MagCUBETM

Introduction

MagCUBE improves the accuracy of directional drilling, reducing risk and lowering costs.


Geomagnetic referencing services are commonly used to enhance measurement while drilling (MWD) applications. MagCUBE is an advanced technology that increases the accuracy of geomagnetic referencing by providing accurate subsurface magnetic vector information for the driller.

 

Background

The term measurement while drilling (MWD) refers to the real-time evaluation of physical properties encountered at the drill stem during drilling. Geomagnetic measurements are increasingly conducted during MWD to improve the accuracy of the well path to the desired drilling target. This is known as geomagnetic referencing services (GRS).


The GRS process involves taking geomagnetic measurements in the wellbore and comparing them to estimates of the earth’s magnetic field to more accurately determine the well path. In order to achieve the azimuth control accuracies required for directional drilling the three main components of the local magnetic field need to be known – the main field of the earth, the crustal field and the disturbance field.


The main field of the earth is described by models, and the disturbance field can be monitored at a geomagnetic observatory during drilling. The crustal field consists of induced and remanent magnetization within the rocks that form the earth’s crust. The most accurate way to determine the crustal field a is to conduct land, marine or airborne magnetic surveys. Fugro Gravity & Magnetic Services has developed MagCUBE to determine the subsurface anomaly vector computed from these surface magnetic measurements.


MagCUBE, used as part of GRS, provides a more precise position for the well path in real-time, when low cost corrections to trajectory are still possible.


MagCUBE Advantages

MagCUBE has been developed to provide a more accurate estimate of the subsurface anomaly vector. The advantages of Fugro’s MagCUBE are:

  1. An efficient, equivalent-source method for surface-to-surface continuation provides stable downward continuation.
  2. The variation of the main field direction is taken into account throughout the entire computation.
  3. The solution is delivered as a densely sampled cube of values providing improved drilling accuracy at any depth/horizontal location in the well.
  4. Fast delivery of MagCUBE solutions for your drilling program.

MagCUBE Benefits

While the advantages are many, the benefits are even greater for the oil/gas operator and driller:

  1. Real-time azimuth control can prevent costly sidetracks.
  2. Eliminates costly rig time to run a post-drilled gyroscopic survey.
  3. Produces significant savings in overall project costs by providing real-time data on well position.

MagCUBE is a crucial advance in directional drilling accuracy and coupled with Fugro Gravity & Magnetic Services’ global magnetic data acquisition capabilities and large database of widespread, high quality airborne, marine and land magnetic non-exclusive data, operators and drillers now have an accurate and cost-effective wellbore surveying alternative.

 

Proven Track History

MagCUBE has been proven successfully by improving accuracy and reducing costs in directional drilling projects in the US, Canada and Africa. This advanced technology is available globally, and exclusively, from Fugro Gravity & Magnetic Services.

 

For more information please contact:

Doug McConnell @ +1 403 614 4954

or

Mark Weber @ +1 713 703 5127

 

MagCUBE Contacts