System and Method for Providing a Continuous Wellbore Survey

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for producing a continuous survey of a previously drilled portion of a wellbore. The method includes receiving a plurality of stationary survey measurements taken at a corresponding plurality of locations along the portion of the wellbore. The method further includes receiving at least one continuous survey including a plurality of continuous survey measurements taken between a pair of stationary survey measurements of the plurality of stationary survey measurements. The method further includes combining the plurality of stationary survey measurements and the plurality of continuous survey measurements to produce the continuous survey of the portion of the wellbore.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of stationary survey measurements taken at a corresponding plurality of locations along a portion of a wellbore;   receiving at least one continuous survey comprising a plurality of continuous survey measurements taken along a previously drilled portion of the wellbore and between a pair of stationary survey measurements of the plurality of stationary survey measurements;   producing a continuous survey of the portion of the wellbore by combining the plurality of stationary survey measurements and the plurality of continuous survey measurements;   providing steering and/or positioning information for production and/or completion equipment based on the produced continuous survey; and   placing, or providing assistance to the placement of, the production and/or completion equipment inside the wellbore based on the steering and/or positioning information.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein receiving the plurality of stationary survey measurements comprises taking the plurality of stationary survey measurements using at least one survey tool, the at least one survey tool comprising a wireline survey tool, a slick line survey tool, or a drop survey tool. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein receiving the at least one continuous survey comprises taking the at least one continuous survey using at least one survey tool. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one survey tool comprises a wireline survey tool, a slick line survey tool, or a drop survey tool. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one survey tool comprises at least one gyroscopic sensor module. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one survey tool comprises a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) survey tool. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one survey tool comprises at least one gyroscopic sensor module and at least one measurement-while-drilling sensor. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one continuous survey spans across a location of at least one stationary survey measurement of the plurality of stationary survey measurements. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one continuous survey includes the locations of the pair of stationary survey measurements. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one continuous survey comprises a plurality of continuous surveys that at least partially overlap one another. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein combining the plurality of stationary survey measurements and the plurality of continuous survey measurements comprises adjusting the continuous survey measurements to reduce a difference between at least one of the stationary survey measurements of the pair of stationary survey measurements and the continuous survey measurements at a depth of the at least one of the stationary survey measurements. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein adjusting the continuous survey measurements comprises applying an offset to the continuous survey measurements. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein adjusting the continuous survey measurements comprises determining bias errors at the locations of the pair of stationary survey measurements, calculating interpolated bias errors at locations between the pair of stationary survey measurements, and applying offsets to the continuous survey measurements to correct for the interpolated bias errors. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein receiving the plurality of stationary survey measurements comprises taking the plurality of stationary survey measurements during an outrun survey of the wellbore. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein receiving the at least one continuous survey comprises taking the at least one continuous survey during an outrun survey of the wellbore. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising receiving at least one continuous survey comprising a plurality of continuous survey measurements taken across one or more of the corresponding plurality of locations. 
     
     
         47 . A method for generating data for a continuous survey of a previously drilled portion of a wellbore, the method comprising:
 taking a plurality of stationary survey measurements at a corresponding plurality of locations along the portion of the wellbore; and   taking at least one continuous survey comprising a plurality of continuous survey measurements between a pair of stationary survey measurements of the plurality of stationary survey measurements.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein taking the plurality of stationary survey measurements is performed using at least one survey tool and taking the at least one continuous survey is performed using the at least one survey tool. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the at least one survey tool comprises a wireline survey tool, a slick line survey tool, or a drop survey tool. 
     
     
         50 . A method, comprising:
 taking a plurality of stationary survey measurements using a first survey tool along a portion of a wellbore;   taking a plurality of continuous survey measurements using a second survey tool, wherein the at least one continuous survey measurement is taken along the portion of the wellbore; and   producing a continuous survey of the portion of the wellbore by combining the plurality of stationary survey measurements and the plurality of continuous survey measurements; and   placing, or providing assistance to the placement of, production and/or completion equipment inside the wellbore based on the produced continuous survey.