Underground drilling device employing down-hole radar

• US 20060185899A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Austin, Gregg A., Bischel, Brian J., Kelpe, Hans, Alft, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/376,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20060185899A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/24
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• 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 7/06 Deflecting the direction of boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/065 using oriented fluid jets

Abstract

Devices for sensing at an underground drilling device in communication with an above-ground locator involve transmitting a radar probe signal from the underground drilling device. A radar return signal is received at the underground drilling device. The radar return signal is processed at the underground drilling device to produce sensor data. The sensor data is transmitted in a form suitable for reception by the above-ground locator.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a bore plan representative of an intended bore;

receiving product information concerning a product to be installed in the intended bore;

drilling a pilot bore in accordance with the bore plan; and

adjusting drilling of the pilot bore in response to the product information to ensure that the pilot bore accommodates the product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the product information comprises product diameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the product information comprises allowable bend radius of the product.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the product information comprises quantity of the product to be installed in the intended bore.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the product information comprises safety clearance between the product to be installed and underground utilities or obstacles.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the product information comprises maximum allowable depth of the product to be installed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving ground cover information concerning ground cover above the product to be installed in the intended bore, wherein drilling of the pilot bore is adjusted in response to the ground cover information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting pilot bore drilling comprises modifying the bore plan and determining if pilot bore adjustment is consistent with constraints of the bore plan.

9. A method, comprising:

establishing a bore plan representative of an intended bore;

receiving product information concerning a product to be installed in the intended bore;

estimating backreamer deviation from a pilot bore along the intended bore in response to the product information; and

adjusting drilling of the pilot bore in accordance with the estimated backreamer deviation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information comprises product diameter.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information comprises allowable bend radius of the product.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information comprises quantity of the product to be installed in the intended bore.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information comprises safety clearance between the product to be installed and underground utilities or obstacles.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information comprises maximum allowable depth of the product to be installed.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving ground cover information concerning ground cover above the product to be installed in the intended bore, wherein drilling of the pilot bore is adjusted in response to the ground cover information.

16. A system, comprising:

a cutting tool coupled to a drill string;

a driving apparatus coupled to the drill string;

memory configured to store a bore plan representative of an intended bore and product information concerning a product to be installed in the intended bore; and

a controller coupled to the driving apparatus and the memory, the controller configured to control the driving apparatus while drilling a pilot bore in accordance with the bore plan and to adjust drilling of the pilot bore in response to the product information to ensure that the pilot bore accommodates the product.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to adjust pilot bore drilling in accordance with an estimated backreamer deviation from the pilot bore along the intended bore in response to the product information.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a bore planning system configured to generate the bore plan.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the product information comprises product diameter.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the product information comprises allowable bend radius of the product.