350results about "Subaqueous/subterranean adaption" patented technology

An antenna for an electromagnetic tool having a longitudinal axis and a core. The antenna includes a flexible dielectric substrate flexibly conformed about the core and an electrical conductor disposed on the dielectric substrate. The electrical conductor is disposed on the substrate such that the antenna has a dipole moment having any desired direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

An underground radio communications and personnel tracking system uses a portable communications device worn by a miner when underground in a mine. A cap-lamp transceiver provides voice and text communication on ultra-low frequency (ULF) to ultra-high frequency (UHF) carrier frequencies and modulation adapted by programming of a software defined radio to making selective and agile radio contacts via through-the-earth, conductor / lifeline, coal seam, tunnel, and ionosphere / earth-surface waveguides for transmission of electromagnetic waves. These waveguides comprise layered earth coal and mineral deposits, and manmade mining complex infrastructures which serendipitously form efficient waveguides. Ultra-Low Frequency F1 / F1 repeaters are placed underground in the mine, and providing for extended range of communication of the cap-lamp transceiver with radios and tracking devices above ground of the mine.

An apparatus for transmitting wireless power is provided. The apparatus comprising a television system and a transmitter coupled to the television system. The transmitter is configured to emit a plurality of wireless power waves and define a pocket of energy thereby so that a receiver is able to interface with the pocket of energy and charge a device thereby, wherein the device is coupled to the receiver.

This invention provides, inter alia, communication devices for contactless underwater data transmission and reception. In one embodiment the present invention provides a transmitting device comprising (a) a water-tight housing; (b) a radiative element disposed outside of the housing, said radiative element comprising at least two antennae, wherein the radiative element is configured to propagate an electric field signal through water; and (c) a communications section disposed within the housing, said communications section being coupled to said radiative element, said communications section comprising at least one transmitter, wherein the communications section is configured to transmit digitally modulated data as an electric field signal propagated by the radiative element. Also provided are similarly constituted receiving devices, transceiving devices, systems containing such devices and methods of using such devices and systems.

An extended underwater electromagnetic transducer is provided with an electrically insulated transmission line typically connected to a transmitter or receiver or transceiver system. The transmission line allows near-field communications with another transmitter or receiver or transceiver system. The transmission line provided is relatively long, the through water signal path length can be significantly reduced.

An electromagnetic wave propagation resistivity borehole logging system comprising multiple groups of electromagnetic transmitter-receiver arrays operating at three frequencies. The borehole logging tool component of the system employs eight transmitters and four receivers. The transmitters and receivers are disposed axially and symmetrically along the major axis of the tool to form four group pairs. Each group pair consists of a transmitter-receiver groups axially and symmetrically on opposing sides of a reference point on the tool. Each, transmitter-receiver group consists of one transmitter assembly and two receiver assemblies. Each transmitter-receiver group is operated at two of three operating frequencies which are 100 kHz, 400 kHz and 2 MHz. Some of the transmitter and receiver assemblies are fabricated to yield azimuthally focused resistivity measurements, and to yield vertical and horizontal resistivity in anisotropic dipping beds. The system can be embodied as a logging-while-drilling system or as a wireline logging system.

An electromagnetic antenna for Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) applications is disclosed. The antenna can include several array elements that can act alone or together in various measurement modes. The antenna elements can be disposed in tool body recesses to be protected from damage. The antenna elements can include a ferrite plate crossed or looped by independent current carrying conductors in two or more directions forming a bi-directional or crossed magnetic dipole. Although disclosed as a MWD system conveyed by a drill string, basic concepts of the system are applicable to other types of borehole conveyance.

An underwater communications system is provided that transmits electromagnetic and / or magnetic signals to a remote receiver. The transmitter includes a data input. A digital data compressor compresses data to be transmitted. A modulator modulates compressed data onto a carrier signal. An electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna transmits the compressed, modulated signals. The receiver that has an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna for receiving a compressed, modulated signal. A demodulator is provided for demodulating the signal to reveal compressed data. A de-compressor de-compresses the data. An appropriate human interface is provided to present transmitted data into text / audio / visible form. Similarly, the transmit system comprises appropriate audio / visual / text entry mechanisms.

An assembly and process for identifying and tracking assets, particularly tubulars, equipment, tools and / or devices. An antenna is electrically connected to a responding device, such as a radio frequency identification device, and this assembly is connected to an asset. The antenna may be positioned about the exterior and / or the interior of the asset and significantly increases the range of signals that may be received and / or broadcast by the responding device. A transceiver may accordingly be positioned a greater distance from the asset without regard to the orientation of the asset and still permit communication between the transceiver and the responding device. In this manner, information that specifically identifies the asset may be compiled in a data base so as to maintain an accurate history of the usage of such assets as tubulars, equipment, tool and / or devices.

A method for generating electromagnetic waves in the ELF / ULF comprising the steps of using a ground-based Horizontal Electric Dipole (HED) antenna to send electromagnetic pulses upwardly in the E-region of the ionosphere to form an oscillatory or pulsed electric field; allowing said pulsed electric field to interact with magnetized plasma of the lower ionosphere to generate a pulsed horizontal and vertical current which have associated Horizontal and Vertical Electric Dipole moment; and allowing them to radiate.

A sea surface antenna comprises a cylindrical tube of metallic material 13 on a dielectric former. The tube has a longitudinal slot shorted at each end and coupled at its midpoint to a coaxial feed. The slot is bridged by two groups of capacitances each group being distributed along a respective half of the slot. The length of the antenna is less than 0.25 λ and the diameter of the antenna is less than 0.02 λ, where λ is the free space wavelength at the operating frequency. The antenna is dimensioned so as to operate in an evanescent mode at a resonant frequency less than the cut-off frequency.

A radio frequency applicator and method for heating a geological formation is disclosed. A radio frequency source configured to apply a differential mode signal is connected to a coaxial conductor including an outer conductor pipe and an inner conductor. The inner conductor is coupled to a second conductor pipe through one or more metal jumpers. One or more current chokes, such as a common mode choke or antenna balun, are installed around the outer conductor pipe and the second conductor pipe to concentrate electromagnetic radiation within a hydrocarbon formation. The outer conductor pipe and the second conductor pipe can be traditional well pipes for extracting hydrocarbons, such as a steam pipe and an extraction pipe of a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system. An apparatus and method for installing a current choke are also disclosed.

Techniques for implementing antenna configurations with substantially co-located axes are disclosed. A method for constructing co-located antennas includes winding a first antenna on a support, the first antenna having a first magnetic dipole in a first orientation; and winding a second antenna on the support through a first set of openings in the support, the second antenna having a second magnetic dipole in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation, and wherein a center of the first magnetic dipole substantially co-locates with a center of the second magnetic dipole.

A receiver and tracking system for identifying a location of a magnetic field source. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of tri-axial antennas are positioned at three distinct points on a receiver frame. Each antenna detects a magnetic field from a source and a processor is used to determine a location of the source relative to the frame using the antenna signals. Each tri-axial antenna comprises three windings in each of three channels defined by a support structure. The windings each define an aperture area. The windings have substantially identical aperture areas and have a common center point. The receiver may to display to the operator the relative location of the field source or may direct the operator to a spot directly above the field source.

The disclosure provides a resistivity tool for use in a wellbore, wherein at least two antennas are located at the same or substantially the same location of the tool. Each antenna may be configured to operate as a transmitter or receiver.

The antenna configuration presented is an integral component of a retrofit module designed to incorporate a data telemetry transceiver within the confines of a utility meter.

A method for processing magnetotelluric signals to identify subterranean deposits is provided for. The methods comprise obtaining magnetotelluric data from an area of interest. The magnetotelluric data comprises the amplitude of magnetotelluric signals recorded over time at one or more defined locations in the area of interest. The data for each location then is filtered through a set of frequency filters. The frequency filters correspond to subterranean depths over a range of interest. Amplitude peaks in the filtered data then are identified and analyzed to determine a value correlated to the resistance of the earth at each frequency and location. The resistance values are indicative of the presence or absence of deposits at the corresponding subterranean depth. Preferably, the amplitude data is power normalized across all locations in the survey, a gain factor is applied to the resistance values to scale the values for depth variation, and the resistance values are displayed as a depth-location plot for interpretation.

A method and apparatus for coupling a meter register to a communication device such that output data signals from the meter register can be transmitted to a remote location. The coupling arrangement includes a data transfer wire that is connected to the meter register and is inductively coupled to the communication device such that the data transfer wire does not need to be conductively connected to the communication device. During installation of the communication device, the inductive coupling between the data transfer wire and the communication device eliminates the requirement of a conductive connection.

A wireless electromagnetic telemetry system for broadcasting signals across a bottomhole assembly disposed in a borehole drilled through a subterranean formation includes an insulated gap at a first point in the bottomhole assembly, at least one magnetic field sensor at a second point in the bottomhole assembly which measures a magnetic field, and a circuitry which modulates a voltage across the insulated gap, wherein the voltage creates an axial current along the bottomhole assembly that results in the magnetic field.

Techniques for implementing antenna configurations with substantially co-located axes are disclosed. A method for constructing co-located antennas includes winding a first antenna on a support, the first antenna having a first magnetic dipole in a first orientation; and winding a second antenna on the support through a first set of openings in the support, the second antenna having a second magnetic dipole in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation, and wherein a center of the first magnetic dipole substantially co-locates with a center of the second magnetic dipole.

A water pit transponder assembly includes a housing with multiple sections including top, main and bottom sections snap latched together connected to a water meter. A circuit board transponder in the housing includes a controller, a transmitter, a receiver and tamper detection software connected to antennas. An encoder is connected to the water meter, and batteries provide power to operate the assembly. The transponder sends and receives at different frequencies through different antennas and is protected from environmental corrosion by being encapsulated in a get inside the housing.

An antenna including a feed tube with radial fins and circular plates at the ends of the tube and fins thereby forming a boundary for a plurality of resonant cavities. Curved plates, connected to the tube by switches of a switching system, partially encompass and subtend to the length of the tube. Interior to the tube, a transmission line from an end plate terminus conducts radio-frequency energy from the terminus to a hub and onto a switch of the switching system in which the switch is mechanically reactive to and actuated by a righting action of the curved plates when the curved plates encounter a sea state. When actuated, energy from the switch distributes to a proximate resonant cavity and curved plate to form a radiation pattern based on the difference in phase of the resonant cavity and curved plate.

A receiver and tracking system for identifying a location of a magnetic field source. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of tri-axial antennas are positioned at three distinct points on a receiver frame. Each antenna detects a magnetic field from a source and a processor is used to determine a location of the source relative to the frame using the antenna signals. Each tri-axial antenna comprises three windings in each of three channels defined by a support structure. The windings each define an aperture area. The windings have substantially identical aperture areas and have a common center point. The receiver may to display to the operator the relative location of the field source or may direct the operator to a spot directly above the field source.

In one aspects of the present invention, an induction resistivity tool incorporated into a downhole tool string comprises a downhole tool string component comprising a mid-body intermediate first and second tool joints adapted for connection to adjacent tool string components. The mid-body comprises a central bore formed within a tubular wall of the component, the tubular wall comprising an inner and outer diameter. At least one annular radial recess is formed in the outer diameter of the mid-body and comprises a coil adapted to transceive induction signals outwardly from the mid-body, and at least one flexible ring of magnetically conducting material is disposed intermediate the coil and a surface of the recess and arranged within the annular radial recess such that it filters a range of frequencies of the induction signals.

A device for electronically marking a buried closure has a transponder and a shield or cover affixed to the transponder in such a manner that, when attached to the buried closure, the transponder is positioned at a predetermined location and orientation with respect to the known position and orientation of the buried closure. The shield can have a raised portion housing the transponder, and is preferably elongated with an arcuate cross-section, generally larger than the buried closure.