geologic formations penetrated by a

borehole; to generate operations

statistics and performance benchmarks
such that improvements can be
identified, and to provide well planners
with accurate historical operations-
performance data with which to perform
statistical risk analysis for future well
operations. The terms measurement
while drilling (MWD), and logging while
drilling (LWD) are not used consistently
throughout the industry. Although these
terms are related, within the context of
this section, the term MWD refers to
directional-drilling measurements, e.g.,
for decision support for the wellbore
path, (Inclination and Azimuth) while LWD
refers to measurements concerning the
geological formations penetrated while
drilling.[1]

History
Initial attempts to provide MWD and LWD
date back to the 1920s, and attempts
were made prior to WW2 with mud pulse,
wired pipe, acoustic and
electromagnetics. JJ Arps produced a
working directional and resistivity system
in the 1960s.[2] Competing work
supported by Mobil, Standard Oil and
others in the late 1960s and early 1970s
led to multiple viable systems by the
early 1970s, with the MWD of Teleco
Oilfield Services, systems from
Schlumberger (Mobil) Halliburton and
BakerHughes. However, the main impetus
to development was a decision by the
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate to
mandate the taking of a directional
survey in wells offshore Norway every
100 meters. This decision created an
environment where MWD technology had
an economic advantage over
conventional mechanical TOTCO devices,
and lead to rapid developments,
including LWD, to add gamma and
resistivity, by the early 1980s.[3][4] [5]

Measurement
MWD typically concerns measurement
taken of the wellbore (the hole)
inclination from vertical, and also
magnetic direction from north. Using
basic trigonometry, a three-dimensional
plot of the path of the well can be
produced. Essentially, a MWD operator
measures the trajectory of the hole as it
is drilled (for example, data updates
arrive and are processed every few
seconds or faster). This information is
then used to drill in a pre-planned
direction into the formation which
contains the oil, gas, water or
condensate. Additional measurements
can also be taken of natural gamma ray
emissions from the rock; this helps
broadly to determine what type of rock
formation is being drilled, which in turn
helps confirm the real-time location of
the wellbore in relation to the presence of
different types of known formations (by
comparison with existing seismic data).

Density and porosity, rock fluid pressures

and other measurements are taken,
some using radioactive sources, some
using sound, some using electricity, etc.;
this can then be used to calculate how
freely oil and other fluids can flow
through the formation, as well as the
volume of hydrocarbons present in the
rock and, with other data, the value of the
whole reservoir and reservoir reserves.
An MWD downhole tool is also "high-
sided" with the bottom hole drilling
assembly, enabling the wellbore to be
steered in a chosen direction in 3D space
known as directional drilling. Directional
drillers rely on receiving accurate, quality
tested data from the MWD operator to
allow them to keep the well safely on the
planned trajectory.

Directional survey measurements are

taken by three orthogonally mounted
accelerometers to measure inclination,
and three orthogonally mounted
magnetometers which measure direction
(azimuth). Gyroscopic tools may be used
to measure azimuth where the survey is
measured in a location with disruptive
external magnetic influences, inside
"casing", for example, where the hole is
lined with steel tubulars (tubes). These
sensors, as well as any additional
sensors to measure rock formation
density, porosity, pressure or other data,
are connected, physically and digitally, to
a logic unit which converts the
information into binary digits which are
then transmitted to surface using "mud
pulse telemetry" (MPT, a binary coding
transmission system used with fluids,
such as, combinatorial, Manchester
encoding, split-phase, among others).
This is done by using a downhole "pulser"
unit which varies the drilling fluid (mud)
pressure inside the drillstring according
to the chosen MPT: these pressure
fluctuations are decoded and displayed
on the surface system computers as
wave-forms; voltage outputs from the
sensors (raw data); specific
measurements of gravity or directions
from magnetic north, or in other forms,
such as sound waves, nuclear wave-
forms, etc.

Surface (mud) pressure transducers

measure these pressure fluctuations
(pulses) and pass an analogue voltage
signal to surface computers which
digitize the signal. Disruptive frequencies
are filtered out and the signal is decoded
back into its original data form. For
example, a pressure fluctuation of 20psi
(or less) can be “picked out” of a total
mud system pressure of 3,500psi or
more.

Downhole electrical and mechanical

power is provided by downhole turbine
systems, which use the energy of the
“mud” flow, battery units (lithium), or a
combination of both.
Types of information
transmitted

Directional information

MWD tools are generally capable of

taking directional surveys in real time.
The tool uses accelerometers and
magnetometers to measure the
inclination and azimuth of the wellbore at
that location, and they then transmit that
information to the surface. With a series
of surveys; measurements of inclination,
azimuth, and tool face, at appropriate
intervals (anywhere from every 30 ft (i.e.,
10m) to every 500 ft), the location of the
wellbore can be calculated.
By itself, this information allows
operators to prove that their well does
not cross into areas that they are not
authorized to drill. However, due to the
cost of MWD systems, they are not
generally used on wells intended to be
vertical. Instead, the wells are surveyed
after drilling through the use of multi-shot
surveying tools lowered into the
drillstring on slickline or wireline.

The primary use of real-time surveys is in

directional drilling. For the directional
driller to steer the well towards a target
zone, he must know where the well is
going, and what the effects of his
steering efforts are.
MWD tools also generally provide
toolface measurements to aid in
directional drilling using downhole mud
motors with bent subs or bent housings.
For more information on the use of
toolface measurements, see Directional
drilling.

Drilling mechanics information

MWD tools can also provide information

about the conditions at the drill bit. This
may include:

Rotational speed of the drillstring

Smoothness of that rotation
 Type and severity of any vibration
downhole
Downhole temperature
Torque and weight on bit, measured
near the drill bit
Mud flow volume

Mud Motors

Use of this information can allow the

operator to drill the well more efficiently,
and to ensure that the MWD tool and any
other downhole tools, such as a mud
motor, rotary steerable systems, and
LWD tools, are operated within their
technical specifications to prevent tool
failure. This information is also valuable
to geologists responsible for the well
information about the formation which is
being drilled.

Formation properties

Many MWD tools, either on their own, or

in conjunction with separate LWD tools,
can take measurements of formation
properties. At the surface, these
measurements are assembled into a log,
similar to one obtained by wireline
logging.
LWD tools are able to measure a suite of
geological characteristics including
density, porosity, resistivity, acoustic-
caliper, inclination at the drill bit (NBI),
magnetic resonance and formation
pressure. [6]

The MWD tool allows these

measurements to be taken and evaluated
while the well is being drilled. This makes
it possible to perform geosteering, or
directional drilling based on measured
formation properties, rather than simply
drilling into a preset target.

Most MWD tools contain an internal

gamma ray sensor to measure natural
gamma ray values. This is because these
sensors are compact, inexpensive,
reliable, and can take measurements
through unmodified drill collars. Other
measurements often require separate
LWD tools, which communicate with the
MWD tools downhole through internal
wires.

Measurement while drilling can be cost-

effective in exploration wells, particularly
in areas of the Gulf of Mexico where
wells are drilled in areas of salt diapirs.
The resistivity log will detect penetration
into salt, and early detection prevents
salt damage to bentonite drilling mud.
Data transmission methods

Mud-pulse telemetry

This is the most common method of

data transmission used by MWD tools.
Downhole, a valve is operated to restrict
the flow of the drilling fluid (mud)
according to the digital information to be
transmitted. This creates pressure
fluctuations representing the information.
The pressure fluctuations propagate
within the drilling fluid towards the
surface where they are received from
pressure sensors. On the surface, the
received pressure signals are processed
by computers to reconstruct the
information. The technology is available
in three varieties: positive pulse, negative
pulse, and continuous wave.[7]

Positive pulse
Positive-pulse tools briefly close and
open the valve to restrict the mud flow
within the drill pipe. This produces an
increase in pressure that can be seen
at surface. The digital information can
be encoded in the pressure signal
using line codes or pulse-position
modulation.[8]
Diagram showing the MWD

Negative pulse
Negative pulse tools briefly open and
close the valve to release mud from
inside the drillpipe out to the annulus.
This produces a decrease in pressure
that can be seen at surface. The digital
information can be encoded in the
pressure signal using line codes or
pulse-position modulation.[9]
 Continuous wave
Continuous wave tools gradually close
and open the valve to generate
sinusoidal pressure fluctuations within
the drilling fluid. Any digital modulation
scheme with a continuous phase can
be used to impose the information on a
carrier signal. The most widely used
modulation scheme is continuous
phase modulation.[10]

When underbalanced drilling is used, mud

pulse telemetry can become unusable.
This is usually because, in order to
reduce the equivalent density of the
drilling mud, a compressible gas is
injected into the mud. This causes high
signal attenuation which drastically
reduces the ability of the mud to transmit
pulsed data. In this case, it is necessary
to use methods different from mud pulse
telemetry, such as electromagnetic
waves propagating through the formation
or wired drill pipe telemetry.

Current mud-pulse telemetry technology

offers a bandwidths of up to 40 bit/s.[11]
The data rate drops with increasing
length of the wellbore and is typically as
low as 0.5 bit/s[12] – 3.0 bit/s.[11] (bits
per second) at a depth of 35,000 ft –
40,000 ft (10668 m – 12192 m).
Surface to down hole communication is
typically done via changes to drilling
parameters, i.e., change of the rotation
speed of the drill string or change of the
mud flow rate. Making changes to the
drilling parameters in order to send
information can require interruption of
the drilling process, which is unfavorable
due to the fact that it causes non-
productive time.

Electromagnetic telemetry

These tools incorporate an electrical

insulator in the drillstring, but due to the
challenges of receiving data through a
good conductor (Salt Water) this
approach is largely confined to onshore
areas without shallow saline aquifers. To
transmit data, the tool generates an
altered voltage difference between the
top part (the main drillstring, above the
insulator), and the bottom part (the drill
bit, and other tools located below the
insulator of the MWD tool). On surface, a
wire is attached to the wellhead, which
makes contact with the drillpipe at the
surface. A second wire is attached to a
rod driven into the ground some distance
away. The wellhead and the ground rod
form the two electrodes of a dipole
antenna. The voltage difference between
the two electrodes is the receive signal
that is decoded by a computer.
The EM tool generates voltage
differences between the drillstring
sections in the pattern of very low
frequency (2–12 Hz) waves. The data is
imposed on the waves through digital
modulation.

This system generally offers data rates

of up to 10 bits per second. In addition,
many of these tools are also capable of
receiving data from the surface in the
same way, while mud-pulse-based tools
rely on changes in the drilling parameters,
such as rotation speed of the drillstring
or the mud flow rate, to send information
from the surface to downhole tools.
Compared to the broadly used mud-pulse
telemetry, electromagnetic pulse
telemetry is more effective in specialized
situations onshore, such as
underbalanced drilling or when using air
as drilling fluid. It is capable of
transmitting data faster at shallow
drilling depths, onshore. However, it
generally falls short when drilling
exceptionally deep wells, and the signal
can lose strength rapidly in certain types
of formations, becoming undetectable at
only a few thousand feet of depth.
Wired drill pipe

Several oilfield service companies are

currently developing wired drill pipe
systems, though wired systems have
been trialled for many decades, and the
Russians had a system in use in the
1960s. These systems use electrical
wires built into every component of the
drillstring, which carry electrical signals
directly to the surface. These systems
promise data transmission rates orders
of magnitude greater than anything
possible with mud-pulse or
electromagnetic telemetry, both from the
downhole tool to the surface and from
the surface to the downhole tool. The
IntelliServ[13] wired pipe network, offering
data rates upwards of 1 megabit per
second, became commercial in 2006.
Representatives from BP America,
StatoilHydro, Baker Hughes INTEQ, and
Schlumberger presented three success
stories using this system, both onshore
and offshore, at the March 2008
SPE/IADC Drilling Conference in Orlando,
Florida.[14] Cost for the drillstring, and the
complexity of deployment, make this a
niche technology compared to mud
pulse.

Retrievable tools
MWD tools may be semi-permanently
mounted in a drill collar (only removable
at servicing facilities), or they may be
self-contained and wireline retrievable.

Retrievable tools, sometimes known as

Slim Tools, can be retrieved and replaced
using wireline through the drill string. This
generally allows the tool to be replaced
much faster in case of failure, and it
allows the tool to be recovered if the
drillstring becomes stuck. Retrievable
tools must be much smaller, usually
about 2 inches or less in diameter, though
their length may be 20 ft (6.1 m) or more.
The small size is necessary for the tool
to fit through the drillstring; however, it
also limits the tool's capabilities. For
example, slim tools are not capable of
sending data at the same rates as collar-
mounted tools, and they are also more
limited in their ability to communicate
with, and supply electrical power to, other
LWD tools.

Collar-mounted tools, also known as fat

tools, cannot generally be removed from
their drill collar at the wellsite. If the tool
fails, the entire drillstring must be pulled
out of the hole to replace it. However,
without the need to fit through the
drillstring, the tool can be larger and
more capable.

The ability to retrieve the tool via wireline

is often useful. For example, if the
drillstring becomes stuck in the hole, then
retrieving the tool via wireline will save a
substantial amount of money compared
to leaving it in the hole with the stuck
portion of the drillstring. However, there
are some limitations on the process.

Limitations

Retrieving a tool using wireline is not

necessarily faster than pulling the tool
out of the hole. For example, if the tool
fails at 1,500 ft (460 m) while drilling with
a triple rig (able to trip 3 joints of pipe, or
about 90 ft (30 m) feet, at a time), then it
would generally be faster to pull the tool
out of the hole than it would be to rig up
wireline and retrieve the tool, especially if
the wireline unit must be transported to
the rig.

Wireline retrievals also introduce

additional risk. If the tool becomes
detached from the wireline, then it will fall
back down the drillstring. This will
generally cause severe damage to the
tool and the drillstring components in
which it seats, and will require the
drillstring to be pulled out of the hole to
replace the failed components; this
results in a greater total cost than pulling
out of the hole in the first place. The
wireline gear might also fail to latch onto
the tool, or, in the case of a severe failure,
might bring only a portion of the tool to
the surface. This would require the
drillstring to be pulled out of the hole to
replace the failed components, thus
making the wireline operation a waste of
time.

Some tool designers have taken the

retrievable 'slim tool' design and applied
it to a non-retrievable tool. In this
instance, the MWD maintains all of the
limitations of a slim tool design (low
speed, ability to jam on dust particles,
low shock & vibration tolerance) with
none of the benefits. Curiously, these
tools still have a wireline spearpoint
despite being lifted and handled with a
plate.

References
1. Dowell, Iain; Andrew Mills; Matt Lora
(2006). "Chapter 15 - Drilling-Data
Acquisition". In Robert F. Mitchell (ed.).
Petroleum Engineering Handbook (http://
petrowiki.org/Surface_data_sensors_duri
ng_drilling) . Vol. II - Drilling Engineering.
Society of Petroleum Engineers. pp. 647–
685. ISBN 978-1-55563-114-7.
2. J.J. Arps | J.L. Arps DOI
https://doi.org/10.2118/710-PA
3. "StackPath" (http://www.ogj.com/articles/
print/volume-90/issue-7/in-this-issue/gen
eral-interest/advances-in-mwd-technolog
y-improve-real-time-data.html) .
4. Gearhart, Marvin; Ziemer, Kelly A.; Knight,
Orien M. (1981). "Mud Pulse MWD
Systems Report" (https://www.onepetro.o
rg/journal-paper/SPE-10053-PA) .
Journal of Petroleum Technology. 33
(12): 2301–2306. doi:10.2118/10053-PA
(https://doi.org/10.2118%2F10053-PA) .
5. Gearhart, M.; Moseley, L.M.; Foste, M.
(1986). "Current State of the Art of MWD
and Its Application in Exploration and
Development Drilling" (https://www.onepe
tro.org/conference-paper/SPE-14071-M
S) . All Days. doi:10.2118/14071-MS (htt
ps://doi.org/10.2118%2F14071-MS) .
6. Moake, G.L.; Heysse, D.R.; Jackson, C.E.;
Merchant, G.A.; Schultz, W.E. (1997).
"Improved Measurement Quality and
Reliability in a Formation-Evaluation LWD
System" (https://doi.org/10.2118/28429-
PA) . Spe Drilling & Completion. 12 (3):
196–202. doi:10.2118/28429-PA (https://
doi.org/10.2118%2F28429-PA) .
7. Gearhart, M.; Moseley, L.M.; Foste, M.
(1986). "Current State of the Art of MWD
and Its Application in Exploration and
Development Drilling" (https://www.onepe
tro.org/conference-paper/SPE-14071-M
S) . All Days. doi:10.2118/14071-MS (htt
ps://doi.org/10.2118%2F14071-MS) .
8. Gearhart, M.; Moseley, L.M.; Foste, M.
(1986). "Current State of the Art of MWD
and Its Application in Exploration and
Development Drilling" (https://www.onepe
tro.org/conference-paper/SPE-14071-M
S) . All Days. doi:10.2118/14071-MS (htt
ps://doi.org/10.2118%2F14071-MS) .
9. Gearhart, M.; Moseley, L.M.; Foste, M.
(1986). "Current State of the Art of MWD
and Its Application in Exploration and
Development Drilling" (https://www.onepe
tro.org/conference-paper/SPE-14071-M
S) . All Days. doi:10.2118/14071-MS (htt
ps://doi.org/10.2118%2F14071-MS) .
10. Gearhart, M.; Moseley, L.M.; Foste, M.
(1986). "Current State of the Art of MWD
and Its Application in Exploration and
Development Drilling" (https://www.onepe
tro.org/conference-paper/SPE-14071-M
S) . All Days. doi:10.2118/14071-MS (htt
ps://doi.org/10.2118%2F14071-MS) .
11. "Mud-pulse telemetry sees step-change
improvement with oscillating shear
valves" (http://www.ogj.com/articles/sav
e_screen.cfm?ARTICLE_ID=332411) .
2008. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
12. "Orion II MWD System" (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20090322020819/http://ww
w.slb.com/content/services/drilling/tele
metry/orion_II_mwd.asp?entry=orion2&) .
2009. Archived from the original (http://w
ww.slb.com/content/services/drilling/tele
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on 22 March 2009. Retrieved 23 March
2009.
13. "Intelliserv Network" (http://intelliserv.co
m/) . 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
14. "T.H. Ali, et al., SPE/IADC 112636: High
Speed Telemetry Drill Pipe Network
Optimizes Drilling Dynamics and Wellbore
Placement; T.S. Olberg et al., SPE/IADC
112702: The Utilization of the Massive
Amount of Real-Time Data Acquired in
Wired-Drillpipe Operations; V. Nygard et
al., SPE/IADC 112742: A Step Change in
Total System Approach Through Wired-
Drillpipe Technology" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20110707075148/http://www.
aboutoilandgas.com/spe-app/spe/meetin
gs/DC/2008/tech_prog_THURS.htm) .
2008. Archived from the original (http://w
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Bibliography

Mitchell, Bill (1995). Advanced Oilwell

Drilling Engineering Handbook (https://
www.google.com/books/edition/Adva
nced_Oil_Well_Drilling_Engineering_H/
u4bqHAAACAAJ?hl=en&kptab=overvie
w) (10th ed.). Lakewood, CO: Mitchell
Engineering. ASIN B0006RMYTW (http
s://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006RMYT
W) . OCLC 46870163 (https://www.wor
ldcat.org/oclc/46870163) .

See also
Geosteering
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