Practical Value of INS in Gas Field Equipment and Drilling Applications

Our Multi-Platform Optical INS Enabling Precise Measurement in Complex Operating Conditions

As natural gas exploration continues to extend toward ultra-deep wells, horizontal wells, and complex geological structures, drilling operations face increasingly stringent requirements for wellbore trajectory accuracy, system stability, and environmental adaptability. In downhole environments where GPS signals are unavailable and magnetic conditions are complex, Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)—with their fully autonomous operation, independence from external signals, and immunity to magnetic interference—have become one of the key technologies for directional drilling and equipment attitude monitoring.

Core Roles of INS

Wellbore Trajectory Measurement (MWD / Gyro-Based Measurement)
INS continuously resolves inclination, azimuth, and tool attitude using high-precision gyroscopes and accelerometers, providing reliable data for wellbore trajectory control. Compared with magnetic measurement methods, gyro-based inertial measurement is not affected by formation magnetic anomalies, making it more suitable for directional drilling in complex geological conditions.

Equipment Attitude and Motion Monitoring
INS can also be applied to attitude and motion monitoring of gas field equipment and downhole tools. Under typical oil and gas operating conditions—such as high temperature, high pressure, and strong vibration—inertial systems are capable of delivering stable, continuous data, supporting operational safety and construction controllability.

Technical Features of Our Multi-Platform Optical INS

Based on the practical requirements of oil and gas applications, our multi-platform optical INS adopts a strapdown architecture integrating FOG/RLG optical gyroscopes with quartz accelerometers, and has been specifically optimized for natural gas drilling and related equipment. Key features include:

• Adaptive initial alignment, enabling flexible deployment under different operating conditions

• Integration of ZUPT and multi-sensor fusion algorithms to enhance long-term positioning and attitude stability

• Wide-temperature-range and high-reliability design, suitable for low-temperature, high-temperature, and high-altitude environments

• Support for continuous and stable operation, meeting the stringent reliability requirements of drilling operations

The system can serve as a critical component of downhole measurement tools or equipment attitude monitoring modules, providing stable and continuous inertial measurement data for field operations.

Enabling Higher-Precision Natural Gas Drilling

As natural gas development environments become increasingly challenging, INS technology—recognized as a mature and reliable navigation and measurement solution—will continue to play an important role in directional drilling and related equipment applications. By deeply integrating optical INS technology with drilling scenarios, operational safety, trajectory controllability, and overall drilling efficiency can be further enhanced.

For projects facing complex well profiles or harsh operating environments, we welcome further discussion on application requirements and technical details.