9.3 Chronology of gyro development - Introduction to Wellbore Positioning Web - 1

9.2 Oilfield Applications – A Brief History

9.4 Improving Performance and Service Capability

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1920’s:	Several designs of Inclinometers and very basic Magnetic Compasses are in use. Companies of note operating Directional Survey Services are H. John Eastman, Hewitt Kuster and Alexander Anderson.
1929:	First Gyro Survey Tool designed and built by Sperry-Sun Well Surveying Company, a joint venture between Sun Oil and Sperry Gyroscope Co. The gyro had a DC Rotor speed of 14,000 RPM and was 5.5”Dia.
1930:	Gyro Survey Tool Data used in settlement of many Lease Line violation cases in East Texas and California. In-Run and Out-Run Data were recorded.
1936:	Gyro Tool Intercardinal Error and Drift Curve Corrections, refined to improve accuracy of survey data in inclined boreholes. Survey Tool True Centre Correction methodology developed using a two dimensional Polar Coordinate System Calculation.
1939:	1st K Monel Non Magnetic Drill Collar designed (Not a gyro but notable)
1945:	Humphrey (Gyro) provides Instrumentation to Directional Service Companies for the first time (Post WWII manufacturing surplus)
1947:	Transistors developed but not yet used by industry. Sperry-Sun buys out Sperry Gyroscopes interest in Sperry-Sun Well Surveying Company.
1950’s:	By late 1940’s wellbores get deeper and smaller with 5” Casing frequently used necessitating a requirement for smaller Gyro Tools.
1960:	East Texas Railroad Commission Scandals again encourage tool development. Many wellbores are small diameter (5” Casing) and some have > 65 deg Inclination.
1961:	Use of Solid State Electronics for first time in Instrument Timers and Solenoids for Film Advance mechanisms. Computers used for Survey Calculations at the Office. Field Data continued to be hand calculated until mid-seventies.
1961:	Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in the USA uses Gyro Survey Tools in 4” – 144” Dia. Test Holes, drilled 800 – 6000 ft deep, in Nevada and Alaska. Project ends in 1976.
1962:	3” Dia. Surwell Gyro built utilizing 40,000 rpm AC Rotor.
1964:	Counter Claims made against Gyro Survey accuracy related to numerous Law Suits. A Test Pipe is laid down the Hurricane Messa in Utah. Over 2000ft of Aluminium Irrigation Pipe is fixed down the hillside on a continuously irregular course. The first 200ft was near vertical with sections of the pipe path reaching 60-70 degs of inclination. Multiple surveys were performed with both Gyro and Magnetic tools, with surveys taken at 25 ft intervals. In the final analysis the accuracy of both Survey Systems were proven and the East Texas Claims Issues finally settled. 1.75” Gyro Tools developed using 26,000 rpm AC Rotors. Specifically designed for Directional Drilling Tool Orientation and surveying of Production wells in Tubing.
1971:	Atomic Energy Commission Test Bore intersected at 6000 ft TD with Bottom Hole location land surveyed in at < 5 ft variance/error.
1974:	Multi-well Platform drilling is prevalent. Level Rotor Gyro System developed with glass file Mercury Switch used to control the inner gimbal horizontal position to +/- 1-2degs but system is sensitive to gimbal/switch attitude, resulting in azimuth error propagation.
1977:	Introduction of Surface Recording Gyros (SRG’s – 3” and 1.75” versions), transmitting data to surface via Wireline. Inner gimbal position now monitored and controlled by electronic resolver to +/- 0.01 degs resulting in significantly reduced error propagation.
1978:	Ferranti Full Inertial System introduced into the North Sea as reconfigured Harrier Jump Jet IN System, developed for Shell, Mobil, BNOC (BP) and marketed by Eastman Christiansen (Inteq). Proven Accuracy < 1/1000 ft potentially at all attitudes.

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