Patents Assigned to Applied Navigation Devices
  • Patent number: 4909336
    Abstract: A method for steering the direction of drilling for oil, gas, or other boreholes drilled in locations such that the level of magnetic interference from nearby magnetic materials or fields is so large that conventional methods using magnetic compass steering tools cannot meet required accuracies. The method is based upon using gyroscope-based survey tools having an inertial angular rate sensor with one or more axes of rate sensitivity and an inertial acceleration or tilt sensor with one or more axes of sensitivity to perform both the normal survey purpose for such tools and the steering function during drilling.The method includes the measurement of initial azimuthal direction, tilt angle, gyro tool face and high side tool face at the beginning of the borehole and the continuous measurement of one or more of these quantities as drilling progresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Applied Navigation Devices
    Inventors: David C. Brown, Fred L. Watson