Bore location system

• US 7,078,905 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mizuno, Morio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ledynh, Bot
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aurora, Reena
• Application Number:
  US11/157,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20050242818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 324/326
• 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 7/046 horizontal drilling drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

A system and method for locating a horizontal bore below a ground surface includes a transmitting source configured to radiate from the bore a dipole magnetic field aligned with the bore. A receiver is located remote from the transmitting source and has a first coil and a second coil. Each coil defines an axis, wherein the axes of the first coil and the second coil are orthogonal to each other. A measurement device is in communication with the coils and configured to measure the phase of signals induced on the coils by the magnetic field when the axis of the first coil is horizontally perpendicular to the axis of the magnetic field and the axis of the second coil is vertically perpendicular to the axis of the magnetic field. The measurement device is also configured to determine the lateral position of the transmitting source relative to the coils responsively to the phase of the signals on the first coil and the second coil.

Claims

1. A system for locating a horizontal bore below a ground surface, said system comprising:

a transmitting source configured to radiate from said bore a dipole magnetic field aligned with said bore;

a receiver remote from said transmitting source and having a first coil and a second coil, each coil defining an axis, wherein said axes of said first coil and said second coil are orthogonal to each other; and

a measurement device in communication with said coils and configured to

measure a phase of signals induced on said coils by said magnetic field when said axis of said first coil is horizontally perpendicular to the axis of said magnetic field and said axis of said second coil is vertically perpendicular to said axis of said magnetic field, and

determine a lateral position of said transmitting source relative to said coils responsively to said phase of said signals on said first coil and said second coil.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein said receiver includes a third coil in communication with said measurement device, and wherein said third coil defines an axis perpendicular to said axes of said first coil and said second coil.

3. The system as in claim 1 wherein said measurement device is configured to measure the phase of a signal induced on said third coil by said magnetic field when said third coil is parallel to said axis of said magnetic field.

4. The system as in claim 3, wherein said measurement device determines said lateral position of said transmitting source responsively to said phase of said signal on said first coil and the phase of a signal on a reference coil selected from said second coil and said third coil, and wherein said measurement device selects said second coil or said third coil as said reference coil based on a predetermined criteria.

5. The system as in claim 4 wherein said measurement device measures a magnitude of said signals induced on said second coil and said third coil and selects said second coil and said third coil as said reference coil based on said magnitudes.

6. The system as in claim 5 wherein said measurement device, when said third coil is selected as said reference coil, determines said lateral position of said transmitting source responsively to said phase of said signal on said first coil, said phase of said signal on said second coil and said phase of said signal on said third coil.

7. The system as in claim 5 wherein said measurement device selects said second coil and said third coil as said reference coil depending upon whether said magnitude of said signal on said second coil is greater than or less than said magnitude of said signal on said third coil.

8. The system as in claim 1 wherein said measurement device determines said lateral position of said transmitting source based on whether said signal on said first coil is in phase or out of phase with said signal on said second coil.

9. A method for locating a horizontal bore below a ground surface, said method comprising the steps of:

radiating from a transmitting source within said bore a dipole magnetic field aligned with said bore;

providing a first coil and a second coil remote from said transmitting source, wherein each coil defines an axis and wherein said axes of said first coil and said second coil are orthogonal to each other;

measuring a phase of signals induced on said coils by said magnetic field when said axis of said first coil is horizontally perpendicular to the axis of said magnetic field and said axis of said second coil is vertically perpendicular to said axis of said magnetic field; and

determining a lateral position of said transmitting source relative to said coils responsively to said phase of said signals on said first coil and said second coil.