BORING TOOL CONTROL USING REMOTE LOCATOR

• US 20110162889A1
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/45
• 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 44/005 Below-ground automatic control systems
• 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 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• 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: E21B 7/06 Deflecting the direction of boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/068 drilled by a down-hole drilling motor down-hole drives per se E21B4/00, E21B7/067 takes precedence

Abstract

A drilling system performs underground boring using a drill rig and a boring tool which is configured for moving through the ground under control of the drill rig to form an underground bore. A monitoring arrangement, forming part of the system, includes a detection arrangement at the drill rig for monitoring at least one operational parameter to produce a data signal relating to at least one of a utility to be installed in the underground bore, the drill rig and the boring tool. A portable device forms another part of the system for receiving the data signal relating to the operational parameter for use by the portable device. A communication arrangement, for example using telemetry, transfers the data signal from the drill rig to the portable device. The operational parameter may be monitored for the purpose of preventing equipment failure.

Claims

1. In a drilling system for performing underground boring including a drill rig and a boring tool which is configured for moving through the ground under control of the drill rig to form an underground bore, said boring tool including locating signal transmitter which transmits a locating signal for locating an underground position of the boring tool, a portable device comprising:

a housing configured for movement by an operator;

a receiver that is supported in said housing for receiving a data signal relating to an operational parameter of the drill rig for use by the portable device; and

a locating section supported in said housing for receiving the locating signal, transmitted directly from the boring tool, for use in identifying the underground position of the boring tool.

2. The portable device of claim 1 including a display arrangement, forming part of the portable device, for producing a display based on said data signal.

3. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the locating signal is a dipole locating signal and the portable device is configured to receive the dipole locating signal.

4. The portable device of claim 3 wherein the portable device is configured for generating certain information about the position of the boring tool based on the dipole locating signal.

5. The portable device of claim 4 wherein the portable device is configured for providing indications relating to the position of the boring tool.

6. The portable device of claim 1 configured for generating certain information about the position of the boring tool based on the dipole locating signal and including an arrangement for generating command signals and transmitting said command signals to said drill rig.

7. The portable device of claim 6 further configured to generate said command signals in view of said certain information.

8. The portable device to claim 6 wherein said command signals include steering commands for use in steering said boring tool.

9. The portable device of claim 6 wherein said command signals include roll orientation commands for use in controlling the directional orientation of the boring tool.

10. The portable device of claim 6 wherein said command signals include advance, retract and stop commands for indicating that the boring tool should be moved forward, backward or held stationary.

11. The portable device of claim 6 including a control arm positioned for actuation by an operator of the portable device the operator can cause said command signals to be transmitted from the portable device.

12. The portable device of claim 11 wherein the control arm is a joystick.

13. The portable device of claim 12 wherein said joystick is configured for use in generating straight, advance, retract and stop commands such that the boring tool should move forward, backward or be held stationary.

14. The portable device of claim 1 wherein said boring tool is configured for transmitting roll data, as part of said locating signal, and wherein said locating section receives said roll data and uses said roll data to determine a detected roll orientation of said boring tool which is related to steering the boring tool and said portable device includes a display for displaying at least the detected roll orientation of the boring tool.

15. The portable device of claim 14 wherein said display displays a desired roll orientation of the boring tool.

16. The portable device of claim 15 wherein said portable device includes a joystick positioned thereon and adapted for actuation by an operator such that the operator can issue commands to steer in a particular direction, advance or retract the boring tool and wherein said desired roll orientation of the boring tool is displayed based on the operator'"'"'s actuation of said joystick.

17. The portable device of claim 16 wherein said boring tool is configured for transmitting roll data as part of said locating signal and wherein said locating section receives said roll data and determines a detected roll orientation of said boring tool such that the operator of the portable device can compare the desired roll orientation with the detected roll orientation.

18. The portable device of claim 15 wherein display includes a clock face upon which said detected roll orientation and said desired roll orientation are displayed.

19. The portable device of claim 18 wherein said clock face includes a center position which represents boring straight ahead such that the boring tool rotates.