Mapping tool for tracking and/or guiding an underground boring tool

• US 20020079136A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Control Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E., Zeller, Rudolf, Brune, Guenter W., Moore, Lloyd A., Ng, Shiu S., Hambling, Peter H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,457,537 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/45
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0228 using electromagnetic energy or detectors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0232 at least one of the energy sources or one of the detectors being located on or above the ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/04 Measuring depth or liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

A portable mapping tool for use in a horizontal drilling system and associated methods use a boring tool configured for transmitting a locating signal. The mapping tool also includes at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area. The mapping tool includes a housing and a transmitter arrangement supported by the housing for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling. The associated methods include the step of configuring the mapping tool for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region and using the received setup locating signal in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.

Claims

1. A portable mapping tool for use in a horizontal drilling system which includes a boring tool configured for transmitting a locating signal and at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area, said mapping tool comprising:

a) a housing; and

b) a transmitter arrangement supported by said housing for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by said detector in said region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.

2. The portable mapping tool of claim 1 wherein the locating signal transmitted by the boring tool is a first dipole field and wherein the setup locating signal transmitted by the portable mapping tool is a second dipole field.

3. The portable mapping tool of claim 1 wherein the certain initial conditions include the position of said detector in said region.

4. The portable mapping tool of claim 1 wherein said detector is positioned at a known location on the surface of the ground at said fixed position and wherein said certain initial conditions include an unknown position of the portable mapping tool at another location in said region relative to the detector at the known location.

5. The portable mapping tool of claim 1 wherein said system includes at least a first detector and a second detector at respective first and second spaced apart positions on the surface of the ground and wherein the certain initial conditions include the second position of the second detector relative to the first position of the first detector.

6. The portable mapping tool of claim 1 wherein said system includes a drill rig for actuating the boring tool from a drilling position in said region and wherein the certain initial conditions include the drilling position relative to an at least temporarily fixed position of the portable mapping tool in said region.

7. The portable mapping tool of claim 1 including a positioning arrangement cooperating with said housing for positioning the mapping tool, at least temporarily, on said detector in a predetermined way such that the orientation of the mapping tool is fixed relative to the detector on which it is positioned.

8. The portable mapping tool of claim 7 wherein said positioning arrangement includes an indexing configuration for engaging the detector in said predetermined way to temporarily fixedly maintain the orientation of the portable mapping tool relative to the detector.

9. The portable mapping tool of claim 8 wherein said indexing configuration includes a plurality of indexing pins in a configuration for engaging the detector in said predetermined way to temporarily fixedly maintain the orientation of the portable mapping tool relative to the detector.

10. The portable mapping tool of claim 8 including an arrangement within said housing for determining certain orientation parameters when the mapping tool is engaged with said detector.

11. The portable mapping tool of claim 10 wherein said orientation determining arrangement of the mapping tool includes a configuration for determining the magnetic orientation of the mapping tool and, thereby, the magnetic orientation of said detector when engaged therewith.

12. The portable mapping tool of claim 11 wherein said configuration includes a magnetometer.

13. The portable mapping tool of claim 11 wherein said orientation arrangement includes a tilt sensing arrangement for determining the tilt of the mapping tool and, thereby, the tilt of said detector when engaged therewith.

14. The portable mapping tool of claim 11 wherein said system includes a processing section remote from the portable mapping tool and wherein said portable mapping tool includes a telemetry arrangement for transferring the certain orientation parameters to said processing section.

15. The portable mapping tool of claim 10 wherein said mapping tool includes a display arrangement for displaying the certain orientation parameters.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the locating signal transmitted by the boring tool is a first dipole field and including the step of transmitting a second dipole field as the setup locating signal from the portable mapping tool.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of determining certain initial conditions includes the step of establishing the position of said detector in said region.

20. The method of claim 17 including the step of positioning said detector at a known location on the surface of the ground as said fixed position and the step of determining said certain initial conditions includes the step of establishing an unknown position of the mapping tool at another location in said region relative to the detector at the known location.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said system includes at least a first detector and a second detector at respective first and second spaced apart positions on the surface of the ground and wherein the step of determining certain initial conditions includes the step of establishing the second position of the second detector relative to the first position of the first detector.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said system includes a drill rig for actuating the boring tool from a drilling position in said region and the step of determining the certain initial conditions includes the step of establishing the drilling position relative to an at least temporarily fixed position of the mapping tool in said region.

23. The method of claim 17 including the step of positioning the mapping tool, at least temporarily, on said detector in a predetermined way such that the orientation of the mapping tool is fixed relative to the detector on which it is positioned prior to transmitting the setup locating signal.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said positioning step includes the steps of configuring the mapping tool with an indexing configuration to engage the detector in a predetermined way when positioned thereon and using the indexing configuration to temporarily fixedly maintain the orientation of the mapping tool relative to the detector.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of configuring the indexing configuration includes the step of defining a plurality of indexing pins for engaging the detector in said predetermined way to temporarily fixedly maintain the orientation of the portable mapping tool relative to the detector.

26. The method of claim 24 including the step of providing an orientation determining arrangement as part of said mapping tool for determining certain orientation parameters when the mapping tool is engaged with said detector.

27. The method of claim 26 including the step of configuring the orientation determining arrangement for determining the magnetic orientation of the mapping tool and, thereby, the magnetic orientation of said detector when engaged therewith.

28. The method of claim 27 including the step of using a magnetometer in determining the magnetic orientation of the mapping tool as part of the orientation determining arrangement.

29. The method of claim 27 including the step of using a tilt sensing arrangement, as part of the orientation determining arrangement, in determining the tilt of the mapping tool and, thereby, the tilt of said detector when engaged therewith.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein said system includes a processing section remote from the mapping tool and including the step of transferring the certain orientation parameters to said processing section using telemetry.

31. The method of claim 27 including the step of configuring the mapping tool to include a display arrangement for displaying the certain orientation parameters.

16. A portable mapping tool for use in a horizontal drilling system which includes a boring tool configured for transmitting a first dipole locating signal and at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the first dipole locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area, said mapping tool comprising:

a) a housing; and

b) a transmitter arrangement supported by said housing for transmitting a second dipole locating signal for alternative reception by said detector in said region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.

17. In a horizontal drilling system which includes a boring tool configured for transmitting a locating signal and at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area, a method comprising the steps of:

configuring a mapping tool for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by said detector in said region and using the received setup locating signal in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.

32. In a horizontal drilling system which includes a boring tool configured for transmitting a first dipole locating signal and at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area, a method comprising the steps of:

configuring a mapping tool for transmitting a second dipole locating signal for alternative reception by said detector in said region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.