Boring tool control using remote locator

• US 7,225,885 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh; Sunil
• Application Number:
  US11/168,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20050236186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 175/45, 175/61, 324/326, 340/853.2, 340/853.3, 340/853.4, 340/853.5, 340/853.6, 299/30
• 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 and including a drill string that extends from said drill rig to said boring tool for carrying a drilling mud to the boring tool and for applying a push force to the boring tool to advance the boring tool through the ground, a monitoring arrangement comprising:

a detection arrangement at said drill rig for electronically 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 rig monitor section at said drill rig for providing said operational parameter selected as at least one of a drilling mud status and said push force;

a portable device configured for electronically receiving the data signal relating to the operational parameter for use by the portable device; and

a communication arrangement for electronically receiving the data signal from said detection arrangement and for transferring the data signal from the drill rig to the portable device.

2. The monitoring arrangement of claim 1 wherein said communication arrangement includes a telemetry link between the drill rig and the portable device for wirelessly transferring the data signal to the portable device.

3. The monitoring arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said operational parameter is the push force such that a maximum push value is established beyond which at least one of the boring tool and drill string will be damaged and wherein the portable device includes an indicating arrangement for indication of violation of the maximum push value.

4. The monitoring affangement according to claim 1 wherein said operational parameter is a pressure of said drilling mud in the drill string at the drill rig and said portable device includes an indicating affangement for indication of a lack of said pressure at the drill rig.

5. The monitoring arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said detection arrangement is configured for measuring the operational parameter at the drill rig to produce said data signal.

6. 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 and including a drill string that extends from said drill rig to said boring tool for carrying a drilling mud to the boring tool and for applying a push force to the boring tool to advance the boring tool through the ground, a method comprising:

electronically monitoring at least one operational parameter using a detection arrangement at said drill rig 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, and providing said operational parameter selected as at least one of a drilling mud status and said push force; and

wirelessly transferring the data signal, relating to the operational parameter, to a portable device for use by the portable device.

7. The method of claim 6 including providing a telemetry link between the drill rig and the portable device and said wirelessly transferring includes using the telemetry link for transmitting the data signal to the portable device.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said operational parameter is the push force and said method includes establishing a maximum push value beyond which at least one of the boring tool and drill string will be damaged and configuring the portable device with an indicating arrangement for indication of violation of the maximum push value.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said operational parameter is a pressure of said drilling mud in the drill string at the drill rig and said method includes configuring said portable device with an indicating arrangement for indication of a lack of said pressure at the drill rig.

10. The method of claim 6 including configuring the detection arrangement for measuring the operational parameter at the drill rig to produce said data signal.

11. 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 and including a drill string that extends from said drill rig to said boring tool for carrying a drilling mud to the boring tool and for applying a push force to the boring tool to advance the boring tool through the ground, a monitoring arrangement comprising:

a detection arrangement, located at the drill rig, for electronically monitoring at least one operational parameter which is measurable at the drill rig 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 rig monitor section at said drill rig for providing said operational parameter selected as at least one of a drilling mud status and said push force;

a portable device configured for electronically receiving the data signal relating to the operational parameter for use by the portable device; and

a communication arrangement for electronically receiving the data signal from the detection arrangement and for transferring the data signal from the detection arrangement to the portable device.

12. The monitoring arrangement of claim 11 wherein said communication arrangement includes a telemetry link between the drill rig and the portable device for wirelessly transferring the data signal to the portable device.

13. 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 and including a drill string that extends from said drill rig to said boring tool for carrying a drilling mud to the boring tool and for applying a push force to the boring tool to advance the boring tool through the ground, a method comprising:

electronically monitoring at least one operational parameter which is measurable at said drill rig to produce a data signal relating to at least one of the drill rig and the boring tool and providing said operational parameter selected as at least one of a drilling mud status and said push force; and

wirelessly transferring the data signal, relating to the operational parameter, to a portable device for use by the portable device.

14. The method of claim 13 including providing a telemetry link between the drill rig and the portable device and said wirelessly transferring includes using the telemetry link for transmitting the data signal to the portable device.