Identifying subterranean structures using amorphous metal markers
AssigneeEnergy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
InventorChristopher Lee Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for identifying non-metallic subterranean structures using amorphous metal markers associated with the structures. Some examples will include the amorphous metal in the form of one or more sections of an amorphous metal foil within a protective enclosure sufficient to physically isolate the amorphous metal foil from the surrounding Earth. The amorphous metal foil and enclosure may be in the form of a tape which either will be secured to, or placed proximate the subterranean structure, which may be, for example, a pipe or conduit, or other non-metallic structure.
Claims25
A subterranean installation, comprising:
- a non-metallic structure covered by some dimension of Earth, hiding the location of the structure;
- and
- a marking tape disposed in proximity to the non-metallic structure, the marking tape comprising,
- an amorphous metal foil layer, and
- a protective covering preventing direct contact between the amorphous metal foil layer and the surrounding Earth.
A method of forming a subterranean installation, comprising:
- placing a non-metallic structure within a recess within the Earth;
- and
- placing a marking tape in proximity to the non-metallic structure, the marking tape comprising,
- an amorphous metal foil layer, and
- a protective covering preventing direct contact between the amorphous metal foil layer and the surrounding Earth.
A method of identifying the location of an underground non-metallic conduit, comprising:
- measuring a localized variation in the Earth's magnetic field through use of a magnetic gradiometer;
- and
- wherein the localized variation in the Earth's magnetic field is caused by an amorphous metal foil marker placed proximate at least a portion of the underground non-metallic conduit, wherein the amorphous metal foil marker includes an area of amorphous metal foil sufficient to establish a selected degree of localized variation in the Earth's magnetic field, the amorphous metal foil retained within protective enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.