Smart data acquisition for gyrocompass applications

A gyroscopic surveying tool comprising:

• at least one gyroscope deployed in and disposed to rotate with respect to a tool housing;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive or estimate a pitch angle and a roll angle of the gyroscopic surveying tool in a wellbore;
• determine a measurement duration for each of a plurality of gyroscope measurements from the estimated pitch and roll angles;
• make each of the plurality of gyroscope measurements at the determined measurement duration when the gyroscope is disposed at a corresponding plurality of rotational positions in the tool housing;
• and
• compute an azimuth of the wellbore from the plurality of gyroscope measurements.

A method for surveying a wellbore, the method comprising:

• deploying a gyroscopic surveying tool in the wellbore, the gyroscopic surveying tool including a single axis gyroscope disposed to rotate in and with respect to a tool housing;
• estimating a pitch angle and a roll angle of the gyroscopic surveying tool in the wellbore;
• determining at least first, second, and third measurement durations corresponding to at least first, second, and third gyroscope measurements from the estimated pitch and roll angles;
• making each of the at least first, second, and third gyroscope measurements at the determined at least first, second, and third measurement durations when the gyroscope is disposed at corresponding at least first, second, and third rotational positions in the tool housing;
• and
• computing an azimuth of the wellbore from the at least first, second, and third gyroscope measurements.