Borepath Analyzer

• US 20160356149A1
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Machine Works Inc (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Charles Machine Works Inc (Toro)
• Inventors: Cole, Scott B., Schrock, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,971,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/046 horizontal drilling drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

A tracker used to analyze a desired borepath prior to horizontal directional drilling operations. The tracker analyzes an amount of interference present at a plurality of different frequencies at multiple locations along the borepath and maps a plot of the interference at the different frequencies. The lower the point on the plot, the less interference present at that frequency at the location analyzed. The tracker summarizes the overall interference along the desired borepath for the different frequencies analyzed and will recommend a preferred frequency. An operator may program the beacon prior to boring operations to emit a beacon signal at the preferred frequency. The operator may also tune the tracker to receive the preferred frequency. The tracker and beacon may then communicate during boring operations at the preferred frequency in order to detect the position of the beacon underground relative to the tracker.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a beacon for use in horizontal directional drilling operations, the method comprising:

using a tracker to measure a magnetic field interference on multiple frequencies at a first above-ground location;

moving the tracker to a second above-ground location;

using the tracker to measure the magnetic field interference on multiple frequencies at the second above-ground location;

selecting a first transmission frequency in response to the magnetic field interference measured at the first above-ground location;

selecting a second transmission frequency in response to the magnetic field interference measured at the second above-ground location; and

configuring the beacon adapted for incorporation into a drill string to transmit on either of the first or second transmission frequencies, in response to a selection signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first transmission frequency and the second transmission frequency are the same.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first transmission frequency is different from the second transmission frequency.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first transmission frequency is selected in response to an amount of power required to emit a beacon signal at the first above-ground location.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second transmission frequency is selected in response to an amount of power required to emit a beacon signal at the second above-ground location.

6. A method for tracking a beacon along a desired borepath, the method comprising:

using a tracker to measure a magnetic field interference on multiple frequencies at a first above-ground location;

moving the tracker to a second above-ground location;

using the tracker to measure the magnetic field interference on multiple frequencies at the second above-ground location;

selecting a first transmission frequency in response to the magnetic field interference measured at the first above-ground location;

selecting a second transmission frequency in response to the magnetic field interference measured at the second above-ground location; and

detecting a beacon signal with the tracker at the first transmission frequency proximate the first above-ground location;

moving the beacon below ground from proximate the first above-ground location to proximate the second above-ground location; and

detecting the beacon signal with the tracker at the second transmission frequency proximate the second above-ground location.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

averaging the magnetic field interference on multiple frequencies at the first above-ground location and at the second above-ground location in order to determine an average amount of magnetic field interference.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the first transmission frequency and the second transmission frequency are the same.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the first transmission frequency is different from the second transmission frequency.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising using a processor to recommend one of a plurality of different digital modulation schemes for the beacon to operate on based on the magnetic field of interference on multiple frequencies.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the first transmission frequency is selected in response to an amount of power required to emit the beacon signal at the first above-ground location.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the second transmission frequency is selected in response to an amount of power required to emit the beacon signal at the second above-ground location.

13. An assembly comprising:

a beacon configured to generate a magnetic field signal at a first frequency and a second frequency, the frequency selectable in response to a command received at the beacon; and

a tracker comprising;

a first antenna configured to receive the magnetic field generated by the beacon on the first frequency at a first location and on the second frequency at a second location;

a processor configured to select the first or the second frequency in response to interference detected by the antenna on each frequency.

14. The tracker of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to process the magnetic field signal received by the antenna to determine a position of the beacon relative to the tracker with the tracker at the first and the second location.

15. The tracker of claim 13 wherein the beacon is incorporated into a drill string underground.

16. The tracker of claim 15 wherein the drill string is attached to a horizontal directional drilling machine located above-ground.

17. The tracker of claim 13 wherein the tracker is portable.

18. The tracker of claim 13 wherein the beacon is located below-ground and the tracker is located above-ground.

19. The tracker of claim 13 further comprising a second antenna configured to receive the magnetic field signals generated by the beacon.

20. A method for determining the depth of a horizontal borepath, the method comprising:

measuring magnetic field interference on multiple frequencies at a first and a second above-ground location with a tracker to determine a noise floor for the frequencies at the first and the second above-ground locations;

selecting a first depth to drill the horizontal borepath proximate the first above-ground location based on the noise floor for the frequencies measured at the first above-ground location; and

selecting a second depth to drill the horizontal borepath proximate the second above-ground location based on the noise floor for the frequencies measured at the second above-ground location.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first depth is selected in response to an amount of power required to emit a beacon signal with the tracker at the first above-ground location.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the second depth is selected in response to an amount of power required to emit a beacon signal with the tracker at the second above-ground location.