# US 10,246,986 B2 · Magnetometer mounting for isolation and interference reduction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,986 B2 - Document ID: US10246986B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/324,212 - Filed: 2015-04-30 - Published: 2017-07-13 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-08 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: John Harrison Farrah; Anand Prakash - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246986B2 ## CPC - E21B 47/01: Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like - G01V 3/26: operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified either by the surrounding earth formation or by the detecting device (with electromagnetic waves G01V3/30) - E21B 10/00: Drill bits (specially adapted for deflecting the direction of boring {E21B7/064}; with means for collecting substances E21B27/00) - E21B 15/00: Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts - G01R 1/00: Details of instruments or arrangements of the types included in groups G01R5/00 - G01R13/00 and G01R31/00 (constructional details particular to {electromechanical} arrangements for measuring the electric consumption G01R11/02) - G01V 2200/00: Details of seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting in general - H04L 1/00: Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received {(correcting synchronisation H04L7/00)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract In some embodiments, a magnetometer mounting apparatus and system may reduce noise and magnetic flux interference by mounting the magnetometer inside a cavity in a collar that fits around a tool insert. The cavity may be sealed with a hatch cover/outsert. Another embodiment mounts a plurality of magnetometers around the periphery of a mounting ring that is coupled to the insert. Yet another embodiment mounts the magnetometers in a gap sub in the BHA. Still another embodiment longitudinally mounts the magnetometers on the insert such that a diagonal distance between two magnetometers is the greatest possible on the insert. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetometer mounting apparatus, comprising: a tool insert; a magnetometer; a collar configured to couple around the tool insert, the collar comprising a cavity in which the magnetometer is mounted, wherein the magnetometer is electrically isolated from other collar sections; and a hatch cover coupled over the magnetometer in the cavity, wherein the hatch cover is positioned on an exterior surface of the collar and spans a portion of a circumference of the collar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing to hold the magnetometer within the cavity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising magnetometer associated electronics coupled in the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hatch cover further comprises a gasket configured to seal the cavity in combination with the hatch cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of collars coupled around the tool insert, each collar including a magnetometer. ### Claim 6 A magnetometer mounting apparatus, comprising: a collar comprising a plurality of sections; a gap sub coupled between the plurality of sections; a magnetometer mounted in the gap sub, wherein the gap sub is electrically isolated from the plurality of sections; and a cover configured to seal the cavity in which the magnetometer is mounted, wherein the cover is positioned on an exterior surface of the gap sub and spans a portion of a circumference of the gap sub. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gap sub comprises a dielectric material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the dielectric material comprises fiberglass or ceramic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gap sub further comprises a cavity in which the magnetometer is mounted. ### Claim 10 A magnetometer mounting apparatus, comprising: a tool insert; a mounting ring coupled to the tool insert; and a plurality of magnetometers coupled to the mounting ring, the plurality of magnetometer coupled around the periphery of the mounting ring; a collar of a drill string configured around the tool insert and mounting ring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of magnetometers are coupled externally around the periphery of the mounting ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 11, wherein outer edges of the plurality of magnetometers are physically separate from an outer edge of the mounting ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of magnetometers are coupled internally around the periphery of the mounting ring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 13, wherein outer edges of the plurality of magnetometers are physically separate from an outer edge of the mounting ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mounting ring comprises a dielectric material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The magnetometer mounting apparatus of claim 10, wherein a hole in the mounting ring corresponds to an axial hole running longitudinally through the insert. ### Claim 17 A magnetometer mounting apparatus, comprising: a tool insert; a plurality of magnetometers mounted radially on the tool insert; and connector ring configured to electrically couple the tool insert to a collar wherein a non-conductive coating or sleeve separates the insert from the connector ring and the connector ring from the collar. ### Claim 18 A system comprising: a downhole tool housing; at least one collar mounted inside the downhole tool housing, the collar comprising a cavity; a tool insert mounted inside the collar; a magnetometer mounted inside the cavity, wherein the magnetometer is electrically isolated from other collars; and a hatch cover coupled over the magnetometer in the cavity, wherein the hatch cover is positioned on an exterior surface of the at least one collar and spans a portion of a circumference of the at least one collar. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the downhole tool housing is part of a drillstring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the downhole tool housing is part of a wireline system.