Sunday, October 5, 2014

Information MWD Drilling Software Transmits

By Karina Frost


MWD which means Measurement While Drilling is measurements taken by drilling companies when the well is drilled at an angle with respect to the vertical line. MWD drilling software is used to take these measurements and analyze them. This crucial data in transmitted during operations to the surface where it is used to produce a path of the oil well in three dimensions.

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.

Analysis of data is done on the surface before calculation of the location of the wellbore after data transmission which takes data from 10m to 500m in intervals. This information is as crucial as it being prove enough that the company is not doing any operation outside its permitted site or circumference. It may not be used when creating vertical holes or near vertical direction because it is quite expensive.

The core use of the surveys is in directional-drilling. The well may be located at a certain zone and this information helps the driller in steering the process towards that target zone. MWD provides toolface measurements using downhole mud motors with bent housing or bent subs to aid in directional operations.

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.

MWD tools are able to measure the properties of the formation and send the information to drillers when process is ongoing. The measure of the formation properties can be done by the MWD then sent to the drillers while operation is in progress. This information is basically used in geosteering to the targeted zone. The data obtained varies It is from variants such as porosity, acoustic-caliper, density, inclination at the drill bit and resistivity that this information oscillates.

The internal gamma ray sensor using installed in MWD tools measures the natural gamma rays values at the well. The sensors are inexpensive, compact and are able to take the measurements when working on unmodified drill collars. MWD computer programs cuts the process costs and increases the life-span of the drill bits.

There are two types of transmission of data on drilling; either mud-pulse telemetry method or electromagnetic telemetry. The functioning of the mud-pulse telemetry method is where the mud valve deep down the hole restricts the flow of slurry thus brings about the differences in pressure which are sent to the surface for further analysis. There are three types of pulses; positive, negative pulse or continuous wave.

Electromagnetic telemetry method of data transmission by the MWD software involves generation of altered voltage different in the upper part and the lower portion of the electrical insulator used in the drillstring. A wire attached to the wellhead on the surface and another wire attached to the rod form the electrodes of a dipole antenna. From these electrodes the voltage signals are obtained and analyzed to give information.




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