公开(公告)号：US20240418042A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-19

申请号：US18816470

申请日：2024-08-27

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Bruce Kolpack ,  David Bahr ,  Thomas J. Hall ,  Benjamin J. Medeiros

IPC: E21B7/04 ,  E21B7/06 ,  E21B41/00 ,  E21B44/00 ,  E21B47/024

Abstract: An apparatus and method are used in conjunction with a system for performing horizontal directional drilling, the system including a drill string extending from a drill rig to a boring tool such that the boring tool is steerable based on a roll orientation. The system also includes an arrangement for generating steering commands for guiding the boring tool to a target position. Responsive at least in part to the steering commands, a display is configured to selectively indicate each of a rotate command, a push command and a spin command. A steering indicator is described which indicates a current roll orientation of the boring tool. A 3-D grid can be animated and centered on either a steering or target indicator. Rounding of a steering command ratio can limit the display of target roll orientations to only those that a given boring tool transmitter is capable of sensing and indicating.

公开(公告)号：US20240360752A1

公开(公告)日：2024-10-31

申请号：US18766584

申请日：2024-07-08

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Albert W. Chau ,  Benjamin John Medeiros ,  Craig Caswell

IPC: E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04 ,  E21B21/08 ,  E21B44/00 ,  E21B47/02 ,  E21B47/06 ,  E21B47/10 ,  E21B47/12 ,  E21B47/13 ,  G01V3/18

CPC classification number: E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/046 ,  E21B21/08 ,  E21B44/00 ,  E21B47/02 ,  E21B47/06 ,  E21B47/10 ,  E21B47/12 ,  E21B47/13 ,  G01V3/18

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are described for purposes of initiating a response to detection of an adverse operational condition involving a system including a drill rig and an inground tool. The response can be based on an uphole sensed parameter in combination with a downhole sensed parameter. The adverse operational condition can involve cross-bore detection, frac-out detection, excessive downhole pressure, a plugged jet indication and drill string key-holing detection. A communication system includes an inground communication link that allows bidirectional communication between a walkover detector and the drill rig via the inground tool. Monitoring of inground tool depth and/or lateral movement can be performed using techniques that approach integrated values. Bit force based auto-carving is described in the context of an automated procedure.

公开(公告)号：US12012849B2

公开(公告)日：2024-06-18

申请号：US17571536

申请日：2022-01-10

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Albert W. Chau ,  Loc Viet Lam

IPC: E21B47/12 ,  E21B7/04 ,  E21B7/30 ,  E21B47/095 ,  E21B47/125 ,  G01V3/30

CPC classification number: E21B47/12 ,  E21B7/046 ,  E21B7/30 ,  E21B47/095 ,  E21B47/125 ,  G01V3/30

Abstract: A drill string communication system is described. An uphole transceiver can couple a signal onto the drill string at a power that is always greater that a selectable power for a downhole signal. Communication from a drill rig to an inground tool can be re-initiated using a maximum uphole transmit power of an uphole transceiver. A procedure can establish a new set of transmission parameters for a drill string signal to establish communication between the drill rig and the inground tool. The system can include a walkover locator that receives an active/inactive status-controlled electromagnetic locating signal. Responsive to a locating signal degradation, a reconfiguration command can modify the locating signal. The uphole transceiver and a downhole transceiver can automatically modify at least one parameter of a downhole signal. An uphole receiver can apply a compensation response to a transferred signal to compensate for a drill string channel transfer function.

公开(公告)号：US12000265B2

公开(公告)日：2024-06-04

申请号：US18117967

申请日：2023-03-06

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Albert W. Chau ,  Dmitry Feldman ,  Benjamin John Medeiros

IPC: E21B47/01 ,  E21B47/06 ,  E21B47/017

CPC classification number: E21B47/06 ,  E21B47/017 ,  Y10T29/49002

Abstract: Generally, a sonde, associated components and methods are described which can be used in conjunction with an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation. A sonde housing assembly includes an exterior configuration that is receivable within the inground tool cavity. The sonde housing assembly at least partially defines a sonde interior and is further configured for receiving the pressure sensor body of a pressure sensor in a pressure sealed engagement. A sonde electronics package is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive the pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde.

公开(公告)号：US11994023B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-28

申请号：US17843838

申请日：2022-06-17

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Craig A. Caswell ,  Scott D. Phillips

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  E21B7/04 ,  E21B41/00

CPC classification number: E21B47/13 ,  E21B7/046 ,  E21B41/00

Abstract: A transmitter for an inground operation includes an antenna and a sensor section for generating sensor data. An antenna driver selectively drives the antenna to emit a locating signal such that the locating signal carries the sensor data. A processor controls the antenna driver to transmit the locating signal during a normal mode and to enter a sleep state that disables at least the sensor section and the antenna driver such that the locating signal is not transmitted responsive to detecting that the transmitter is inactive. The processor can enter a snooze mode from the normal mode by disabling the antenna driver so that the locating signal is not transmitted, without disabling the sensor section, and the snooze mode requires less power than the normal mode but more power than the sleep state.

公开(公告)号：US20230272708A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-31

申请号：US18126001

申请日：2023-03-24

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Gary Garrabrant ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Scott Phillips

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04

CPC classification number: E21B47/13 ,  E21B7/046 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B47/107

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.

公开(公告)号：US11709179B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-25

申请号：US17546850

申请日：2021-12-09

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Albert W. Chau ,  John E. Mercer ,  Scott Phillips

IPC: G01P15/18 ,  G01P3/00 ,  G01P15/00 ,  G01P15/08

CPC classification number: G01P15/18 ,  G01P3/00 ,  G01P15/00 ,  G01P15/0888 ,  B81B2201/0235

Abstract: An accelerometer arrangement and method are described for determining accelerations of an inground tool. First and second triaxial accelerometers are supported such that a normal sensing axis of the first triaxial accelerometer is at least generally orthogonal to the normal sensing axis of the second triaxial accelerometer for determining the accelerations along the three orthogonal axes based on a combination of sensing axis outputs from one or both of the triaxial accelerometers. A weaker sensing axis of one triaxial accelerometer can be supported at least approximately normal to a weaker sensing axis of another triaxial accelerometer such that the weaker axes are not used. The triaxial accelerometers can be supported such that one axis of one accelerometer can be redundant with respect to another axis of another accelerometer. One triaxial accelerometer can be mounted on a tilted plane with respect to another triaxial accelerometer.

公开(公告)号：US11629554B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-18

申请号：US17373553

申请日：2021-07-12

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Bruce Kolpack ,  David Bahr ,  Thomas J. Hall ,  Benjamin J. Medeiros

IPC: E21B7/04 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/06 ,  E21B41/00 ,  E21B44/00

Abstract: An apparatus and method are used in conjunction with a system for performing horizontal directional drilling, the system including a drill string extending from a drill rig to a boring tool such that the boring tool is steerable based on a roll orientation. The system also includes an arrangement for generating steering commands for guiding the boring tool to a target position. Responsive at least in part to the steering commands, a display is configured to selectively indicate each of a rotate command, a push command and a spin command. A steering indicator is described which indicates a current roll orientation of the boring tool. A 3-D grid can be animated and centered on either a steering or target indicator. Rounding of a steering command ratio can limit the display of target roll orientations to only those that a given boring tool transmitter is capable of sensing and indicating.

公开(公告)号：US11613990B2

公开(公告)日：2023-03-28

申请号：US17752144

申请日：2022-05-24

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Gary Garrabrant ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Scott Phillips

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B47/0228 ,  E21B7/04 ,  E21B47/107

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.

公开(公告)号：US11603754B2

公开(公告)日：2023-03-14

申请号：US17347113

申请日：2021-06-14

Applicant: Merlin Technology Inc.

Inventor： Albert W. Chau ,  Kenneth J. Theimer

IPC: E21B47/013 ,  E21B47/017 ,  E21B47/01 ,  E21B17/00 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04

Abstract: A housing defines a through passage along its length and is configured to support a group of electrical isolators surrounding the through passage to form an electrically isolating break in a drill string such that each isolator of the group of isolators is subject to no more than a compressive force responsive to extension and retraction of the drill string. The housing defines a housing cavity to receive an electronics package having a signal port and is configured for electrical connection of the signal port across the electrically isolating break. A housing lid can cooperate with a main housing body to define elongated slots for purposes of enhancing the emanation of a locating signal. A housing arrangement can support electrical connections from an electronics package to bridge an electrically isolating gap.