The Charles Machine Works, Inc.

Subsite, LLC

Scott Bryan Cole

Brian K Bailey

Klayton Day Jones

Bradley S Marshall

Brian J Schrock

David R Brown

Michael F Gard

Floyd R Gunsaulis

Kelvin P Self

Larry G Morse

Michael R Campbell

Gerald A Stangl

Jacob Harman

Brent W Perteet

Richard Felix Sharp

Sarah Leick

Jignesh Kumar Keshavlal Vaghela

Víctor D Cámara Puerto

Victor D Camara Puerto

Robert Stevens

Kip Harkness

John Mellesmoen

A system for tracking an underground object. An above-ground tracking device has an antenna array located at a terminal end. The antenna array can determine a location of the underground object based upon the direction and magnitude of a magnetic field emanating from that object. The tracking device is registrable with a rover such that the antenna array may be moved by the rover in response to the magnetic field. A processor onboard the tracking device may communicate commands to the rover to either maintain its position relative to the underground object, or move to a location where the magnetic field can be measured.

Autonomous horizontal directional drilling ('HDD') tracking system with rover

A method for detecting a beacon signal using an above-ground tracker. The tracker comprises an antenna assembly comprising a plurality of antennas. Each antenna is oriented in a different direction. During operation, if the beacon signal is interrupted due to a local noise source, transmission of the beacon signal is stopped. The tracker then detects radiation from the local noise source and the processor determines a direction from which peak ambient noise arrives at the tracker. The beacon signal is then resumed. A processor included in the tracker excludes any signals generated by the antenna assembly that are representative of radiation that arrived at the tracker from the same direction the peak ambient noise arrived at the tracker. The tracker then detects the beacon signal using the non-excluded signals.

Noise minimization to communicate with a beacon

A method and apparatus for installing a monitoring cable or other utility near an existing pipeline. An electromagnetic signal may be induced on the pipeline, either directly, or by transmitting a signal from a vehicle carrying a sensor array. The sensors disposed on the vehicle communicate with a processor to determine a distance and orientation of the vehicle relative to the pipeline. The signal may be electromagnetic, acoustic, capacitive, or the like. A plow or other digging tool may be on the vehicle or a secondary vehicle. Such a digging tool opens a trench and installs the cable along a path disposed next to the pipeline within an acceptable distance range from the pipeline. The vehicle may be remotely or automatically operated.

Pipeline following sensor arrangement

A downhole energy harvesting system configured for use in a downhole tool. The system utilizes at least one harvesting antenna supported within the downhole tool. During operation, the harvesting antenna harvests energy from a beacon signal emanating from a beacon included in the downhole tool. The harvested energy is used to power electronics included within the downhole tool during the course of a boring operation.

Downhole energy harvesting system

A calibration method for calibrating an underground beacon and tracker system for use with horizontal directional drilling. The beacon emits a magnetic field, which is received at an above-ground receiving antenna. The antenna is used to locate front and rear null points in the emitted field. The vertical and horizontal offset between the null points is determined to locate the beacon. Then, the magnetic field strength is determined at one of the null points. This value may be used to calculate or update a calibration constant. The calibration constant is then used in subsequent locating step while the characteristics of the underground environment surrounding the beacon remain similar.

Null point depth calibration

An optimizable beacon and method of using the same. The beacon has an onboard power source with a finite capacity. The system uses a capacitor bank to adjust the capacitance of the beacon, thereby maximizing the signal provided considering conditions, rather than simply using a theoretical value. With the specified capacitance being used, the beacon may be optimized in both a high and low power mode by driving the current to ensure the measured power is greater than or equal to a target. The system may also have a motion sensor to toggle the power off, or to a low-power mode, when the beacon is moving, and location measurements are not taking place. The optimization process may also consider the chemistry of the battery being utilized.

Beacon optimization

A system for tracking and steering a downhole tool using an augmented reality device. A tracker tracks the location of a downhole tool as it moves underground and transmits data to the device, while one or more sensors measure a position and orientation of the device. The device analyzes the data received from the tracker and the sensors and generates a virtual image of the downhole tool. The virtual image is displayed on the device at its detected location relative to the ground surface and relative to the position of the device. The position of the displayed virtual image is modified in response to updated information from the tracker or the sensors. Virtual images representing various parameters of the drilling operation are also displayed on the device in juxtaposition with the virtual image of the downhole tool.

Augmented reality system for use in horizontal directional drilling operations

A method and system for using GPS signals and a magnetic field to track an underground magnetic field source. A tracker having an antenna for detecting the magnetic field and a GPS receiver is coupled to a processor. The magnetic field is used by the antenna to direct the tracker to a field null point. Once multiple measurements of the field are taken, the changes in signal strength as the absolute position of the tracker is changed, are used to determine whether the closest field null point is in front of or behind the underground beacon. The position and depth of the beacon can then be estimated.

GPS assisted walkover locating system and method

A system for tracking a below-ground transmitter from an aerial receiver. The receiver has an antenna assembly, a processor, and a propulsion system. The antenna assembly detects the magnetic field from an underground transmitter and generates an antenna signal. The processor is programmed to receive the antenna signal and generate a command signal, which moves the receiver to a position above the transmitter. Once in the desired position, which may be a reference plane at a fixed elevation, the antenna assembly measures the magnetic field to determine the location of the drill bit along borepath.

Device and method for tracking a downhole tool

An antenna arrangement. The arrangement uses four conductive loops, each within a distinct plane from the other conductive loops. The four conductive loops have a common center point. Each loop is within a dipole magnetic field, and detects a component thereof. By balancing the signals received between matched pairs of the conductive loops, the difference between the signals can be used to guide the antenna arrangement to a null point&#x2014;that is&#x2014;a point in the magnetic field where each pair of conductive loops is balanced. The antenna arrangement can further be used to determine the depth of the dipole field source using the magnitude of the field.

Dipole locator using balanced antenna signals

A system for tracking and guiding a downhole tool underground along a desired borepath. GPS measurements are taken by a GPS unit at desired waypoints on the ground surface that overlays the desired borepath. A planned route for the downhole tool to follow underground is generated from the GPS measurements of the waypoints. A tracker is used to track the location of the downhole tool underground while drilling a borepath. GPS measurements of a series of above-ground locations that overlay the borepath created by the moving downhole tool are taken and sent to the processor. The processor checks for deviation between the GPS measurements of the above-ground locations and the planned route and provides directions to correct the borepath of the downhole tool in response to the deviation.

Method for guiding a downhole tool underground

Airborne locator of an underground object

A system for locating an underground utility line using a beacon positioned within a downhole tool. The beacon comprises a magnetic sensor formed from one or more ferrite rods. The rods are arranged such that no rod is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the beacon housing. The magnetic sensor detects the presence of an underground utility line and sends a signal to an above-ground tracker indicating that a line has been detected. An above-ground locator may be used to determine the position of the line relative the beacon, so that the downhole tool may be steered away from the line.

Growing community of inventors

Edmond, OK, United States of America

Scott Bryan Cole