Downhole positioning system
First Claim
1. A downhole positioning method that comprises:
- receiving at each of multiple receivers an electromagnetic positioning signal from a source in a borehole; and
combining positioning signal measurements from each of the receivers to determine a position of the source.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Downhole positioning systems and associated methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system comprises a downhole source, an array of receivers, and a data hub. The downhole source transmits an electromagnetic positioning signal that is received by the array of receivers. The data hub collects amplitude and/or phase measurements of the electromagnetic positioning signal from receivers in the array and combines these measurements to determine the position of the downhole source. The position may be tracked over time to determine the source'"'"'s path. The position calculation may take various forms, including determination of a source-to-receiver distance for multiple receivers in the array, coupled with geometric analysis of the distances to determine source position. The electromagnetic positioning signal may be in the sub-hertz frequency range.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A downhole positioning method that comprises:
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receiving at each of multiple receivers an electromagnetic positioning signal from a source in a borehole; and
combining positioning signal measurements from each of the receivers to determine a position of the source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A downhole positioning system that comprises:
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a downhole source that transmits an electromagnetic positioning signal;
an array of receivers that receives the electromagnetic positioning signal;
a data hub that collects amplitude or phase measurements of the electromagnetic positioning signal from receivers in the array, wherein the data hub combines said measurements to determine a position of the downhole source. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An information storage medium that when placed in operable relation to a processing device provides downhole positioning software that configures the processing device to:
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obtain amplitude measurements of an electromagnetic positioning signal made by multiple receivers; and
responsively determine a subsurface position of a source that generates the electromagnetic positioning signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification