Seismic acquisition system-based unmanned airborne vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9400338-B2
Application number	US-201314027094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2013
Priority date	Sep 18, 2012
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

A system includes a seismic acquisition system that includes a plurality of nodes and further includes an unmanned airborne vehicle. The unmanned airborne vehicle is to be used with the seismic acquisition system to conduct a seismic survey.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a seismic acquisition system, comprising a plurality of nodes; and
an unmanned airborne vehicle to be used with the seismic acquisition system to conduct a seismic survey, wherein the unmanned airborne vehicle comprises:
a radio to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of nodes; and
a processor to use the radio to communicate positions of the nodes to the nodes.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the
processor is adapted to use the radio to harvest data from the nodes.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is adapted to use the radio to communicate with the nodes to harvest seismic acquisition data from at least one of the nodes, quality control data from at least one of the nodes, and/or transmit a video feed of at least part of the seismic acquisition system.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to determine the positions of the nodes.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is adapted to use the radio to communicate the determined positions to the nodes and/or communicate the determined positions to a location other than a location local to the seismic acquisition system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seismic acquisition system comprises an autonomous surface vessel, and the radio is adapted to communicate with the autonomous surface vessel.

7. A system comprising:
a land-based seismic acquisition system; and
an unmanned airborne vehicle comprising a seismic sensor and adapted to fly to a position to deploy the sensor on a land surface such that the deployed sensor forms an acquisition point of the land-based seismic acquisition system.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the unmanned airborne vehicle is further adapted to respond to commands to control at least one of starting and stopping of seismic data acquired by the sensor.

9. A method comprising:
flying an unmanned airborne vehicle in proximity to a seismic acquisition network; and
using the unmanned airborne vehicle to communicate with at least one node of the seismic acquisition network, wherein using the unmanned airborne vehicle comprises using the unmanned airborne vehicle to communicate a position of the least one node of the seismic acquisition network to the at least one node.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein using the unmanned airborne vehicle to communicate with the at least one node comprises using Wi-Fi communication.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein using the unmanned airborne vehicle to communicate comprises communicating seismic data acquired by the seismic acquisition network, quality control information provided by the seismic acquisition network, and/or data representing situation awareness of at least part of the seismic acquisition network.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising using processing onboard the unmanned airborne vehicle to determine the position of the at least one node.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio of the unmanned airborne vehicle in a determination of the position of the at least one node.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein using the unmanned airborne vehicle to communicate with the seismic acquisition network comprises communicating with an autonomous surface vessel of the system.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the seismic acquisition network comprises a land-based seismic acquisition network or a marine-based seismic acquisition network.

16. A method comprising:
flying an unmanned airborne vehicle to a location on a sea surface;
deploying a cable-connected seismic sensor from the unmanned airborne vehicle to record a reflected signal from a seismic source; and
operating the unmanned airborne vehicle to tow the cable-connected seismic sensor in association with a seismic acquisition.

17. A system comprising:
a seismic acquisition system, comprising a plurality of nodes; and
an unmanned airborne vehicle to be used with the seismic acquisition system to conduct a seismic survey, wherein the unmanned airborne vehicle comprises:
at least one sensor; and
a radio to provide real time feedback of data acquired by at least a portion of the seismic acquisition system to a remote processing center.

Assignees

• Westerngeco Llc

Inventors

• Coste Emmanuel
• Welker Kenneth E
• Tamboise Guillaume Daniel

Classifications

• G01V1/003

  Seismic data acquisition in general, e.g. survey design (G01V1/3808, G01V1/42 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01V1/223 Primary

  Radioseismic systems · CPC title

• G01V1/22

  Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus · CPC title

• G01V1/00

  Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting · CPC title