Total E&P – TDO/FP/APE

GYRODATA - Well-Guide
Rotary Steerable Systems

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• Genuine « Point The Bit » design

– Originally known as the CDAL tool (Cambridge Drilling Automation LTD) designed early 1990’s
– Permits use of both Rock bit & PDC bit
– Can be deployed in “Stand Alone” whatever the make & type of MWD tool being used
– A non rotating body, between 2 Stabilizers, contain the electronics needed to measure the hole
trajectory, to locate the high side & to have control of the tool
– 10” OD RSS tool for applications in 12 ¼”, 14 ¾”, 17 ½” & 22” hole sizes.
– 7” tool currently being introduced (field test) for 8 ½” & 9 7/8” applications.
– The recommended maximum planned trajectory DLS is 2.5°/30m (for the 10” tool)
– The 10” tool proved DLS potential is 3.5°/30m (formation competency dependent)
– The 7” tool probable DLS potential is 6 to 7°/30m

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• Components Option
Simultaneous
Underreamer

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• Operating Principle

ƒ The bit tilt angle is obtained by flexion of the tool forged rotating drive shaft
ƒ A full gauge Near Bit and String Stabilizer (7.3m apart) form a 3 point system w/ the bit
ƒ Stabilizers are coupled to the rotating shaft and rotate at same speed as the drill bit
ƒ Full reaming/back reaming capability
ƒ Applications below a DHM or simultaneous under reaming/hole opening possible
ƒ Maximum recommended BHA speed is ranging 150 to 180 RPM
ƒ The tool body (drawing red component) is pseudo stationary
ƒ Rotates on average at 1/2 revolution per hour
ƒ Four 15” OD flex blades (for a 12 ¼” application) acting on the bore hole

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• Operating Principle (cont’d)

ƒ A down hole computer determines

ƒ Inclination and azimuth measurements derived from system’s integrated sensors
ƒ The relative position of the reference actuator compared to well bore high side
ƒ The required Tool Face to steer the well bore towards the targeted inclination & azimuth
ƒ The closest actuator or pair of actuators to activate that suits best the calculated TF
ƒ This cycle is repeated every 90 seconds in a genuine “Closed Loop” manner
ƒ Independently to the directional measurements of the MWD tool
ƒ 8 TF positions are possible resulting in a maximum TF miss match of 22.5°

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• Operating Principle (cont’d…)
ƒ 4 Well Trajectory Vectors (Inclination – Azimuth) are pre programmed in the tool on surface as target
courses

– A complex drilling phase can be programmed, i.e.

• Ex 1: Kick off from vertical & Build #1 – Tangent #1 – Build #2 – Tangent #2…

• Ex 2: Kick off from vertical & Build #1 – Tangent #1 – Drop #1 – Tangent #2…

– The tool is initialized on surface on one of the 4 target courses

– While drilling the drilling direction is changed automatically towards the selected target course, until the target
course is achieved or re-specified. Drilling is then controlled to the target course, the Tool Face being oriented
automatically along a plane defined by both the actual & targeted Well Trajectory Vectors

– The Directional Driller does not interfere on Tool Face (calculation and orientation process)

• The directional driller has control of target course & DLS intensity only

• This leads to minimal downlinking requirement and improves the overall drilling efficiency

– The well trajectory is steered first with the tool full DLS potential (2.5 to 3.5°/30m)

• The 10” Well-Guide Tool either deflects the shaft fully or centralises the shaft and therefore uses time
proportionality for dogleg control

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• Operating Principle (cont’d…)

ƒ Downlinking when required is performed through string RPM without interruption of the drilling
process
– The directional driller can change the tool target course setting or reduce the DLS resulting intensity by sending a
command from surface

• Commands are picked from a schedule of 64 possible messages each encompassed in a six bit binary
number (4 of these consisting of the tool pre programmed well specific target courses)

• Downlinking of a command (the chosen message) takes 42 to 50 minutes with a series of 50 to 130 RPM
changes (four to seven variations to reset &/or transmit a 6 bits binary number message)

• This Downlinking method is deployed to change the tool Target Course from one setting to the next one at
the required Measured Depth or to change the observed DLS intensity

• A RPM sensor averages the number of turns over the duration of each step allowing therefore a strong
tolerance to stick & slip phenomenon if any

• Rig RPM sensor accuracy should be within +/- 5rpm (believed to be easily achievable)

– Based on the same principle the Directional Driller can take full command of the RSS tool and perform the work in
a “Gravity Tool Face” mode

• This method is however not recommended considering the unequalled operating advantages and
performance potential provided by the Well-Guide genuine “Closed Loop” capability

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• Particularities
ƒ A 400 hours lithium batteries package powers up the geostationary sensors and
control electronics
ƒ Hydraulic power required to inflate the shaft bending actuators cushions is
generated by a LP hydraulic pump driven by the transmission shaft rotation
ƒ The four actuators cushions are made of extremely resistant Kevlar material

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 Specifications

• Other particularities
Maximum Pass Through DLS
10” Tool 7°/30m rotating & non rotating
7” Tool to be advised

Torque to failure
10” Tool 9.8 to 17 KdaNm
7” Tool 3.8 to 5.2 KdaNm

Inclination Sensor Accuracy

10” Tool +/- 0.1 deg
7” Tool +/- 0.1 deg

Azimuth Sensor Accuracy

10” Tool +/- 0.5 deg
7” Tool +/- 1 deg

Inc. & Azt. Sensors Resolution

10” Tool 0.1 deg
7” Tool 0.1 deg

Tolerance to Sand content & LCM

Limits determined by the particular MWD/LWD
suite selected for use with Well-Guide

Tolerance to Vibrations
Successful experience up to 80 c/s above 50g

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• Applications

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• Applications (cont’d…)

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• Applications (cont’d…)

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• Field Applications
ƒ First commercial job for NAM in 1993
ƒ Only 46 commercial bit runs carried out until system’s acquisition by
Gyrodata in Feb 2002
ƒ 56 commercial bit runs to date (Jun 05) since Gyrodata acquisition
ƒ 50000 m formation drilled, 3500 bit hours, 5000 circulating hours

• Tools fleet
ƒ 12 x 10” W-G Tools are on the market
ƒ 2 prototype 7” W-G Tools to be released on the marked very shortly, an
additional 2 x 7” W-G Tools currently being manufactured
• Cost estimates
ƒ Day Rates should be bellow 25 K USD/day (tba) for a full DD/MWD package
ƒ Day Rates should be below 15 K USD/day (tba) for the W-G tool only

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• Reliability
ƒ There has been a continuous program of improvement, Gyrodata being on the 3rd
generation of Well-Guide Tools
ƒ Today’s MTBF reaches 200 hours
ƒ Gyrodata is mainly known as a Surveying Company
– Most of the time they have access to our operations as 3rd party actor through our DD
contractors
– It seems therefore difficult for Gyrodata to access the RSS market although their tool
presents undeniable advanced features when compared to the big three SLB, BHI and HPSL
RSS systems

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