Phase estimation from rotating sensors to get a toolface

摘要

Measurements made by a rotating sensor on a bottomhole assembly are used to determine the toolface angle of the BHA. The method includes using a phase locked loop (PLL) to determine a phase difference between the sensor output and a reference signal.

主权项

1. A method of conducting drilling operations, the method comprising:
conveying a bottomhole assembly (BHA) into a borehole; using at least one sensor on the BHA to provide a signal indicative of a direction of a naturally existing field; using at least one sensor on the BHA to provide a signal indicative of an instantaneous angular velocity of a drilling tubular; and using at least one processor including a phase locked loop for estimating a toolface angle of the at least one naturally existing field direction sensor using (i) the naturally existing field direction signal, (ii) the instantaneous angular velocity signal, and (iii) a phase difference between the naturally existing field direction signal and a reference signal.