IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,316,762
Granted Patent B2
US 9,316,762 · App. 14/049,330 · Granted Apr 19, 2016

Geo-locating positions along optical waveguides

Inventors: David A. Barfoot (Houston, TX); Paul H. McPhail (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
G01V8/24G01D5/35338G01V1/001G01V8/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,316,762
App. No.
14/049,330
Granted
Apr 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of correlating physical locations with respective positions along an optical waveguide can include transmitting to the waveguide a signal including an indication of the transmitting location, and the waveguide receiving the signal. A system for correlating a physical location with a position along an optical waveguide can include a transmitter which transmits to the optical waveguide a signal including an indication of the transmitter location, and a computer which correlates the location to the position, based on the signal as received by the waveguide. A method of determining a position along an optical waveguide at which a signal is transmitted can include modulating on the signal an indication of a transmission location, and transmitting the signal to the waveguide, thereby causing vibration of the waveguide.

Claims (10)

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a signal to an optical waveguide from a transmitter, the transmitter located at a physical location, the signal including an indication of the physical location of the transmitter;

receiving the signal with the optical waveguide from exterior to the optical waveguide at a position along the optical waveguide from an input to the optical waveguide; and

correlating the physical location with the position along the optical waveguide using light injected at the input of the optical waveguide.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the physical location includes a latitude and longitude of the physical location.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the physical location includes a descriptor of the physical location.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting comprises acoustically transmitting the signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting further comprises causing vibration of the optical waveguide.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a distance along the optical waveguide corresponding to the position at which the signal is received.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the position along the optical waveguide closest to the transmitting.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2013
From: BARFOOT, DAVID A.; MCPHAIL, PAUL H.
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 031370/0493 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150098673A1 · Apr 9, 2015