A system for locating a casing collar includes a drill pipe sub-assembly with a drill pipe segment and detection apparatus. The detection apparatus includes a bypass port disposed in a wall of the drill pipe segment; an annular sleeve which directs fluid through the bypass port and into a drill pipe segment interior portion; an actuator which opens and closes the bypass port; and two magnetized coils which generate an electromagnetic field. The actuator closes the bypass port in response to a predetermined voltage generated by the magnetized coils when they displace past a casing collar. Also included are a weight loss detection device which detects a loss of weight in the drill pipe segment, and a depth determination device which determines a depth of the casing collar, based on detected loss of weight. Also disclosed and described are a related method and drill pipe sub-assembly.

Apparatus for the measurement of ore in mine ore benches or ore stockpiles is disclosed, the apparatus comprising: a mobile platform, defining a platform zone, wherein the mobile platform is positionable on or above a mine ore bench or stockpile; and at least one magnetic resonance (MR) sensor comprised in the mobile platform. The MR sensor includes a main loop and a drive loop located above the main loop. A magnetic resonance sensor control system is provided and configured to control at least one of: the positioning of the at least one MR sensor relative to the platform zone and/or mine ore bench or ore stockpile; the positioning of elements comprised in the MR sensor relative to each other; electromagnetic suppression characteristics of the at least one MR sensor; and/or sensitivity of the at least one MR sensor as a function of distance of the sensor from the mine ore bench or ore stockpile.

Apparatus for the measurement of ore in mine ore benches or ore stockpiles is disclosed, the apparatus comprising: a mobile platform, defining a platform zone, wherein the mobile platform is positionable on or above a mine ore bench or stockpile; and at least one magnetic resonance (MR) sensor comprised in the mobile platform. The MR sensor includes a main loop and a drive loop located above the main loop. A magnetic resonance sensor control system is provided and configured to control at least one of: the positioning of the at least one MR sensor relative to the platform zone and/or mine ore bench or ore stockpile; the positioning of elements comprised in the MR sensor relative to each other; electromagnetic suppression characteristics of the at least one MR sensor; and/or sensitivity of the at least one MR sensor as a function of distance of the sensor from the mine ore bench or ore stockpile.

A method for making a log of material properties in a plurality of beds from an instrument utilizes steps such as estimating material properties for said plurality of beds and/or estimating positions for a plurality of bed boundaries and/or estimating orientations for said plurality of bed boundaries wherein the bed boundary orientations are individually variable. The estimated positions, orientations, and/or material properties can be utilized to compute the log.

A method for making a log of material properties in a plurality of beds from an instrument utilizes steps such as estimating material properties for said plurality of beds and/or estimating positions for a plurality of bed boundaries and/or estimating orientations for said plurality of bed boundaries wherein the bed boundary orientations are individually variable. The estimated positions, orientations, and/or material properties can be utilized to compute the log.

A method that includes deploying a casing with a multi-electrode configuration over a dielectric layer in a downhole environment. The method also includes collecting electromagnetic (EM) measurements using the multi-electrode configuration, and processing the EM measurements to obtain a characterization of fluids in an annulus between the casing and a borehole wall. A related system includes a casing deployed downhole, the casing having a multi-electrode configuration and a dielectric layer between the casing and the multi-electrode configuration. The system also includes a controller for directing collection of EM measurements using the multi-electrode configuration, and a processor that processes the EM measurements to obtain a characterization of fluids in an annulus between the casing and a borehole wall.

A method that includes deploying a casing with a multi-electrode configuration over a dielectric layer in a downhole environment. The method also includes collecting electromagnetic (EM) measurements using the multi-electrode configuration, and processing the EM measurements to obtain a characterization of fluids in an annulus between the casing and a borehole wall. A related system includes a casing deployed downhole, the casing having a multi-electrode configuration and a dielectric layer between the casing and the multi-electrode configuration. The system also includes a controller for directing collection of EM measurements using the multi-electrode configuration, and a processor that processes the EM measurements to obtain a characterization of fluids in an annulus between the casing and a borehole wall.

An electromagnetic tool using slotted dipole antennas is presented. The dipoles may be placed in slots on a drill collar. A receiver or transmitter antenna consists of one or more slots. A dipole consists of a ferrite rod with electric wires placed above and below the ferrite. Wires may be connected such that wire current forms a loop around the ferrite rod. When a group of slots are used for an antenna, wire holes are constructed between slots. Effectively a single wire may be used to go above all ferrite rods in the group and then turn to go below all the rods. Two wire segments are in a wire hole connecting two adjacent slots. Currents in the two segments are the same in magnitudes and flow in opposite directions. There is no net current in wires in a wire hole.

An electromagnetic tool using slotted dipole antennas is presented. The dipoles may be placed in slots on a drill collar. A receiver or transmitter antenna consists of one or more slots. A dipole consists of a ferrite rod with electric wires placed above and below the ferrite. Wires may be connected such that wire current forms a loop around the ferrite rod. When a group of slots are used for an antenna, wire holes are constructed between slots. Effectively a single wire may be used to go above all ferrite rods in the group and then turn to go below all the rods. Two wire segments are in a wire hole connecting two adjacent slots. Currents in the two segments are the same in magnitudes and flow in opposite directions. There is no net current in wires in a wire hole.

A ranging system having magnets positioned at various locations along the drive system. Location of the magnetics is shifted to different points on the drilling string to remove the need for a nearby bit sub that would detrimentally affect the steerability of the drilling system.