System including an arrangement for tracking the positional relationship between a boring tool and one or more buried lines and method

• US 5,757,190 A
• Filed: 05/03/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Control Corporation
• Inventors: Mercer, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US08/643,209
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 324/345, 324/346, 324/239-243, 324/234, 324/67, 324/326-329, 175/40, 175/45, 175/50, 175/62
• US Class Current: 324/326
• 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: G01V 3/081 the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00

Abstract

A system is disclosed in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region which includes at least one electrically conductive in-ground line. The system includes an arrangement for tracking a specific positional relationship between the boring tool and one or more in-ground lines. The arrangement generates a magnetic field from one of either the boring tool or the line. A particular characteristic of the generated field is detected at the boring tool if the field is generated from the line or is detected at the line if the field is generated from the boring tool. The characteristic varies as a function of the specific positional relationship between the boring tool and the line as the boring tool moves through the ground within the region. The arrangement is responsive to the detection of the characteristic and indicates certain changes in the positional relationship between the boring tool and each one of the lines being monitored irrespective of the approach path or orientation of the boring tool with respect to each line.

Claims

1. In a system in which a boring tool including a drill string having a length which is fed out in a way which moves the boring tool through the ground in a region which includes at least one electrically conductive in-ground line, an arrangement for tracking a specific positional relationship between the boring tool and said line, said arrangement comprising:

a) first means for generating a magnetic field from one of either said boring tool or at least from an underground length of said line;

b) second means carried by said boring tool if said field is generated from said line or connected to said line if said field is generated from said boring tool for detecting a relative change in a particular characteristic of said field, which characteristic varies as a function of said specific positional relationship between said boring tool and said line as the boring tool moves through the ground within said region;

c) third means for monitoring a value of at least one parameter relating to the way in which said drill string is fed out; and

d) fourth means for correlating the detected relative changes in said characteristic with the value of said one parameter in a way which indicates certain changes in the positional relationship between said boring tool and said line without the need to establish an actual distance between the boring tool and said line, said fourth means including means for producing discreet audio signals uniquely representative of a series of specific positional relationships between said boring tool and said line as the boring tool moves through the ground within said region.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing said audio signals includes means for producing said audio signals at space time intervals which depend on said characteristic.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5 wherein said characteristic is the intensity of said magnetic field and wherein said audio signals are produced in response to predetermined increases in the intensity of the magnetic field as said positional relationship changes.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said audio signal producing means initially produces said audio signals when the intensity of said magnetic field increases to a certain reference intensity level and, thereafter, produces audio signals at intervals which correspond with a doubling of the relative intensity.

2. In a system in which a boring tool including a drill string having a length which is fed out in a way which moves the boring tool through the ground in a region which includes at least one electrically conductive in-ground line, a method of tracking a specific positional relationship between the boring tool and said line, said method comprising the steps of:

a) generating a magnetic field from one of either said boring tool or said line;

b) detecting a relative change in a particular characteristic of said field from said line if said field is generated from said boring tool or from said boring tool if said field is generated from said line, said characteristic varying as a function of said specific positional relationship between said boring tool and said line as the boring tool moves through the ground within said region;

c) monitoring a value of at least one parameter relating to the way in which said drill string is fed out; and

d) determining certain changes in the positional relationship between said boring tool and said line by correlating the detected relative change in said characteristic with the value of said one parameter without the need for establishing an actual distance between the boring tool and said line and indicating said changes by producing audio and/or visual signals which are uniquely representative of the specific positional relationship between said boring tool and said line as the boring tool moves through the ground within said region.

47. A method according to claim 2 wherein said step for producing said audio and/or visual signals includes the step of producing audio signals at spaced time intervals which depend on said characteristic.

48. A method according to claim 47 wherein said characteristic is the intensity of said magnetic field and wherein said audio signals are produced responsive to predetermined increases in the intensity of the magnetic field as said positional relationship changes.

49. A method according to claim 48 wherein said step for producing said audio signals includes the steps of initially producing audio signals when the intensity of said magnetic field increases to a certain reference intensity level and, thereafter, producing audio signals at intervals which correspond with a predetermined increase of the relative intensity.

3. In a system in which a boring tool including a drill string having a length which is fed out in a way which moves the boring tool through the ground in a region which includes at least one electrically conductive in-ground line, an arrangement for tracking a specific positional relationship between the boring tool and said line, said arrangement comprising:

a) first means for generating a magnetic field from one of either said boring tool or at least from an underground length of said line;

b) second means carried by said boring tool if said field is generated from said line or connected to said line if said field is generated from said boring tool for detecting a relative change in a particular characteristic of said field, which characteristic varies as a function of said specific positional relationship between said boring tool and said line as the boring tool moves through the ground within said region;

c) third means for monitoring a value of at least one parameter relating to the way in which said drill string is fed out; and

d) fourth means for correlating the detected relative changes in said characteristic with the value of said one parameter in a way which indicates certain changes in the positional relationship between said boring tool and said line without the need to establish an actual distance between the boring tool and said line.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said characteristic is the intensity of said magnetic field and wherein said magnetic field is characterized by an intensity that decreases in a particular way as distance from the magnetic field generating means increases.

8. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said field is generated from said line and wherein said boring tool carries said second means for detecting said particular characteristic of the magnetic field.

9. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said boring tool includes a drill head and wherein said second means includes a receiver carried within said drill head.

10. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said detecting means includes at least one antenna for receiving said magnetic field.

11. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said detecting means includes an array of at least three antennas which are positioned orthogonally with respect to one another so as to receive said magnetic field along three orthogonally disposed axes.

12. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said characteristic is the intensity of said magnetic field and wherein said arrangement includes an antenna array which produces a vector sum responsive to said intensity at a particular location for identifying said positional relationship at that location.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12 wherein said boring tool is oriented in a specific way with respect to said line and wherein said vector sum is indicative of said positional relationship irrespective of the specific orientation of the boring tool with said line.

14. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said magnetic field is generated from said boring tool and wherein said line is in communication with said second means for detecting said particular characteristic of the magnetic field.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein said line is electrically connected directly with said second means.

16. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein said line is inductively coupled with said second means.

17. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein said boring tool includes a drill head and wherein said first means includes a transmitter carried within aid drill head.

18. An arrangement according to claim 17 wherein said transmitter includes an array of antennas positioned in a predetermined way with respect to one another.

19. An arrangement according to claim 18 wherein said transmitter further includes transmission/control means which drives said antenna array.

20. An arrangement according to claim 18 wherein said antenna array includes at least three antennas which are positioned orthogonally with respect to one another so as to permit transmission from three orthogonally disposed axes.

21. An arrangement according to claim 20 wherein said transmission/control means includes individual means for driving each one of said three antennas at a different frequency.

22. An arrangement according to claim 21 wherein a first antenna is driven at approximately 80 kHz, a second antenna is driven at approximately 100 Hz below 80 kHz and a third antenna is driven at approximately 100 Hz above 80 kHz.

23. An arrangement according to claim 20 wherein said transmission/control means includes means for simultaneously driving two of said three antennas 90°

out of phase with respect to one another at a predetermined frequency and means for switching said driving means between alternate pairs of said three antennas at a predetermined switching rate such that the transmitter alternately transmits from said three orthogonally disposed axes.

24. An arrangement according to claim 23 wherein said predetermined frequency is approximately 80 kHz and said switching rate is approximately 1 kHz.

25. An arrangement according to claim 24 wherein said detection means includes filter means for producing an output signal responsive to an average signal induced on the line by said magnetic field.

26. An arrangement according to claim 25 wherein said filter means includes a low pass filter having a roll-off frequency of approximately 100 Hz.

27. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein (i) said magnetic field is generated from said boring tool, (ii) the boring tool is operated from an operating location remote from said line, and (iii) said indicating means includes means positioned at said operating location for specifying changes in said positional relationship.

28. An arrangement according to claim 27 including a wireless telemetry link cooperating with said detecting and indicating means wherein a detected value of said particular characteristic is transferred from said detecting means to said indicating means via the telemetry link.

29. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said drill string is fed out at a predetermined feed rate to move the boring tool through the ground and wherein said third means includes means for monitoring said predetermined feed rate and the fed out length of the drill string, and wherein said fourth means indicates changes in the positional relationship based on the feed rate, the length of the drill string and said relative changes in said characteristic.

30. An arrangement according to claim 29 wherein said fourth means includes means for determining if the drill head is on a collision course with said line and for providing notification thereof.

31. In a system in which a boring tool including a drill string having a length which is fed out in a way which moves the boring tool through the ground in a region which includes a plurality of electrically conductive in-ground lines, an arrangement for tracking the specific positional relationships between the boring tool and each of said lines, said arrangement comprising:

a) transmitter means for generating a magnetic field from said boring tool;

b) a plurality of detector means, each of which is connected with a respective line for detecting a relative change in a particular characteristic of said field, which characteristic varies as a function of said specific positional relationship between said boring tool and each of said lines as the boring tool moves through the ground within said region;

c) monitoring means for monitoring a value of at least one parameter relating to the way in which said drill string is fed out; and

d) means cooperating with said plurality of detector means for correlating the detected relative changes in said characteristic with the value of said one parameter in a way which indicates certain changes in the positional relationship between said boring tool and each respective line without the need to establish an actual distance between the boring tool and each line.

32. An arrangement according to claim 31 wherein said characteristic is the intensity of said magnetic field and wherein said magnetic field is characterized by an intensity that decreases in a particular way as distance from said transmitter means increases.

33. An arrangement according to claim 31 wherein said indicator means is configured so as to independently track the positional relationship between each respective line and the boring tool and, thereafter, provide predetermined indications based on the positional relationships.

34. An arrangement according to claim 33 wherein said indicator means includes means for providing said predetermined indications as audio and/or visual signals which are representative of the specific positional relationship between said boring tool and each line and which distinguish the lines from one another as the boring tool moves through the ground within said region.

35. An arrangement according to claim 34 wherein said predetermined indications include audio signals and wherein said means for providing the predetermined indications produces said audio signals at space time intervals which depend on said characteristic.

36. An arrangement according to claim 35 wherein said characteristic is the intensity of said magnetic field incident upon each line and wherein said audio signals are produced responsive to predetermined increases in the intensity of the magnetic field as incident on each respective line.

37. An arrangement according to claim 36 wherein said audio signal producing means initially produces said audio signals indicative of a particular line when the intensity of said magnetic field incident upon that line increases to a certain reference intensity level and, thereafter, produces audio signals indicative of that line at said intervals which correspond with a doubling of the relative magnetic field intensity incident upon that particular line.

38. In a system in which a boring tool including a drill string having a length which is fed out in a way which moves the boring tool through the ground in a region which includes a plurality of electrically conductive in-ground lines, an arrangement for tracking the specific positional relationships between the boring tool and each of said lines, said arrangement comprising:

a) a plurality of transmitter means, each said transmitter means generating a magnetic field at least from an underground length of each respective line;

b) detector means carried by said boring tool for detecting a relative change in a particular characteristic of said fields, which characteristic varies for each line as a function of its specific positional relationship with the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground within said region;

c) monitoring means for monitoring a value of at least one parameter relating to the way in which said drill string is fed out; and

d) means responsive to said detector means and said monitoring means for correlating the detected relative changes in said characteristic of said fields with the value of said one parameter in a way which indicates certain changes in the specific positional relationship between said boring tool and each respective line without the need to establish an actual distance between the boring tool and said line.

39. An arrangement according to claim 38 wherein each one of said plurality of transmitter means operates at a different fixed frequency such that the magnetic fields emanated by said lines are emanated at different fixed frequencies.

40. An arrangement according to claim 39 wherein said detector means is configured to receive said fields in a way which distinguishes the fields from one another so as to individually track said characteristic for the field emanated by each line.

41. An arrangement according to claim 40 wherein said characteristic is the magnetic field intensity and wherein said indicator means responds to said detector means by producing a vector sum corresponding to the magnetic field intensity detected for each respective line when the boring tool is at a particular location for identifying said positional relationship for each line at that location.

42. An arrangement according to claim 41 wherein said boring tool is oriented in a specific way with respect to said lines and wherein a magnitude of said vector sum for each line is indicative of said positional relationship between the boring tool and that line irrespective of the specific orientation of the boring tool.

43. An arrangement according to claim 40 wherein each one of said plurality of transmitter means operates at approximately the same fixed frequency such that the magnetic field emanated by each line is emanated at said fixed frequency, said plurality of transmitter means cooperating with one another and with the detector means such that the magnetic field is emanated from each line in a way which permits the detector means to distinguish the fields from one another so as to individually track the field emanated by each line.

44. An arrangement according to claim 43 wherein each said transmitter means operates individually at a predetermined interval such that the magnetic field is emanated from one line at a time.

45. In a system in which a boring tool including a drill string having a length which is fed out in a way which moves the boring tool through the ground in a region which includes at least one electrically conductive in-ground line, a method of tracking a specific positional relationship between the boring tool and said line, said method comprising the steps of:

a) generating a magnetic field from one of either said boring tool or an underground length of said line;

b) detecting a relative change in a particular characteristic of said field from said line if said field is generated from said boring tool or from said boring tool if said field is generated from said line, said characteristic varying as a function of said specific positional relationship between said boring tool and said line as the boring tool moves through the ground within said region;

c) monitoring a value of at least one parameter relating to the way in which said drill string is fed out, and

d) indicating certain changes in the positional relationship between said boring tool and said line by correlating the detected relative change in said characteristic with the value of said one parameter without the need for establishing an actual distance between the boring tool and said line.

46. A method according to claim 45 wherein said characteristic is the intensity of said magnetic field and wherein said magnetic field is characterized by an intensity that decreases in a particular way as distance from the magnetic field generating means increases.

50. A method according to claim 45 wherein said characteristic is the intensity of the magnetic field and wherein said detecting step includes the step of producing a vector sum responsive to said intensity at a particular location for identifying said positional relationship at that location irrespective of the orientation of the boring tool with said line.