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US 6,725,161 B1Granted
Method for locating and identifying underground structures with horizontal borehole to surface tomography
AssigneeApplied Minds, LLC
InventorsW. Daniel Hillis, Bran Ferren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for locating and identifying structures beneath a surface of the earth by processing and transforming a signal transmitted from a horizontal borehole at a specific depth from a surface of the earth into a representation of underground structures.
Claims84
A method for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising the steps of:
- drilling a substantially horizontal borehole with a length of passage at a depth from a surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from a surface of the earth are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region wherein any potential utilities may lie;
- transmitting a signal from a transmitter with an emitter which is moved along said horizontal borehole's passage;
- receiving said signal by a receiver which is moved along a pathway along the surface of the earth;
- taking measurements of said transmitter's and receiver's positions;
- and
- transforming the received signal, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures using a data processing unit.
3 more elements
A method for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising the steps of:
- drilling a horizontal borehole with a length of passage at a depth from the surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from the surface of the earth are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region where any potential utilities may lie;
- transmitting signals from a transmitter which comprises an array of emitters, wherein said transmitter is placed along said horizontal borehole's passage,
- receiving said signals by a receiver which is moved along a pathway along the surface of the earth,
- taking measurements of said receiver's and said emitters' positions;
- and
- transforming received signals, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures using a data processing unit.
3 more elements
A method for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising the steps of:
- drilling a horizontal borehole with a length of passage at a depth from the surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from the surface of the earth are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region where any potential utilities may lie;
- transmitting a signal from an emitter which is moved along a pathway along the surface;
- receiving said signal by a receiver which is moved along said horizontal borehole's passage;
- taking measurements of said emitter's and said receiver's positions;
- and
- transforming the received signal, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures using a data processing unit.
3 more elements
A method for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising the steps of:
- drilling a horizontal borehole with a length of passage at a depth from the surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from the surface of the earth are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region where any potential utilities may lie;
- transmitting a signal from an emitter which is moved along a pathway along the surface of the earth;
- receiving said signal by a receiver which comprises an array of receiving devices, wherein said receiver is placed along said horizontal borehole's passage;
- taking measurements of said emitter's and said receiving devices' positions;
- and
- transforming the received signal, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures using a data processing unit.
3 more elements
A system for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising:
- a means for drilling a substantially horizontal borehole with a length of passage at a depth from the surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from the surface of the earth are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region where any potential utilities may lie;
- an emitter which is moved along said horizontal borehole and transmits a signal;
- a receiver which receives said signal;
- a means for taking measurements of said emitter's and said receiver's positions;
- and
- a data processing unit which transforms the received signal, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures.
3 more elements
A system for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising:
- a means for drilling a horizontal borehole with a length of passage at a depth from the surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from the surface of the earth are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region where any potential utilities may lie;
- a transmitter which comprises an array of emitters, wherein said transmitter is placed along said horizontal borehole and said emitters transmit signals;
- a receiver which is moved along a pathway along the surface and receives said signals from said emitters;
- a means for taking measurements of said emitters' and said receiver's positions;
- and
- a data processing unit which transforms received signals, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures.
3 more elements
A system for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising:
- a means for drilling a horizontal borehole with a length of passage at a depth from the surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from the surface of the earth are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region where any potential utilities may lie;
- an emitter which moves along a pathway along the surface of the earth and transmits a signal;
- a receiver which is moved along said borehole's passage and receives said signal;
- a means for taking measurements of said emitter's and said receiver's positions;
- and
- a data processing unit which transforms received signal, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures.
3 more elements
A system for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising:
- a means for drilling a horizontal borehole with a fixed length of passage at a depth from the surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from the surface are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region where any potential utilities may lie;
- an emitter which is moved along a pathway and transmits a signal;
- a receiver which comprises an array of receiving devices, wherein said receiver is placed along said horizontal borehole's passage;
- a means for taking measurements of said emitter's and said receiving devices' positions;
- and
- a data processing unit which transforms received signal, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures.
3 more elements
A method for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising the steps of:
- drilling a horizontal borehole with a length of passage at a depth from the surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from the surface of the earth are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region where any potential utilities may lie;
- transmitting signals from transmitting unit comprising an array of emitters, wherein said transmitting unit is placed along said horizontal borehole's passage;
- receiving said signals by a receiving unit comprising an array of receivers;
- taking measurements of said emitters' and said receivers' positions;
- and
- transforming received signals, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures using a data processing unit.
3 more elements
A system for locating and identifying underground structures, comprising:
- a means for drilling a horizontal borehole with a length of passage at a depth from the surface of the earth, wherein said length of passage and said depth from the surface of the earth are so chosen that said horizontal borehole passes safely beneath a region where any potential utilities may lie;
- a transmitting unit comprising an array of emitters, wherein said transmitting unit is placed along said horizontal borehole's passage;
- a receiving unit comprising an array of receivers which receive signals transmitted by said emitters;
- a means for taking measurements of said emitters' and said receivers' positions;
- and
- a data processing unit which transforms received signal, along with information representative of said measurements, into a representation of the underground structures.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.