James W Burrows

US Patent:

6868921, Mar 22, 2005

Filed:

Jan 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/341922

Inventors:

James W. Burrows - Seattle WA, US
Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA, US
John E. Mercer - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

Merlin Technology, Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B007/08
E21B044/00

US Classification:

175 26, 175 45

Abstract:

A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.

US Patent:

7165632, Jan 23, 2007

Filed:

Feb 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/051878

Inventors:

James W. Burrows - Seattle WA, US
Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA, US
John E. Mercer - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

Merlin Technology, Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 7/08
E21B 44/00

US Classification:

175 26, 175 45

Abstract:

A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.

US Patent:

7306053, Dec 11, 2007

Filed:

Dec 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/609786

Inventors:

James W. Burrows - Seattle WA, US
Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA, US
John E. Mercer - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

Merlin Technology, Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 7/08
E21B 44/00

US Classification:

175 26, 175 45

Abstract:

A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.

US Patent:

7472761, Jan 6, 2009

Filed:

Oct 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/930483

Inventors:

James W. Burrows - Seattle WA, US
Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA, US
John E. Mercer - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

Merlin Technology, Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 7/08
E21B 44/00

US Classification:

175 26, 175 45

Abstract:

A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.

US Patent:

7743848, Jun 29, 2010

Filed:

Nov 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/325182

Inventors:

James W. Burrows - Seattle WA, US
Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA, US
John E. Mercer - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

Merlin Technology, Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 7/08
E21B 44/00

US Classification:

175 26, 175 45

Abstract:

A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.

US Patent:

7967080, Jun 28, 2011

Filed:

May 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/780421

Inventors:

James W. Burrows - Seattle WA, US
Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA, US
John E. Mercer - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

Merlin Technology, Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 7/08
E21B 44/00

US Classification:

175 24, 175 45

Abstract:

A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.

US Patent:

8157023, Apr 17, 2012

Filed:

Jun 2, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/151517

Inventors:

James W. Burrows - Seattle WA, US
Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA, US
John E. Mercer - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

Merlin Technology, Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 7/08
E21B 44/00

US Classification:

175 26, 175 45

Abstract:

A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.

US Patent:

8342262, Jan 1, 2013

Filed:

Mar 16, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/422690

Inventors:

James W. Burrows - Seattle WA, US
Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA, US
John E. Mercer - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

Merlin Technology Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 7/08
E21B 44/00

US Classification:

175 26, 175 45

Abstract:

A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.