US 10,520,536 B2 · Apparatus for predicting a maximum operational depth for an underground drilling procedure and method

Abstract

A portable device and associated method are described for use with a system in which a locating signal is transmitted from within the ground during an operational procedure. The locating signal includes a transmission frequency that is selectable from a group of discrete transmission frequencies in a frequency range and the region includes electromagnetic noise that can vary. The portable device includes a receiver having a bandwidth that includes the transmission frequency range and is operable for measuring the electromagnetic noise in the transmission frequency range to establish a frequency content of the electromagnetic noise for use in selecting one of the discrete transmission frequencies that is subsequently transmitted as the locating signal during the operational procedure. The locating signal can be transmitted from a boring tool, a pullback arrangement or an inground cable. A predicted maximum operational depth for a transmitter can be determined prior to the operational procedure.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use in preparing for an underground drilling procedure in which a transmitter transmits a transmitter signal while moving through the ground in a region during the underground drilling procedure and said region includes electromagnetic noise that varies within the region and causes interference with the transmitter signal, said apparatus comprising:

a detector positioned at an above ground location to measure the electromagnetic noise in said region prior to said underground drilling procedure to establish a frequency content of the electromagnetic noise and to select a transmitter frequency based on the frequency content of the electromagnetic noise;
a processor to determine a predicted maximum operational depth of the transmitter for subsequent reception of said transmitter signal at the above ground location during the underground drilling procedure based on the measured electromagnetic noise;
and
a display to indicate the predicted maximum operational depth at least prior to the underground drilling procedure.

1 more element

A method for use in preparing for an underground drilling procedure in which a transmitter transmits a transmitter signal while moving through the ground in a region during the underground drilling procedure and said region includes electromagnetic noise that varies within said region, said method comprising:

prior to said underground drilling procedure, measuring the electromagnetic noise in said region at an above ground location to establish a frequency content of the electromagnetic noise and to select a transmitter frequency signal based on the frequency content of the electromagnetic noise;
determining a predicted maximum operational depth of the transmitter for subsequent reception of said transmitter signal at the above ground location during the underground drilling procedure based, at least in part, on the measured electromagnetic noise;
and
indicating the predicted maximum operational depth at least prior to the underground drilling procedure.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for predicting a maximum operational depth for an underground drilling procedure and method

Life of this patent

Apparatus for predicting a maximum operational depth for an underground drilling procedure and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17