Seismic sensor

• US 10,139,506 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Bouska, John Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Baghdasaryan, Hovhannes
• Application Number:
  US15/125,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20170003407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/08 using piezoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/09 by piezoelectric pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0922 of the bending or flexing mode type
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/164 Circuits therefore
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/181 Geophones
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/1423 Sea
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/1425 Land surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/1427 Sea bed

Abstract

A seismic survey apparatus includes a body, a proof mass, at least one sensor arranged to detect movement of the proof mass relative to the body. In addition, the seismic survey apparatus includes electronic circuitry connected to the at least one sensor. The electronic circuitry is configured to receive and process an output of the sensor. A power supply is arranged to provide electrical power to the electronic circuitry with the power supply being an integral part of the proof mass.

Claims

1. A seismic survey apparatus comprising:

a body;

a proof mass;

at least one sensor arranged to detect movement of the proof mass relative to the body, wherein the sensor comprises one or more piezoelectric elements arranged to detect the movement of the proof mass;

electronic circuitry connected to the at least one sensor, the electronic circuitry being configured to receive and process an output of the sensor; and

a power supply configured to provide electrical power to the electronic circuitry, wherein the power supply is an integral part of the proof mass, and wherein at least 75% of the proof mass by weight or by volume is provided by the power supply.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

two sensors, wherein each sensor comprises a planar piezoelectric element;

wherein the piezoelectric elements are arranged on opposite sides of the proof mass to detect movement of the proof mass relative to the body and wherein the body is arranged to constrain the movement of the proof mass to reciprocation in a first direction between the piezoelectric elements.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric element comprises rigid ceramic.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric element(s) is pre-stressed.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to constrain the movement of the proof mass relative to the body to reciprocation in a first direction, and wherein the at least one sensor is arranged to detect the reciprocation of the proof mass in the first direction whereby to detect movement of the proof mass relative to the body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof mass is movably located in a cavity of the body.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof mass is movably coupled to the body.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof mass comprises an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, wherein the body comprises an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongated member is located co-axially with the longitudinal axis of the elongated sleeve.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is arranged to constrain the movement of the proof mass relative to the body to reciprocation in a first direction, and wherein the at least one sensor is arranged to detect the reciprocation of the proof mass in the first direction whereby to detect movement of the proof mass relative to the body, wherein the first direction is aligned with the co-axial longitudinal axes of the elongated member and the elongated sleeve.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least a part of a cross section of the elongated sleeve perpendicular to its longitudinal axis conforms to at least a part of a cross section of the elongated member perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, whereby to constrain the movement of the proof mass relative to the body to reciprocation in the first direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the elongated member comprises adjustable elements arranged to enable a length of the elongated member along the longitudinal axis to be altered.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sleeve comprises a cap assembly at each end configured to retain the elongated member within the sleeve, and wherein at least one of the cap assemblies comprises at least one sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cap assemblies comprise concave surfaces contacting the elongated member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the concave surfaces are together configured to exert a clamping force upon the elongated member whereby to constrain the movement of the elongated member, relative to the body, to reciprocation in the first direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each cap assembly comprises a flattened member configured to contact the elongated member on a first surface of the flattened member, and a retaining member configured to exert a clamping force on a perimeter of a second surface of the flattened member, wherein the second surface faces the first surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the concavity of the first surface is caused by flexing of the flattened member resulting from the clamping force and an opposing force from contact of the elongated member with the first surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the flattened members comprises at least one sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body is provided with a protrusion to engage the proof mass so as to limit movement of the proof mass.

20. A seismic survey apparatus comprising:

a body;

a proof mass;

at least one sensor arranged to detect movement of the proof mass relative to the body, wherein the sensor comprises one or more piezoelectric elements arranged to detect the movement of the proof mass;

electronic circuitry connected to the at least one sensor, the electronic circuitry being configured to receive and process an output of the sensor; and

a power supply configured to provide electrical power to the electronic circuitry,

wherein the power supply is an integral part of the proof mass;

wherein the body is provided with a protrusion to engage the proof mass so as to limit movement of the proof mass.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

two sensors, wherein each sensor comprises a planar piezoelectric element;

wherein the piezoelectric elements are arranged on opposite sides of the proof mass to detect movement of the proof mass relative to the body and wherein the body is arranged to constrain the movement of the proof mass to reciprocation in a first direction between the piezoelectric elements.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said piezoelectric element comprises rigid ceramic.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said piezoelectric element(s) is pre-stressed.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is configured to constrain the movement of the proof mass relative to the body to reciprocation in a first direction, and wherein the at least one sensor is arranged to detect the reciprocation of the proof mass in the first direction whereby to detect movement of the proof mass relative to the body.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the proof mass is movably located in a cavity of the body.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the proof mass is movably coupled to the body.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the proof mass comprises an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, wherein the body comprises an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongated member is located co-axially with the longitudinal axis of the elongated sleeve.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus is arranged to constrain the movement of the proof mass relative to the body to reciprocation in a first direction, and wherein the at least one sensor is arranged to detect the reciprocation of the proof mass in the first direction whereby to detect movement of the proof mass relative to the body, wherein the first direction is aligned with the co-axial longitudinal axes of the elongated member and the elongated sleeve.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein at least a part of a cross section of the elongated sleeve perpendicular to its longitudinal axis conforms to at least a part of a cross section of the elongated member perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, whereby to constrain the movement of the proof mass relative to the body to reciprocation in the first direction.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the elongated member comprises adjustable elements arranged to enable a length of the elongated member along the longitudinal axis to be altered.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the sleeve comprises a cap assembly at each end configured to retain the elongated member within the sleeve, and wherein at least one of the cap assemblies comprises at least one sensor.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the cap assemblies comprise concave surfaces contacting the elongated member.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the concave surfaces are together configured to exert a clamping force upon the elongated member whereby to constrain the movement of the elongated member, relative to the body, to reciprocation in the first direction.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein each cap assembly comprises a flattened member configured to contact the elongated member on a first surface of the flattened member, and a retaining member configured to exert a clamping force on a perimeter of a second surface of the flattened member, wherein the second surface faces the first surface.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the concavity of the first surface is caused by flexing of the flattened member resulting from the clamping force and an opposing force from contact of the elongated member with the first surface.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein at least one of the flattened members comprises at least one sensor.

38. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least 75% of the proof mass by weight or by volume is provided by the power supply.