Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Information MWD Drilling Software Transmits

By Karina Frost


MWD which in full is Measurement While Drilling is measurement taken when drilling on an angle of inclination to the vertical line. These measurements are taken by the MWD Drilling Software. This data is used to produce a 3-D plot of the path of the oil well. This software will transmit crucial information to the operator during operations.

There are different types of information transmitted by the software one being the direction of the well. Real time directional surveys and its transmission are very possible. Measurement of the azimuth and the inclination of the hole at that location are done by the magnetometers and accelerometers. There is therefore real time transmission from the site to the surface.

The data transmitted at intervals of 10m to 500m is then analyzed on the surface to calculate the location of the wellbore. It is necessary information for the company since it acts as a proof that it is not operating outside the block it is licensed to prospect. When operating vertically or near vertical direction this technology is not used due to its high cost.

The surveys is mainly used in directional-drilling. Directional-drilling forms the main or core part of any survey. Finding and moving towards the target zone of the well will be made easier by this information. Directional-drilling is aided by MWD by the provision of tool face measurements which uses downhole mud motors with bent housing or bent.

There is the smoothness of rotation, mud flow volume, downhole temperature, the drillstring speed of rotation, and the weight and torque on the bit, this information is sent to the mechanics of the drill bit which leads to more efficient operations. The tools are also used in accordance with their specifications thus cannot break down. Understanding the rock formation of the area is crucial to geologists.

Drillers use information from the MWD tools for performing geosteering to the zones targeted. The software sends formation properties of the area being drilled at that moment. This kind of information will be on porosity, inclination of the drill bit, the resistivity and the acoustic-caliper which is very important to the driller.

There is also the measurement of natural gamma rays measurements at the well using internal gamma ray sensor installed in MWD tools. The sensors cost a lot, are compact and able to take measurements when drilling unmodified drill collars. Compacts and cheap sensors will do unmodified drill collars during operations. MWD software cuts the various process costs and increases the lifespan of the drill bits.

The data they get during the operations is either transmitted by the mud-pulse telemetry method and electromagnetic telemetry. In the mud-pulse telemetry method the mud valve downhole which restricts the flow of slurry creates pressure differences which are send to the surface as for analysis. It can either be positive, negative pulse/continuous wave.

In electromagnetic telemetry method by the MWD software, altered voltage is generated in the upper and lower part of the electrical insulator then incorporated in the drillstring. There is a wire from both thewellhead on the surface and the rod which form the electrodes of a dipole antenna. These electrodes provide information from analysis of the voltage signals.




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