Multifrequency locating arrangement with frequency designation

• US 7,990,150 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E., Brune, Guenter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patidar; Jay M
• Application Number:
  US12/761,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20100201366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/02 Determining slope or direction
• 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 47/092 by detecting magnetic anomalies
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• 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

In a system in which a transmitter is moved through the ground in a region, the system including a locating arrangement for tracking the position of and/or guiding the transmitter as the transmitter moves through the ground, a locating arrangement includes a configuration, forming part of the transmitter, for transmitting a locating signal at a current one of at least two locating frequencies and for transmitting a frequency designation identifying one of the frequencies of the locating signal. A locator receives the frequency designation and the locating signal for use in tracking the transmitter and a frequency tracking arrangement switches the locator between different ones of the locating frequencies, as the current locating frequency, based on said frequency designation. In one feature, the locating arrangement is configured for automatically switching between the frequencies based on the frequency designation.

Claims

1. In a system in which a transmitter is moved through the ground in a region, said system including a locating arrangement for tracking the position of and/or guiding the transmitter as the transmitter moves through the ground, said locating arrangement comprising:

a configuration, forming part of said transmitter, for transmitting a locating signal at a current one of at least two locating frequencies and for transmitting a frequency designation identifying one of said frequencies of the locating signal; and

a locator which receives the frequency designation and the locating signal for use in tracking the transmitter and including a frequency tracking arrangement for switching the locator between different ones of the locating frequencies, as the current locating frequency, based on said frequency designation.

2. The locating arrangement of claim 1 wherein said locator is configured for automatically switching between said frequencies based on said frequency designation.