Patent ID: 7863900
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: E21B,G01V

Abstract:
1. In an overall process in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path from a specific starting point, a method for establishing the location of at least a portion of said particular path within the given region, said method comprising: establishing a reference path within the region; providing a portable locator and an information generating arrangement located partially at and forming part of said boring tool and partially at and forming part of the locator including a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the boring tool and a receiver in the portable locator having less than five spaced-apart sensors to receive the electromagnetic signal to generate certain information about the position of the boring tool relative to the position of the locator based on the electromagnetic signal; moving said boring tool in cooperation with moving said portable locator to establish a series of boring tool locations of the boring tool on the particular path, based at least in part on said certain information, such that each boring tool location is associated with one of a series of associated reference points of the portable locator on the reference path; from the series of boring tool locations and the associated series of reference points, establishing an actual path of the boring tool containing the series of boring tool locations which actual path corresponds generally to at least said portion of the particular path taken by the boring tool; and electronically saving a record of the actual path.