The oil and gas industry experiences limited natural resources, which means many oil and gas companies have to drill new wells to maintain the oil and gas supply. The process of drilling new wells oftentimes means drilling in different rock formations, new directions, and going deeper into the ground. As a result, the environment is more dangerous and challenging. Oil and gas companies can leverage two magnetic sensors to help minimize operational challenges.
Fluxgate Magnetometers
Fluxgate magnetometers, a magnetic field sensor for vector magnetic fields, are used in directional drilling to assess the drill trajectory, known as the azimuth of the drilling tools near the drill. In directional drilling, multiple wells are drilled from a single well—fluxgate magnetometers improve accuracy and efficiency for hard-to-reach reservoirs. Without accurate drilling positioning, the oil wells can collapse.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
The second type of magnetic sensor used for oil drilling is nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). NMR helps identify rock formations and downhole logging, which are important for drilling efficiency and lowering costs. Nuclear magnetic resonance can help oil and gas companies understand rock porosity and permeability. This determines if a well would be suitable or not in a specific area. Additionally, it helps determine fluid phases and dynamics in real-time, which helps with drilling efficiency.
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