MK0405A

Development history
Joint venture between Sperry-Sun and JNOC (Japan National Oil
Corporation).

Capitalises on JNOCs 12 year development of industrial robot

technology to build harmonic drive control unit

Capitalises on Sperry-Suns drilling tools design experience to

build working second generation RST in 14 months

Point-the-bit method allows use of long gauge bits

Long gauge bits give both high hole quality and smooth running
(which is vital for reliability)
 Benefits of GeoPilot

Allows use of long gauge bits:

Long gauge bits promote reliability through smooth running

Initial GeoPilot reliability target 400 hours between services

2002 GeoPilot reliability target 1400 hours between services

Maintenance centres in Tananger, Nisku and Lafayette(under

construction)
 Vibration data for conventional bit
(red) and long gauge (blue)

40

30
Accelerations (G)

20

10

0
278 303 328 356 378 403 428 453 478 503 528 556 578 603 630 655 681 703 728 753 779 803 828 859 878 904 928
Depth (ft)
Principle of Operation

Shaft Eccentric
Rings Bend
Shaft

Cantilever Bearing Drill Bit Tilts in

prevents shaft Opposite Direction of
Focal Bearing
from bending Allows Bit To Bend
above it. Tilt Creating a Toolface
Geo-Pilot Basic Operating
Principle
Rotating Shaft is
deflected in center
between bearings
with dual eccentric
cams

Results in bit tilt in

opposite direction
Shaft Deflection
by Eccentric Rings

Drilling Fluid Shaft

Outer
Eccentric Ring
Inner
Eccentric Ring
Housing

Supports Direction of
Toolface
System Description

Tool Length - 20 ft. + 10 ft. flex collar

At-Bit Inclination (ABI) - 3 ft. from bit
6 of 8 electronics boards are off-the-shelf
Completely integrated into LWD system for real-
time data transmission
Surface - to - tool communication via either
Downlink pressure pulse unit & PWD or RPM and
pump sequences
Communicating with GeoPilot
Manual method: demonstrate toolface to GeoPilot as an off bottom
MWD toolface and tell GeoPilot to align itself.

Closed loop maintenance of toolface until instructed otherwise.

Communication via pumps and rotary on/off.

Downlink method: pulse the required toolface and deflection to GeoPilot

from surface.

Downlink tested May 2000, installation complete Q3/4 2000

Fully compatible with Insite -> Real Time Ops, 3D viz

Communication Sequence (Manual)
Pumps

MODE 1 RPM

Straight Position
Start Rotary First, Pumps in 20 sec.
PUMPS

MODE 2 RPM
Oriented, Same TF Pumps First, RPM in < 1 minute

Set New TF

MODE 3
Oriented, New TF Pumps First, RPM in > 1 minute

TIME (minutes)
 Skid Unit schematic

SStandpipe Air
Pneumatic Control box supply
actuator
with valve
Control
cable from
Fixed choke computer
Manual
valve

(normally To mud return

open) (normally closed) line
 Downlink Skid Unit

Downlink skid unit is essentially a fixed choke and a pneumatically actuated valve.
The valve is controlled by the Insite surface computer.
Inlet of the skid unit is rigged up to the standpipe manifold using high pressure pipe.
Outlet of the skid unit is rigged up to the mud return line via high pressure hose or pipe.
The skid unit vents 1 to 3 bbls of fluid for each command.
Fluid is under low pressure on the outlet side of the skid.
The choke in the skid unit can be changed to increase or decrease the pressure pulse.
Shallow wells (< 3000 m) use a #8 choke with a standpipe pressure loss of 300 - 400 psi.
Deeper wells require larger pressure drops with larger choke sizes.
Skid unit will take 1 hour to rig up and will require a dedicated pressure test.
 Downlink in operation

Directional driller decides to make a change in the wellpath.

-
Desired toolface and deflection of the Geopilot are set into the surface MWD computer.
Surface computer sends a sequence of open and close commands to the downlink skid valve.
Downlink skid vents standpipe pressure to return line creating a sequence of pressure pulses.
PWD sub downhole picks up sequence of pulses and decodes them.
Geopilot sends confirmation of command to surface as an MWD list.
Drilling continues as normal while command is sent.
Logging data from MWD tool is sent up while downlink is in operation.
Driller will notice noise from skid and fluctations in standpipe pressure as unit operates.
Communication with drill floor before sending commands is essential.
 Picking up and testing tools

Geopilot is picked up to the drill floor using the crane just as an MWD tool.
A clamp around the top bearing is removed and the bit is installed.
The MWD tools are made up to the top of the Geopilot.
The whole toolstring is tested and downloaded via the Insite surface computer.
At 1000m the seals on the Geopilot are broken in by slowly rotating for 10 minutes.
Shallow pulse test on the MWD tool then takes place.
Normal timescale for picking up and loading tools is 2 hours.

Testing of the downlink takes place on the last stand off bottom just before drilling commences.
Putting Geo-Pilot on Catwalk
Geo-Pilot POOH, Filling Tool
Environmental Specifications

Max Temperature: 140C

Max Pressure: 18,000 psi
Max Vibration: 20 g rms 5-500 Hz
Mud limitations: None

LCM limitations: None

Mechanical specifications
Max Weight On Bit: 55,000 lb.f
Max Torque: 20,000 ft.lbs
Max Overpull 275,000 lbs
Ultimate Overpull 575,000 lbs
Max RPM: 250
Length 20
Operating Considerations

Hole Sizes: 8-3/8 to 9-7/8**

Minimum Run Life: 200 hours
(No power drain when not orientating)
Only standard MWD configuration required
Downhole SSDS FEWD Interface
Directional Module
Smart Driver Controller
HCIM
INSITE system on surface
(**Hole size set in shop)
Operating Considerations, cont.

Max Flow Rate: 650 gpm

Max Build Rate: 4.5 / 100
Max Drop Rate: 5.0 / 100
Max Turn Rate: 5.0 / 100

Note:
Bend Aggressiveness can be adjusted prior to run
from 0-100%. Numbers above correspond to 100%.
Configurable downhole with downlink
 Downlink specifications

Max operating pressure: 10,000 psi

Weight: 2,000 lbs
Air supply pressure: 100 psi
Intrinsically safe operation
Length: 1.83m
Width: 0.76m
Height: 1.07m
Sensor Points

ABI is 3 from bottom of tool. Sensor Accuracy +/-

0.1 @ 2 (Rotation Off Condition While Surveying).
System Accuracy +/- 0.3 @ 2
All other FEWD sensors go above tool and sensor
points are standard spacing from top of flex collar.
 Post job requirements.

Skid unit has to be flushed with water

Rig down of skid unit takes 30 minutes.