The Technologies Behind The High Accuracy of M1 Unmanned MWD

The M1 Unmanned MWD is a highly precise downhole tool that measures the three-dimensional orientation of the drill bit. The tool has an accuracy of +/-0.1° for inclination and +/- 0.25 for azimuth. 

An oil rig built using SWD and LWD tools
 

Here are the technologies that make these accurate readings possible.

Accelerometers

In 1915, Einstein published his theory of general relativity, showing that gravity is indistinguishable from acceleration. When you accelerate your car really fast and feel a pushback towards your seat, that force is naturally the same as gravity. This is how artificial gravity will be created in future space stations. 

The drill bit doesn't accelerate much, so placing accelerometers in the M1 Unmanned MWD doesn't make sense initially. However, the accelerometers are there to measure the direction of gravity. This allows the downhole tool to establish a "downwards" direction and measure its inclination (horizontal orientation) relative to that direction.

Magnetometers

Accelerometers are pretty good at measuring inclination but can't measure azimuth (horizontal orientation). The direction of gravity is the same whether you're facing North or South. What isn't the same is Earth's magnetic field. 

Due to continuous convection currents inside the planet, Earth is a giant magnet with a magnetic field. Magnetometers are powerful sensors that work like a compass to measure the direction of the North pole. This allows the M1 Unmanned MWD to measure its own orientation.

Gyroscopes

Like all measuring instruments, accelerometers and magnetometers have their margins of error. The Earth's magnetic field also changes over time. It's also very weak, and a magnetic rock formation close to the drilling site can increase the error in azimuth measurements.

A model of a gyroscope

Gyroscopes are used to double-check the measurements from accelerometers and magnetometers to increase accuracy. Gyroscopes are rotating flywheels that carry a lot of angular momentum. Angular momentum is a conserved quantity, which allows the flywheel to maintain its orientation and measure the orientation of the drill with respect to itself.

The precision offered by these technologies makes True Shot's  M1 Unmanned MWD the first of its kind. The downhole tool can also work in pressures up to 20,000psi with a battery life of up to 1500 hours. For more features, visit the specifications page for the M1 Unmanned MWD.

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