Patent ID: 6559651
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method for locating an open in a conductive line of an insulated conductor beneath an earthen surface comprising:introducing a locator signal into a conductive line of an insulated conductor beneath an earthen surface at a transmission point, wherein said conductive line is surrounded by an insulative sheath; capacitively transmitting a ground current from capacitive points along said conductive line across said insulative sheath through earth to a ground reference in response to said locator signal, wherein said capacitive points are downstream of said transmission point and upstream of an open in said conductive line; receiving a ground locator signal in response to said ground current flowing through earth to said ground reference past a pickup positioned at a downstream point proximal to one of said capacitive points; and detecting a component of said ground locator signal indicative of said open.