Thomas Charles Pepin

US Patent:

20140034388, Feb 6, 2014

Filed:

Jul 31, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/562898

Inventors:

Aaron M. Foulk - Woodbridge VA, US
William Suliga - Manassas VA, US
Thomas Pepin - Warrenton VA, US
Michael A. Toreno - Herndon VA, US
Mark Olender - Alexandria VA, US
Richard Pitre - Carbondale CO, US

Assignee:

RAYTHEON COMPANY - Waltham MA

International Classification:

E21B 47/02

US Classification:

175 45

Abstract:

A sensor array system includes a sensor array comprising a first sensor disposed underground and a second sensor disposed underground, and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensors of the sensor array, the processor operative to receive signals from the sensors of the sensor array indicative of seismic activity, and identify a position of a portion of a borehole machine operative to induce the seismic activity while disposed in an underground borehole.

US Patent:

20130000980, Jan 3, 2013

Filed:

Jun 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/170273

Inventors:

Benjamin Paul Dolgin - Newington VA, US
William G. Suliga - Manassas VA, US
Thomas G. Pepin - Warrenton VA, US
John T. Ishibashi - Burke VA, US
Michael A. Toreno - Herdon VA, US
James A. Nalasco - Fairfax VA, US

Assignee:

RAYTHEON COMPANY - Waltham MA

International Classification:

E21B 47/02

US Classification:

175 45

Abstract:

Disclosed is a system and method for horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The system and method utilize predictive algorithms to both characterize the soil within the borehole and to quantify instability within the drillstring. The soil characteristics are represented by a soil coefficient (α), which relates the curvature of the borehole with the length of thrust of the drill rig as well as by comparison of thrust while thrusting with torque while drilling. The value of (α) is obtained by comparison of the historical orientation of the drilling head over the length of the borehole and the borehole shape as determined by an arbitrary navigation sensor. Drillstring instability is determined as a function of historical thrust and torque efficiencies and windup over the length of the borehole.