Method and system for deployment of ocean bottom seismometers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10598808-B2
Application number	US-201715638348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Jan 17, 2005
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

Systems and methods for deployment and retrieval of ocean bottom seismic receivers. In some embodiments, the system includes a carrier containing receivers. The carrier can include a frame having a mounted structure (e.g., a movable carousel, movable conveyor, fixed parallel rails, or a barrel) for seating and releasing the receivers (e.g., axially stacked). The structure can facilitate delivering receivers to a discharge port on the frame. The system can include a discharge mechanism for removing receivers from the carrier. In some embodiments, the method includes loading a carrier with receivers, transporting the carrier from a surface vessel to a position adjacent the seabed, and using an ROV to remove receivers from the carrier and place the receivers on the seabed. In some embodiments, an ROV adjacent the seabed engages a deployment line that guides receivers from the vessel down to the ROV for “on-time” delivery and placement on the seabed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for seismic exploration, comprising:
an ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) unit to place on a seabed, the OBS unit comprising a first wireless communication device, a geophone, a seismic data recording device, and a control circuit;
a carrier loaded with the OBS unit to transport the OBS unit from a vessel through an aqueous medium towards the seabed; and
a vehicle to travel through the aqueous medium, the vehicle comprising a second wireless communication device to retrieve data from the first wireless communication device of the OBS unit placed on the seabed, the data acquired by the OBS unit via at least one of the geophone, the seismic data recording device, and the control circuit.

2. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
the vehicle to activate, via the second wireless communication device, at least one functionality of the OBS unit.

3. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
the vehicle to change, via the second wireless communication device and the first wireless communication device, a recording parameter of the OBS unit.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising;
the seismic data recording device of the OBS unit activated on-board the vessel prior to transportation from the vessel through the aqueous medium towards the seabed, the seismic data recording device activated to acquire and store the data.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data comprises seismic data, the OBS unit acquires the seismic data via the geophone, and the seismic data recording device stores the seismic data.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
the carrier to transfer the OBS unit from the vessel towards the seabed separately from the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
the vehicle comprising a suction mechanism defined about an axis and having a suction cup to engage the OBS unit and move the OBS unit from the carrier to the OBS unit on the seabed.

8. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
a second vehicle comprising a suction mechanism defined about an axis and having a suction cup to engage the OBS unit and move the OBS unit from the carrier to the OBS unit on the seabed.

9. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
the OBS unit having an indicator to indicate an operational status of the OBS unit.

10. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
a plurality of OBS units comprising the OBS unit and a second OBS unit, the plurality of OBS units loaded on the carrier and transported to the seabed;
the plurality of OBS units activated;
the vehicle to individually place each of the plurality of OBS units on the seabed; and
the vehicle to retrieve, from the second OBS unit placed on the seabed, second data acquired by the second OBS unit.

11. A method of performing seismic exploration, comprising:
providing an ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) unit comprising a first wireless communication device, a geophone and a seismic data recording device;
loading the OBS unit onto a carrier;
transporting, by the carrier loaded with the OBS unit, the OBS unit from a vessel through an aqueous medium towards a seabed;
acquiring, by the seismic data recording device of the OBS unit via the geophone, data; and
receiving, by a vehicle comprising a second wireless communication device, from the first wireless communication device of the OBS unit placed on the seabed, the data acquired by the OBS unit.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
activating, via the second wireless communication device of the vehicle, at least one functionality of the OBS unit.

13. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
changing, via the second wireless communication device of the vehicle, a recording parameter of the OBS unit.

14. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
activating the seismic data recording device of the OBS unit on-board the vessel prior to transportation from the vessel through the aqueous medium towards the seabed, the seismic data recording device activated to acquire and store the data.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the data comprises seismic data, the OBS unit acquires the seismic data via the geophone, and the seismic data recording device stores the seismic data.

16. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
transferring, by the carrier, the OBS unit from the vessel towards the seabed separately from the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
engaging, by a suction mechanism of the vehicle, the OBS unit; and
moving, via the suction mechanism of the vehicle, the OBS unit from the carrier to the OBS unit on the seabed.

18. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
engaging, by a suction mechanism of a second vehicle, the OBS unit; and
moving, via the suction mechanism of the second vehicle, the OBS unit from the carrier to the OBS unit on the seabed.

19. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
indicating, via an indicator of the OBS unit, an operational status of the OBS unit.

20. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
providing a plurality of OBS units comprising the OBS unit and a second OBS unit;
loading the plurality of OBS units on the carrier;
transporting, via the carrier, the plurality of OBS units towards the seabed;
activating the plurality of OBS units;
individually placing, by the vehicle, each of the plurality of OBS units on the seabed; and
retrieving, by the vehicle from the second OBS unit placed on the seabed, second data acquired by the second OBS unit.

Assignees

• Fairfield Ind Inc
• Magseis Ff Llc

Inventors

• Thompson James N
• Ray Clifford H
• Fisseler Glenn D
• Fyffe Roger L

Classifications

• B63B2211/02

  Oceanography · CPC title

• B63G8/001

  Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations (self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42) · CPC title

• B63B22/18

  having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether · CPC title

• G01V1/3852 Primary

  to the seabed · CPC title

• B63G2008/004

  autonomously operating · CPC title