Ground penetrating radar apparatus and method

An apparatus for ground penetrating radar, comprising:

• an antenna including a receiver portion and an emitter portion;
• a sleeve for absorbing radar waves, the sleeve including:
• a body that is elongate, hollow, and cylindrical, the body having an interior cavity for accommodating the antenna, the body including a radar-absorbent material and the body including a first axial length and a second axial length, wherein the second axial length is made of a non-radar-absorbent material such that radar waves can pass into and out of the second axial length;
• and
• an aperture, free of radar-absorbent material, extending along an axis of the sleeve for permitting radar waves to pass into and out of the sleeve, the aperture extending along the first axial length;
• wherein:
• the receiver portion of the antenna is disposed within the first axial length, and the transmitter portion of the antenna is disposed within the second axial length.

An apparatus for ground penetrating radar, comprising:

• an antenna including a receiver portion and an emitter portion;
• a sleeve for absorbing radar waves, the sleeve including:
• a body that is elongate, hollow, and cylindrical, the body having an interior cavity for accommodating the antenna, the body including a radar-absorbent material and the body including a first axial length and a second axial length, wherein the second axial length is made of a non-radar-absorbent material such that radar waves can pass into and out of the second axial length;
• and
• an aperture, free of radar-absorbent material, extending along an axis of the sleeve for permitting radar waves to pass into and out of the sleeve, the aperture extending along the first axial length,
• wherein:
• the receiver portion of the antenna is disposed within the second axial length, and the transmitter portion of the antenna is disposed within the first axial length.

An apparatus for ground penetrating radar, comprising:

• a sleeve for absorbing radar waves, the sleeve including
• a body that is elongate, hollow, and cylindrical, the body having an interior cavity for accommodating an antenna, the body including a radar-absorbent material;
• an aperture, free of radar-absorbent material, extending along an axis of the sleeve for permitting radar waves to pass into and out of the sleeve;
• and
• further comprising:
• a visible indicator positioned on an exterior of the sleeve to indicate an arc length of the aperture therewithin.

An apparatus for ground penetrating radar, comprising:

• a sleeve for absorbing radar waves, the sleeve including
• a body that is elongate, hollow, and cylindrical, the body having an interior cavity for accommodating an antenna, the body including a radar-absorbent material;
• an aperture, free of radar-absorbent material, extending along an axis of the sleeve for permitting radar waves to pass into and out of the sleeve;
• and
• at least one survey instrument coupled to the sleeve, the at least one survey instrument being for determining an orientation of the aperture relative to the axis of the sleeve.

An apparatus for ground penetrating radar, comprising:

• an antenna assembly including a sleeve for absorbing radar waves, the sleeve including
• a body that is elongate, hollow, and cylindrical, the body having an interior cavity, the body including a radar-absorbent material, and
• an aperture extending along an axis of the sleeve for permitting radar waves to pass into and out of the sleeve;
• an antenna disposed within the body of the sleeve, the antenna being for transmitting and receiving radar waves;
• at least one survey instrument coupled to the antenna assembly, the at least one survey instrument being for determining an orientation of the aperture in space;
• and
• a latching assembly for latching the apparatus to a drill string;
• and
• the antenna assembly, the at least one survey instrument, and the latching assembly being coupled into an elongate structure.