System and method for tracking and communicating with a boring tool
First Claim
1. A tracking system for use in horizontal directional drilling, comprising:
- an above ground tracker assembly comprising;
a dipole field transmitter oriented in a substantially vertical plane;
a tracker receiver arrangement comprising at least one receiving antenna; and
a tracker processor; and
a beacon assembly comprising;
a beacon receiver arrangement comprising a plurality of receiving antennas orthogonally arranged and adapted to detect the dipole field transmitted from the tracker;
an orientation sensor adapted to sense an orientation of the beacon assembly;
a beacon processor adapted to determine the position of the tracker assembly with respect to the beacon assembly in response to the field detected by the beacon receiver arrangement and the orientation of the beacon assembly; and
a beacon transmitter adapted to transmit a dipole field containing information related to the position of the tracker assembly; and
wherein the tracker receiver arrangement is adapted to detect the dipole field transmitted from the beacon transmitter; and
wherein the tracker processor is adapted to determine the position of the beacon assembly with respect to the tracker assembly in response to the information contained in the dipole field detected by the tracker receiver arrangement.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for determining the location of and communicating with a downhole tool assembly. A tracker assembly comprises a vertical transmitting antenna, a plurality of receiving antennas, and a processor. The downhole tool assembly has a beacon assembly comprising a plurality of receiving antennas, a transmitting antenna, an orientation sensor, and a processor. The transmitter in the tracker transmits a substantially vertical dipole field. The beacon assembly detects the vertical field and processes the signals to determine the location of the beacon relative to the tracker. The beacon assembly transmits the beacon location and operational information to the tracker assembly. The tracker assembly displays the beacon location and operational information on a visual display. The tracker assembly may also transmit operational commands or requests for information to the beacon assembly.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A tracking system for use in horizontal directional drilling, comprising:
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an above ground tracker assembly comprising;
a dipole field transmitter oriented in a substantially vertical plane;
a tracker receiver arrangement comprising at least one receiving antenna; and
a tracker processor; and
a beacon assembly comprising;
a beacon receiver arrangement comprising a plurality of receiving antennas orthogonally arranged and adapted to detect the dipole field transmitted from the tracker;
an orientation sensor adapted to sense an orientation of the beacon assembly;
a beacon processor adapted to determine the position of the tracker assembly with respect to the beacon assembly in response to the field detected by the beacon receiver arrangement and the orientation of the beacon assembly; and
a beacon transmitter adapted to transmit a dipole field containing information related to the position of the tracker assembly; and
wherein the tracker receiver arrangement is adapted to detect the dipole field transmitted from the beacon transmitter; and
wherein the tracker processor is adapted to determine the position of the beacon assembly with respect to the tracker assembly in response to the information contained in the dipole field detected by the tracker receiver arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A communication system for use in horizontal directional drilling, comprising:
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an above ground tracker assembly comprising;
a dipole field transmitter oriented in a substantially vertical plane;
a tracker receiver arrangement comprising at least one receiving antenna; and
a tracker processor;
wherein the processor is adapted to provide data input to the transmitter and the transmitter is adapted to transmit a dipole field containing data representative of the input from the processor; and
wherein the processor is further adapted to receive signals representative of a dipole field detected by the receiver arrangement and to extract data contained in the signals; and
a beacon assembly comprising;
a beacon receiver arrangement adapted to detect the dipole field transmitted from the tracker assembly, the arrangement comprising at least one receiving antenna;
a beacon transmitter; and
a beacon processor adapted to receive signals representative of the dipole field detected by the beacon receiver arrangement, extract data contained in the signals, and provide data input to the beacon transmitter in response to the data contained in the signals;
wherein the beacon transmitter is adapted to transmit a dipole field containing data representative of the input from the processor;
wherein the tracker receiver arrangement is adapted to detect the dipole field transmitted from the beacon.
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14. A method for communicating information between a tracker and a beacon, for use in horizontal directional drilling, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a substantially vertical dipole field from the tracker;
detecting the vertical dipole field at the beacon;
sensing an orientation of the beacon;
determining a position of the beacon relative to the tracker in response to the dipole field detected at the beacon and the orientation of the beacon;
transmitting from the beacon a dipole field containing the information related to the position of the beacon; and
receiving at the tracker information related to the position of the beacon. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification