Conveyance system and method for underwater seismic exploration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11048005-B2
Application number	US-201816055913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2018
Priority date	Dec 23, 2008
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method of transferring seismic equipment to and from a marine vessel and subsurface location. In one embodiment, a marine vessel is provided. The marine vessel includes a deck having a plurality of seismic sensor devices stored thereon, two remotely operated vehicles, each comprising a seismic sensor storage compartment, and a seismic sensor transfer device comprising a container for transfer of one or more of the seismic sensor devices from the vessel to the sensor storage compartment of at least one of the two remotely operated vehicles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system to deploy seismic sensors in a marine environment, comprising:
a seismic sensor transfer device to house and transport a plurality of seismic sensors, the seismic sensor transfer device deployed from a vessel;
a propulsion system of the seismic sensor transfer device to receive an instruction and move, responsive to the instruction, the seismic sensor transfer device; and
an underwater vehicle to:
mate with the seismic sensor transfer device;
obtain at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors from the seismic sensor transfer device mated with the underwater vehicle; and
operate at a second speed different from a first speed at which the vessel operates.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the underwater vehicle is mated with the seismic sensor transfer device at a subsurface location.

3. The system of claim 1 , comprising the underwater vehicle to:
obtain at least two of the plurality of seismic sensors from the seismic sensor transfer device mated with the underwater vehicle; and
detach from the seismic sensor transfer device subsequent to obtainment of the at least two of the plurality of seismic sensors.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising the underwater vehicle to:
detach from the seismic sensor transfer device subsequent to obtainment of the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors; and
place the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors on a seabed subsequent to detachment from the seismic sensor transfer device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seismic sensor transfer device comprises a movable platform configured to facilitate transfer of the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors to the underwater vehicle mated to the seismic sensor transfer device.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
a control unit, external and remote from the propulsion system, to transmit a wired or wireless transmission comprising an instruction to the propulsion system.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to follow the vessel or an object moving through an aqueous medium.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system comprises:
a means to generate force to push surrounding water away from the seismic sensor transfer device in a direction opposite a direction of movement of the seismic sensor transfer device.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one of:
a propeller;
a thruster;
a paddle;
an oar;
a waterwheel;
a water jet;
a fan; or
a pump.

10. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
a steering device to control a direction of movement of the seismic sensor transfer device.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seismic sensor transfer device comprises at least one of a container, a drone, a skid structure, a transfer skid, a basket, a rack, a magazine, or a tray.

12. A method of deploying seismic sensors in a marine environment, comprising:
deploying, from a vessel, a seismic sensor transfer device configured to house and transport a plurality of seismic sensors;
receiving, by a propulsion system of the seismic sensor transfer device, an instruction to move the seismic sensor transfer device;
moving, by the propulsion system responsive to the instruction, the seismic sensor transfer device;
mating, by an underwater vehicle, with the seismic sensor transfer device;
obtaining, by the underwater vehicle, at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors from the seismic sensor transfer device; and
operating the underwater vehicle at a second speed different from a first speed at which the vessel is operating.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
detaching from the seismic sensor transfer device subsequent to obtainment of the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors; and
placing the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors on a seabed subsequent to detachment from the seismic sensor transfer device.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the seismic sensor transfer device comprises a movable platform configured to facilitate transfer of the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors to the underwater vehicle mated to the seismic sensor transfer device.

15. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
transmitting, by a control unit external and remote from the propulsion system, a wired or wireless transmission comprising an instruction to the propulsion system.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to follow the vessel or an object moving through an aqueous medium.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the propulsion system comprises:
a means to generate force to push surrounding water away from the seismic sensor transfer device in a direction opposite a direction of movement of the seismic sensor transfer device.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one of:
a propeller;
a thruster;
a paddle;
an oar;
a waterwheel;
a water jet;
a fan; or
a pump.

19. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
controlling, by a steering device, a direction of movement of the seismic sensor transfer device.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the seismic sensor transfer device comprises at least one of a container, a drone, a skid structure, a transfer skid, a basket, a rack, a magazine, or a tray.

Assignees

• Magseis Ff Llc

Inventors

• Woodward Reagan Neil
• Thompson James N

Classifications

• B63B27/10

  of cranes · CPC title

• B63B25/28

  for deck loads · CPC title

• G01V2210/1427

  Sea bed · CPC title

• G01V1/3852 Primary

  to the seabed · CPC title

• G01V1/3808

  Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design · CPC title