Ocean bottom seismic autonomous underwater vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018222560-A1
Application number	US-201815888917-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2018
Priority date	Feb 6, 2017
Publication date	Aug 9, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Seismic autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for recording seismic signals on the seabed. The AUV may be negatively buoyant and comprise an external body (which may be formed of multiple housings) that substantially encloses a plurality of pressure housings. Portions of the external body housing may be acoustically transparent and house one or more acoustic devices for the AUV. The AUV may comprise a main pressure housing that holds substantially all of the electronic components of the AUV, while a second and third pressure housing may be located on either side of the main pressure housing for other electronic components (such as batteries). A plurality of external devices (such as acoustic devices or thrusters) may be coupled to the main pressure housing by external electrical conduit. The AUV may comprise fixed or retractable wings for increased gliding capabilities during subsea travel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for recording seismic signals on the ocean bottom during a marine seismic survey, the AUV comprising:
a propulsion system configured to propel and steer the AUV while travelling underwater; one or more seismic sensors configured to record seismic signals while the AUV is resting on the bottom of the ocean; and a plurality of pressure vessels each housing a plurality of electronic components, wherein the AUV is negatively buoyant.

2 . The AUV of claim 1 , wherein the AUV has a negative buoyancy of approximately 5 kg in sea water.

3 . The AUV of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pressure vessels comprises a main pressure housing that comprises at least a digital autonomous recorder (DAR), one or more seismic sensors, and a clock; and
a first pressure housing that comprises a first plurality of battery cells.

4 . The AUV of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of pressure vessels comprises
a second pressure housing that comprises a secondary plurality of battery cells.

5 . The AUV of claim 4 , wherein the first and second pressure housings have substantially the same shape and weight.

6 . The AUV of claim 4 , wherein the main pressure housing is arranged in substantially the middle of the AUV and the first and second pressure housings are arranged on either side of the main pressure housing.

7 . The AUV of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of pressure vessels is cylindrical.

8 . The AUV of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of pressure vessels is electrically coupled to each other by one or more external conduits.

9 . The AUV of claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of acoustic devices coupled to the main pressure housing by a rigid conduit that houses one or more electrical wires.

10 . The AUV of claim 1 , further comprising a body coupled to the plurality of pressure vessels, wherein the body comprises an upper section that is positively buoyant, a lower section that is configured to couple with the seabed, and a front section that is acoustically transparent.

11 . The AUV of claim 10 , wherein each of the upper section, lower section, and front sections are separate components of the body that are configured to couple together.

12 . The AUV of claim 10 , wherein the body substantially encloses the plurality of pressure vessels.

13 . The AUV of claim 10 , wherein the lower section of the body is substantially flat.

14 . The AUV of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of acoustic devices that are enclosed within the front section of the body.

15 . The AUV of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of pressure vessels and propulsion system are configured to be assembled together prior to assembly of the body.

16 . The AUV of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system comprises a front vertical thruster, two rear horizontal thrusters, and a rear vertical thruster.

17 . The AUV of claim 1 , wherein the AUV comprises a plurality of retractable wings.

18 . A method for performing a marine seismic survey, comprising
deploying an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to the bottom of the ocean, wherein the AUV comprises
one or more seismic sensors configured to record seismic signals while the AUV is resting on the bottom of the ocean;
a propulsion system configured to propel and steer the AUV while travelling underwater; and
a plurality of pressure vessels, each housing a plurality of electronic components, wherein the AUV is negatively buoyant,
recording seismic signals by the one or more seismic sensors while on the seabed; and lifting the AUV off of the seabed by activating the propulsion system.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising extending a plurality of retractable wings on the AUV during subsea travel.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising turning off the propulsion system during subsea travel while a plurality of wings on the AUV are extended.

Assignees

• Seabed Geosolutions Bv

Inventors

• Postic Erwan Francois Marie
• Brizard Thierry

Classifications

• G01V1/3808

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

• B63G8/001 Primary

  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

• G01V1/247

  Digital recording of seismic data, e.g. in acquisition units or nodes · CPC title

• G01V1/3852

  to the seabed · CPC title

• B63B2211/02

  Oceanography · CPC title