Patent ID: 9181791
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: E21B,G01V

Abstract:
1. A system for detecting soil characteristics within a borehole made via horizontal directional drilling, the system comprising: a drilling assembly including a drillstring with a proximal and distal end, a drilling rig and thruster coupled to the proximal end of the drillstring, and a drilling head coupled to the distal end of the drillstring, the drilling head adapted to create a borehole through various soil types, the drillstring configured to move with respect to first (Y a first load cell operatively coupled to the drilling rig and determining the thrust applied to the drillstring at the drilling rig (Ts) and the torque applied to the drillstring at the drilling rig (Qs); a second load cell operatively coupled to the drilling head and determining the thrust applied to the drilling head (Th) and the torque applied to the drilling head (Qh); a first navigational sensor determining the orientation of the proximal end of the drillstring along the (Y an odometer operatively coupled to the drilling rig and determining the length of the drillstring (s); a second navigational sensor determining the orientation of the drilling head along the (Y a microprocessor in communication with the navigational sensors, load cells and odometer via a communications subsystem, the microprocessor determining the characteristics of the soil as function of (Y wherein the microprocessor determines thrust efficiency (T