There is provided a method and system for identifying the location of an obstruction in a pipeline comprising: sensing the magnetic field generated by a pipeline at an initial pressure from a first location along the length of the pipeline to obtain a baseline reading; altering the pressure from a first end until a maximum pressure or minimum pressure is attained; sensing the magnetic field at the maximum or minimum pressure from the first location to obtain a stress reading; and identifying the location of the obstruction as a) being between a second end and the first location when there is a deviation between the stress reading and the baseline reading at the first location or as b) being between the first end and the first location when there is an absence of a deviation between the stress reading and the baseline reading at the first location.

A method for mapping underground sensors onto a network map may include obtaining a plurality of magnetic measurements from a plurality of sensors. The method may include using the plurality of magnetic measurements for determining a plurality of sensor locations in an initial network map. The method may include generating updated network maps from the perspective of each localized sensor. The method may include merging the updated network maps into a final network map, the final network map comprising a most accurate location for each sensor. The method may include determining inner localized sensors out of the plurality of sensors in the final network map. The method may include identifying the inner localized sensors as new base station anchors. The method may include mapping the inner localized sensors onto the final network map as new base station anchors.

The present invention relates to a magnetometric device that measures the magnetic properties of a sample and whose most notable characteristic lies in that it is portable and highly precise, and can be used for the detection of a magnetic signal from nanostructures exposed to a fixed external magnetic field of excitation, of a unique value, it not being possible to alter the external magnetic field. The fixed external field can only be altered by modifying the device by means of exchanging the permanent magnets; however, once the device is sealed, this field does not vary. Different quantities of the same magnetic material may be placed in the sample holder, increasing the measurement signal; the present device can therefore determine the magnetic mass being measured following calibration of the magnetic material employed.

Inductive position sensors for sensing relative position (e.g., relative rotary position) between members are provided. In one example implementation, the inductive position sensor includes a transmit aerial having at least one transmit winding. The inductive position sensor can include a receive aerial having one or more receive windings. The inductive position sensor can include a coupling element operable to be disposed on the second member. The inductive position sensor can include processing circuitry configured to provide one or more signals indicative of the position of the first member relative to the second member based on current induced in the one or more receive windings resulting from an oscillating signal provided to the transmit winding. The inductive position sensor includes at least one electrostatic shield. The electrostatic shield can include a plurality of conductive traces arranged so that no current loops are formed in the electrostatic shield.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for monitoring fluid flow in a rock formation that include utilizing a tracer fluid containing a homogeneous dispersion of ultrastable magnetic nanoparticles which can be injected into the rock formation. A series of EM signals can be emitted in formation by a transmitter at a first plurality of discrete depths along a first path, that can be recorded by a receiver at a second plurality of locations at a second plurality of discrete depth. The received EM signals can be processed to generate a set of EM permeability data that is indicative of variations in magnetic permeability between the first path and the second path. A magnetic permeability map can be generated that is indicative of a location of the tracer fluid.

Systems and methods for marking the location and extent of an anatomical region-of-interest, such as a tumor, using magnetic seeds whose position and orientation are measured or otherwise detected using a detection device that includes two or more magnetic sensors are described. One or more magnetic seeds are implanted to mark and define the center and extent of an anatomical region-of-interest and a magnetic sensor-based detector system is used to accurately identify the location of the magnetic seeds.

A magnetometer-based metal detection device and methods of use are described. The device includes a proximal portion, a central body and a distal portion, and at least one magnetometer positioned within or on the distal portion. The at least one magnetometer includes at least one sensor capable of sensing a magnetic field in three orthogonal axes. Also described is a method of calibrating the device to achieve rotational invariance, and a method of determining a directionality or directional line along which a target metal object lies.

A boring tool is movable through the ground. A transmitter supported by the boring tool transmits an electromagnetic homing signal. A portable device monitors the electromagnetic homing signal and receives the electromagnetic homing signal in a homing mode for guiding the boring tool to a target position. A processor generates steering commands for guiding the boring tool based on a bore plan in a steering mode such that at least some positional error is introduced without using the electromagnetic homing signal. Switching from the steering mode to the homing mode is based on monitoring of the electromagnetic homing signal as the boring tool approaches the portable device to then guide the boring tool to the target position location in compensation for the positional error. Intermediate target positions are described as well as guiding the boring tool based on the homing signal so long as the portable device receives the signal.

The magnetic detection system 100 is provided with a magnetic sensor 1, a storage unit 5, a first determination unit 42 for outputting whether or not the magnetic body 90 has passed as a first determination result 20, a second determination unit 43 for outputting whether or not the magnetic body has passed as a second determination result 21, a display unit 6 for displaying (notifying) the first determination result and the second determination result. The second determination unit is configured to have higher determination accuracy than the first determination unit.

A method for localizing an object in the surroundings of an apparatus generating a stray magnetic field, wherein the object has a sensor arrangement including at least one magnetic field sensor, the method comprising: ascertaining at least one item of object information based on (i) stray-field information describing the spatial profile of the stray magnetic field at least within a region and (ii) at least one measured value measured with the sensor arrangement describing a location-dependent property of the stray magnetic field, the at least one item of object information describing at least one of the position or orientation of the object in the region.