AZIMUTH
There are three azimuth reference systems: True (Geographic North), Grid North
and Magnetic North.
Geographic North: In geographic coordinates directions are referred to true north, or a true azimuth.
Geographic north points to the North Pole; this direction is indicated by the polar star.
Grid North: Grid north is an arbitrary direction and is always in the direction of the positive ordinate
axis of the specific grid used for a particular survey.
Magnetic North: Magnetic north can be measured by a simple magnetic compass. Magnetic azimuths
are not constant due to the movement of the north and south magnetic poles and hence magnetic
measurements may be in error due to local magnetic field variations.
In oil wells, all surveys with ‘magnetic type’ tools are initially given an azimuth
reading referenced to Magnetic North. However, the final calculated coordinates
are always converted to either True North or Grid North.
Magnetic Declination: Magnetic north and true north do not coincide. The
divergence between true north and magnetic north is different for most points on
the earth’s surface, and in addition to this the magnetic north pole changes its
position very slightly each year.
The angle in degrees between true and magnetic north is called the declination
angle. The declination angle is negative if magnetic north lies to the west of true
north and is positive if the magnetic north lies to the east of true north (refer
figure below).
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