# US 11,905,827 B2 · Remote digitization of electromagnetic telemetry signal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,905,827 B2 - Document ID: US11905827B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/333,952 - Filed: 2021-05-28 - Published: 2022-12-01 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-28 - Assignees: HighSide Carbide Canada Ltd. - Applicants: HighSide Carbide Canada Ltd. - Inventors: Alexander Down; Ryan McPhee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11905827B2 ## CPC - E21B 47/13: by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency - E21B 7/046: {horizontal drilling (drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003)} - E21B 47/125: using earth as an electrical conductor (by electromagnetic energy E21B47/13) - G01S 19/14: specially adapted for specific applications - 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) - G01V 3/34: Transmitting data to recording or processing apparatus; Recording data - H04B 1/0003: {Software-defined radio [SDR] systems, i.e. systems wherein components typically implemented in hardware, e.g. filters or modulators/demodulators, are implented using software, e.g. by involving an AD or DA conversion stage such that at least part of the signal processing is performed in the digital domain (digital baseband systems H04L25/00; digital modulation/demodulation H04L27/00; CDMA H04B1/707; TDMA H04B7/2643; image transmission H04N5/00)} - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - H04W 4/20: Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel - H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information - H04W 56/001: {Synchronization between nodes} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A digitizing apparatus for transmitting electromagnetic telemetry signals to facilitate drilling operations comprises a local receiver and one or more remote transmitters. A method uses the remote transmitter to measure an electric potential between a pair of ground stakes that are positioned at some distance away from the local receiver. The local receiver is coupled to a surface receiver that is located at or near a drilling rig. The remote transmitter converts the electric potential into a digital signal and transmits the digital signal wirelessly to the local receiver. The local receiver then converts the digital signal into an analog signal that is provided to the surface receiver for processing. The remote transmitter and local receiver may comprise GPS clocks to synchronize the signals to maintain a constant phase shift. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: installing a plurality of pairs of ground stakes in the earth, with each pair of the plurality of pairs of ground stakes at a respective distance from a local receiver located at or near a drilling rig; measuring, by a first remote transmitter, an electric potential between a first pair of the plurality of pairs of ground stakes, the electric potential between the first pair providing a first analog signal; converting, by the first remote transmitter, the first analog signal into a first digital signal that represents the electric potential between the first pair, the first digital signal having a first signal strength; measuring, by a second remote transmitter, an electric potential between a second pair of the plurality of pairs of ground stakes, the second pair being spaced apart from the first pair, the electric potential between the second pair providing a second analog signal; converting, by the second remote transmitter, the second analog signal into a second digital signal that represents the electric potential between the second pair, the second digital signal having a second signal strength; and one of: (a) comparing, by the first and second remote transmitters, the first and second signal strengths to determine which of the first and second signal strengths is greater; and if the first signal strength is greater, transmitting, by the first remote transmitter, the first digital signal wirelessly to the local receiver; or if the second signal strength is greater, transmitting, by the second remote transmitter, the second digital signal wirelessly to the local receiver; and (b) transmitting, by the first and second remote transmitters, the first and second digital signals wirelessly to the local receiver; and comparing, by the local receiver, the first and second signal strengths to determine which of the first and second signal strengths is greater. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing is performed by the first and second remote transmitters, and the method comprises: converting, by the local receiver, the first or second digital signal into a third analog signal; and transmitting, by the local receiver, the third analog signal to a surface receiver located at or near the drilling rig. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing is performed by the local receiver, and the method comprises: one of: (i) if the first signal strength is greater, converting, by the local receiver, the first digital signal into a third analog signal; and (ii) if the second signal strength is greater, converting, by the local receiver, the second digital signal into the third analog signal; and transmitting, by the local receiver, the third analog signal to a surface receiver located at or near the drilling rig. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the respective distance ranges from 50 meters to 6000 meters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein installing the plurality of pairs of ground stakes comprises positioning at least one pair of the plurality of pairs of ground stakes along a planned well path of a wellbore.