Apparatus and method for horizontal drilling

• US 20050199424A1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company Pella IA
• Original Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company Pella IA
• Inventors: Stump, Gregory S., Allen, Christopher T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/45
• 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 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/046 horizontal drilling drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/42 using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice versa G01V1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/30 operating with electromagnetic waves

Abstract

An apparatus and method for horizontally drilling provides for detecting subsurface features and avoiding such features during closed-loop control of an underground drilling machine. A horizontal drilling system includes a base machine capable of propelling a drill pipe rotationally and longitudinally underground. A cutting tool system is coupled to the drill pipe, and a control system controls the base machine. A detector is employed to detect a subsurface feature. A communication link is utilized for transferring data between the detector and the control system. The control system uses the data generated by the detector to modify control of the base machine in response to detection of the subsurface feature.

Claims

1. A method, for use in horizontal directional drilling, of communicating information between an above-ground locator and a sub-surface beacon, the method comprising:

transmitting a locator signal from the locator;

detecting the locator signal at the beacon;

determining a position of the beacon relative to the locator in response to the locator signal detected at the beacon and the orientation of the beacon;

transmitting from the beacon a beacon signal containing information relating to the position of the beacon; and

receiving at the locator information related to the position of the beacon.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising modulating the beacon signal with an information signal.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising extracting the information signal from the beacon signal at the locator.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the information signal is an operational parameter associated with the beacon assembly.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the information signal is an orientation signal indicative of an orientation of the beacon assembly.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

modulating the beacon signal with data relating to an orientation of the beacon assembly; and

processing the modulated beacon signal at the locator to extract the orientation data.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying the orientation data.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising producing three-dimensional image data of the beacon assembly within the sub-surface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the locator signal and the beacon signal comprises an electromagnetic signal.

10. A system for use in horizontal directional drilling, comprising:

an above-ground locator, comprising;

a transmitter arranged to transmit a locator signal in a substantially vertical direction into a subsurface;

a receiver arrangement comprising at least one receive antenna; and

a processor; and

a beacon assembly configured for sub-surface deployment, comprising;

a beacon receiver arrangement comprising an antenna arrangement adapted to detect the locator signal transmitted from the above-ground locator;

an orientation sensor adapted to sense an orientation of the beacon assembly;

circuitry coupled to the orientation sensor and beacon receiver arrangement, the circuitry configured to produce a beacon signal used to determine a position of the beacon assembly relative to the above-ground locator in response to the locator signal received by the beacon receiver arrangement and the orientation of the beacon assembly; and

a beacon transmitter configured to transmit the beacon signal to an above-ground location;

whereby the locator receiver arrangement is configured to receive the beacon signal and the locator processor is configured to determine the position of the beacon assembly with respect to the locator using the received beacon signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the locator receiver arrangement comprises a signal antenna.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the locator receiver arrangement comprises first, second, and third antennas oriented orthogonal to each other.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the beacon assembly comprises first, second, and third antennas oriented orthogonal to each other.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the orientation sensor comprises an accelerometer and the orientation of the beacon assembly comprises a pitch of the beacon assembly.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the orientation sensor comprises an accelerometer and the orientation of the beacon assembly comprises a roll of the beacon assembly.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the beacon transmitter is configured to transmit the beacon signal containing beacon assembly orientation information; and

the locator processor is configured to determine the orientation of the beacon assembly in response to the orientation information contained in the beacon signal and produce orientation data in a form suitable for display.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the locator comprises a display and wherein the locator processor is configured to produce data for producing an image showing the position of the beacon assembly on the display.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the locator comprises a display and wherein the locator processor is configured to produce data for producing an image showing a direction of the beacon assembly on the display.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the locator processor is configured to calculate a depth of the beacon assembly in response to the beacon signal received by the locator receiver arrangement.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the locator signal and the beacon signal comprises an electromagnetic signal.