Seismic surveys with optical communication links

• US 10,488,537 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2017
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fairfield Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magseis FF, LLC
• Inventors: Morris, Michael, Guyton, William, Stubbe, Matthew, Nikirk, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J
• Application Number:
  US15/625,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20180003837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 27/002 Calibrating, i.e. establishing true relation between transducer output value and value to be measured, zeroing, linearising or span error determination
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/226 Optoseismic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/24 Recording seismic data
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/38 specially adapted for water-covered areas G01V1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3808 Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3852 to the seabed
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 13/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices covered by groups G01V1/00 – G01V11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2200/12 Clock synchronization-related issues
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/80 Optical aspects relating to the use of optical transmission for specific applications, not provided for in groups H04B10/03 - H04B10/70, e.g. optical power feeding or optical transmission through water

Abstract

Systems and methods of performing a seismic survey are provided. The system includes a seismic data acquisition unit having a transmitter window disposed in a first aperture of a lid, and having a receiver window disposed in a second aperture of the lid. A first gasket is positioned between the transmitter window and the first aperture to provide a clearance greater than a threshold to allow the transmitter window to deform. A second gasket is positioned between the receiver window and the second aperture to provide a clearance greater than the threshold to allow the receiver window to deform. At least one of the transmitter window and the receiver window of the seismic data acquisition unit are configured to pass at least one of optical and electromagnetic communications to or from an extraction vehicle via at least one of a transmitter window and a receiver window of the extraction vehicle.

Claims

1. A system to perform a seismic survey, comprising:

a seismic data acquisition unit having a transmitter window disposed in a first aperture of a lid, and having a receiver window disposed in a second aperture of the lid;

a first seal, positioned at the transmitter window between an external surface of the seismic data acquisition unit and a first gasket, to seal against intrusion of water;

a second seal, positioned at the receiver window between the external surface of the seismic data acquisition unit and a second gasket, to seal against the intrusion of water;

the first gasket, different from the first seal and the second seal, positioned between the transmitter window and the first aperture to provide a clearance greater than a threshold to allow the transmitter window to deform under pressure to reduce impingement and cracking of the transmitter window;

the second gasket, different from the first seal and the second seal, positioned between the receiver window and the second aperture to provide a clearance greater than the threshold to allow the receiver window to deform under pressure to reduce impingement and cracking of the receiver window; and

at least one of the transmitter window and the receiver window of the seismic data acquisition unit configured to pass at least one of optical and electromagnetic communications to or from an extraction vehicle via at least one of a transmitter window and a receiver window of the extraction vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the extraction vehicle having the transmitter window disposed in a first aperture of the extraction vehicle, and having the receiver window disposed in a second aperture of the extraction vehicle;

a third gasket positioned between the transmitter window of the extraction vehicle and the first aperture of the extraction vehicle to provide a clearance greater than the threshold to allow the transmitter window of the extraction vehicle to deform under pressure to reduce impingement and cracking of the transmitter window of the extraction vehicle; and

a fourth gasket positioned between the receiver window of the extraction vehicle and the second aperture of the extraction vehicle to provide a clearance greater than the threshold to allow the receiver window of the extraction vehicle to deform under pressure to reduce impingement and cracking of the receiver window of the extraction vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first gasket positioned between the transmitter window and the first aperture comprises an o-ring.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitter window and the receiver window is formed of a material comprising sapphire.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the receiver window of the seismic data acquisition unit is greater than a diameter of the transmitter window of the seismic data acquisition unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the lid is different from a thickness of the transmitter window.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the extraction vehicle deployed in a water column,

wherein the seismic data acquisition unit is deployed on a seabed.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising:

an outer surface of the transmitter window or the receiver window flush with an outer surface of the lid.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first gasket comprises nylon.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first gasket is formed at least in part from a first material that deforms at a different rate than a second material that forms at least part of the lid.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a first material forming the first gasket deforms responsive to temperature or pressure at a different rate than a second material forming the lid.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the first gasket disposed between a bottom portion of the transmitter window and a support piece.

13. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the first gasket positioned between the transmitter window and the first aperture to float the transmitter window; and

the second gasket positioned between the receiver window and the second aperture to float the receiver window.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver window comprises a chamfer configured to avoid interference with the second gasket to facilitate installation of the receiver window.

15. A method of performing a seismic survey, comprising:

providing a seismic data acquisition unit having a transmitter window disposed in a first aperture of a lid, and having a receiver window disposed in a second aperture of the lid;

providing a first seal, positioned at the transmitter window between the external surface of the seismic data acquisition unit and a first gasket, to seal against intrusion of water;

providing a second seal, positioned at the receiver window between the external surface of the seismic data acquisition unit and a second gasket, to seal against the intrusion of water;

providing the first gasket, different from the first seal and the second seal, positioned between the transmitter window and the first aperture to provide a clearance greater than a threshold to allow the transmitter window to move under pressure to reduce impingement and cracking of the transmitter window;

providing the second gasket, different from the first seal and the second seal, positioned between the receiver window and the second aperture to seal the receiver window and provide clearance greater than the threshold to allow the receiver window to move under pressure to reduce impingement and cracking of the receiver window; and

passing, via at least one of the transmitter window and the receiver window of the seismic data acquisition unit, optical or electromagnetic communications to or from an extraction vehicle via at least one of a transmitter window and a receiver window of the extraction vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first gasket positioned between the transmitter window and the first aperture comprises an o-ring.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitter window is formed of a material comprising sapphire.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising:

deploying the extraction vehicle in a water column; and

deploying the seismic data acquisition unit on a seabed.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein an outer surface of the transmitter window or the receiver window is flush with an outer surface of the lid.

20. The method of claim 15, comprising:

deforming the first gasket at a different rate than deforming the lid.