package calibration, it will detect drift or failure
of a sensor and verifies the sensor is in calibration over its temperature operating range.

2.1 Factors Affecting Long Term Performance

The factors that affect the accuracy of the survey package measurements over time
include: the downhole temperature, drilling shock and vibration, and total operating hours.
Periodic shop tests and checks are required to confirm the accuracy of the survey package
measurements.
One of the primary quality control measures of MWD directional sensor functionality is a
mandatory surface roll test procedure before and after each run (see SPEC-11110 ).

2.2 Operational Factors

The operational factors which affect the validity and the accuracy of the directional
measurements include internal and external magnetic interference, the well trajectory
(East-West orientation, well path in a zone of exclusion), local geomagnetic field
characteristics (e.g., Drilling in areas near the Arctic circle, where the magnetic dip angle >
70º), BHA sag, and service company operations (job planning, applying the corrections)
that are outside the control of APS. Nonmagnetic BHA components can become
magnetized over time, which can impact the directional measurements. These
components should be demagnetized periodically using industry standard procedures.

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3.0 SURVEY QUALITY CONTROL
Survey quality control methods include: the introduction of the field acceptance criteria in the
field survey QC process, check shot surveys, benchmark surveys, and rotational check shot
tests.

3.1 Field Acceptance Criteria

The individual survey QC may be performed by comparing the values for Total Magnetic
Field, Total Gravity Field and Dip Angle transmitted uphole with the survey data at each
stationary survey point with the known reference field values. When the data are compared
to the reference standard, go/no-go limits on the deviations (±1% from reference Total B,
Total G and Dip Angle) can be employed as acceptance criteria. The reference field values
can be obtained from BGGM, WMM, IGRF.

3.2 Check Shot Survey

A Check Shot survey is a comparison of a repeat survey with those taken earlier at a
selected survey station. The check shots surveys are taken in the following cases:
 If doubt exists regarding the directional sensor functionality
 The directional sensor tool was changed after the trip to surface for any reason
 As a QC practice when running back in hole after a trip (can be taken at the point
surveyed with the same sensor).
The check shot station point should meet the following criteria for the comparison to be
valid:
 Open hole (no casing)
 The reference survey was taken by another directional sensor or by a higher accuracy
tool such as a gyro (for the sensor functionality check)
 Inclination > 10º
 No known magnetic interference (adjacent casing, fish, etc)
 Preferably not be within the 30% of East/West direction (otherwise it will be an
inclination check only).
 A survey station which corresponds to the above mentioned criteria and was taken with
a high accuracy tool (gyro) can be assigned as a Benchmark survey.
The inclination and azimuth are compared between the reference and check shot survey at
the same depth. The deviation should be within the sum of the accuracy specifications of
the tools which acquired the surveys. The difference shouldn’t exceed 0.2º for Inclination
and 2º for Azimuth measurements in case both surveys were taken by MWD tools. Any
discrepancies outside of the accuracy range should be investigated.

3.3 Benchmark Survey

A benchmark survey is a comparison between surveys taken with the MWD directional
sensor and with a high accuracy gyro at a designated survey station that meets the criteria
above. The deviation of the survey data should be within the sum of the accuracy
specifications of the tools which acquired the surveys. Since the comparison is with a high
accuracy survey device, the deviation should be smaller than comparing two MWD survey
devices.

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3.4 Rotational Check Shot Survey
Together with the benchmark survey and check shot, the rotational check shot procedure
can be performed as desired to confirm or check the functionality of the current MWD
directional sensor in the hole.
The rotational check shot test is comprised of at least four downhole surveys, at the same
depth with gravity toolface values distributed widely around the compass. If these survey
results show variation in inclination, azimuth, total G or total B, this is an indication of a
problem with the x- or y-axis sensors. (Since the z-axis sensors are in the same
orientation, this test does not check them.)
To receive the complete survey, including the orthogonal vector components for Total B
and Total G (Bx, By, Bz, Gx, Gy, Gz), the corresponding FIDs (check the format tables for
the firmware used) should be programmed in the tool configuration during the pre-job tool
preparation on surface.
 Check X & Y values:
 X and Y values should vary predictably
 When X is maximum, Y must be minimum and vice versa X and Y values must vary
when the string is rotated
 Axial components Gz and Bz should remain stable, unless there was pipe movement
between surveys.

IMPORTANT NOTES: In a vertical well, vector components Gx and Gy will read

close to zero and will not vary significantly. Bx and By will change with rotation.
When drilling in the North or South direction at an inclination equal or close to the
Dip Angle, the components Bx and By will read close to zero and will not vary much
when rotating the drill string. In this case, the rotational checkshot will not yield any
information about the magnetometers.

END

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4.0 DOCUMENT REVISION HISTORY
Languages in which this document must be updated:
English Spanish Russian Chinese

Table 1: Documentation Revision History

Rev Date Completed By Description ECO No. Checked By

A 11/15/2013 Olexiy Usov Initial Release 13-386 John Hickey

Related Product Lines: MWD

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