wellbore survey methods and apparatus for wireline and measurement - while - drilling operations are disclosed which include a gyroscope , wherein the gyroscope has a spin axis , aligned with the instrument axis , and further having two sensitive axis orthogonally related to the spin axis and to each other . in addition , the wellbore survey apparatus contains a drive means , functionally connected with the gyroscope , to rotate the gyro about the instrument axis . the wellbore survey apparatus also contains a set of accelerometers , wherein the sensitive axis are aligned orthogonally to each other , and said drive means is functionally connected to the accelerometers to rotate the accelerometers about the instrument axis . sensors determine the azimuthal direction of inclination of the wellbore at a first location therein and while traversing from said first location . attitude references of the wellbore with regard to said first location are determined while the tool is continuously traversing through the wellbore on a wireline . station measurements are automatically initiated by vibration measurements when configured as a measurement - while drilling system .