The right tool for the ground you are in
Three ways to know where the bit is. We run all three, we will tell you which one the crossing needs, and we bring the hand that reads it.
Magnetic steering
A magnetic steering tool rides in a non-magnetic collar behind the bit. The wireline brings inclination, azimuth and tool face to the rig, and the guidance hand surveys every joint. Azimuth comes from the earth's field, so the tool is cheap to run and accurate anywhere the field is clean.
Pair it with a surveyed surface coil and the earth's field is no longer the only reference: the coil gives an independent position check that the downhole survey is compared against.
Use it whenOpen ground. Little steel, rebar or power nearby. Surface access for a coil on at least part of the bore.
It needs from youEntry and exit coordinates, the plan and profile, and a window to lay out and survey the coil before the pilot starts.
You getA survey every joint, live position against the design, and the as-built table and drawing after pullback.
Gyro steering
A gyroscopic tool holds its own reference and takes nothing from the earth's magnetic field. Sheet pile, rail, parallel pipelines, cased crossings and power corridors do not move the line. It is the tool specs call for when magnetic interference cannot be ruled out, and the right call when there is nowhere to lay a coil.
Gyro costs more per foot to run. We will say so, and we will say when magnetic with a coil will do the same job for less.
Use it whenRail and highway corridors with buried steel, pipeline rights-of-way, river crossings with sheet pile, or the owner's spec mandates gyro.
It needs from youEntry and exit coordinates and a true azimuth for the line. We survey those in if you do not have them.
You getSurveys every joint that do not depend on the magnetic field, and the same as-built package.
Coil tracking
A loop of wire laid on the surface and surveyed in, driven with alternating current. The downhole tool reads the field from that coil, and because the coil's corners are surveyed in, the bit's position is checked independent of the earth's field and independent of the survey math stacking up over a long bore.
We lay the coil to clear the obstacles that matter, survey the corners with RTK GPS, and put the coil geometry in the steering software before the pilot bit goes in.
Use it whenTight exit windows, existing utilities to miss by a known margin, long bores, or any time the owner wants an independent check on the as-built.
It needs from youSurface access along the alignment. Roads and water are worked around; we will tell you what coverage the layout gives.
You getCoil fixes logged with the survey, and an as-built the owner can trust.
What shows up with the hand
One truck, one guidance specialist, and everything needed to steer and document the bore. Your crew runs the rig. We run the line.
Downhole
Magnetic and gyroscopic steering tools, non-magnetic collars and subs sized to your drill string, wireline and interface.
Surface
Coil wire, AC drive, RTK GPS for surveying the coil, entry, exit and every stake the crew needs.
Software
Steering software with the design loaded, live position against the plan, and the as-built table building as you drill.
Tell us about the crossing
Send the plan and profile and we will tell you which tool it needs, what it costs and when we can be on the rig.