Seismic data acquisition apparatus and method

• US 20050083784A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: INOVA Limited
• Original Assignee: Input/Output Incorporated
• Inventors: Iseli, James, Feszthammer, Andras, Schumacher, Daniel, Kelly, Charles, Knapp, Greyson, Crews, Gary, Johnson, Allan, Bristow, David, Cronan, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,012,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus of acquiring and processing seismic data. One or more controllers are each coupled to seismic sensors and to each other to form a network of data acquisition units. A main controller is coupled to a crossline unit via a cable comprising a synchronizing conductor and one or more power/data conductors. Commands and data are packaged such that multiple routings are possible without affecting final calculations. Each crossline unit is capable of accepting a fiber optic input, a wire input or a combination.

Claims

1. A seismic data acquisition apparatus comprising:

a) a plurality of sensors for detecting a seismic event, each sensor having an output indicative of the seismic event; and

b) at least one unit coupled to the plurality of sensors for receiving each sensor output, the unit adapted to transmit the received outputs as individual data packets, wherein each data packet includes one or more characterizing bits.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more characterizing bits include information relating to at least one of sensor location, timing, sensor identification, trace number and record identification.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is selected from a group consisting of i) accelerometers;

ii) geophones; and

iii) hydrophones.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the sensors includes a MEMS accelerometer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the sensors further comprises a three-component MEMS accelerometer package.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one second unit coupled to the first unit for receiving the data packets over a primary route, wherein said at least one second unit includes a switching device for determining a direction from which the data packets are transmitted.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the switching device is adapted to select a secondary route for receiving said data packets when said primary route is not available.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one second unit includes at least one first port for coupling a low speed route to the second unit and at least one second input port for coupling a high speed route to the second unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the primary route includes at least one of i) an optic fiber and ii) a wire conductor.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the primary route is an optic fiber and the secondary route is a wire conductor.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the primary route is a wire conductor and the secondary route is an optic fiber.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a central controller for receiving the data packets, said central controller adapted to determine from said characterizing bits a timing parameter for storing said received data packets in order.

13. A method of seismic data acquisition, comprising:

a) sensing acoustic energy with a plurality of sensors, each sensor providing an output indicative of the sensed energy;

b) combining the sensor outputs into a data packet; and

c) adding to the data packet one or more characterizing bits.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more characterizing bits include information relating to at least one of sensor location, timing, sensor identification, trace number and record identification.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising wavelength division multiplexing the data packet.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the data packet includes a synchronizing signal and an Ethernet protocol.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is selected from a group consisting of i) accelerometers;

ii) geophones; and

iii) hydrophones.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the sensors includes a MEMS accelerometer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the sensors further comprises a three-component MEMS accelerometer package.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

a) receiving the data packets at a unit having a plurality of input ports, said data packets being transmitted over a primary route;

b) determining a direction from which the data packets are transmitted using a switching device.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising selecting a secondary route for receiving said data packets when said primary route is not available.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the unit includes at least one first port for coupling a low speed route to the unit and at least one second input port for coupling a high speed route to the unit.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the primary route includes at least one of i) an optic fiber and ii) a wire conductor.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the primary route is an optic fiber and the secondary route is a wire conductor.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the primary route is a wire conductor and the secondary route is an optic fiber.

26. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

a) receiving the data packets at a central controller; and

b) determining from said characterizing bits a timing parameter for storing said received data packets in order at the central controller.

27. A deployable field unit for use in a seismic data acquisition system comprising:

a) a housing;

b) an input port for receiving a signal transmitted in a first medium;

c) a media converter for converting said signal for transmission in a second medium; and

d) an output port for transmitted the converted signal.

28. The unit of claim 27, wherein said first medium is one of i) a wire conductor and ii) an optic fiber.

29. The unit of claim 27, wherein the second medium is one of i) a wire conductor and ii) an optic fiber.

30. The unit of claim 27, wherein the input port further comprises a plurality of input ports, the unit further comprising a switching device for selecting a primary route and a secondary route from said plurality of input ports.

31. The unit of claim 27, further comprising a circuit in the unit for determining a first media type of the first medium connected to the input port and a second media type of the second medium connected to the output port.

32. A seismic data acquisition system comprising:

a) a plurality of sensors for detecting a seismic event, each sensor having an output indicative of the seismic event; and

b) at least one field unit coupled to the first plurality of sensors for receiving each sensor output, the unit adapted to transmit the received outputs as a data packet, wherein each data packet includes one or more characterizing bits; and

c) a main control and recording unit coupled to the field unit for receiving the data packets.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the one or more characterizing bits include information relating to at least one of sensor location, timing, sensor identification, trace number and record identification.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is selected from a group consisting of i) accelerometers;

ii) geophones; and

iii) hydrophones.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein each of the sensors includes a MEMS accelerometer.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein each of the sensors further comprises a three-component MEMS accelerometer package.

37. The system of claim 32 further comprising at least one second unit coupled to the first unit for receiving the data packets over a primary route, wherein said at least one second unit includes a switching device for determining a direction from which the data packets are transmitted.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the switching device is adapted to select a secondary route for receiving said data packets when said primary route is not available.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the at least one second unit includes at least one first port for coupling a low speed route to the second unit and at least one second input port for coupling a high speed route to the second unit.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the primary route includes at least one of i) an optic fiber and ii) a wire conductor.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the primary route is an optic fiber and the secondary route is a wire conductor.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the primary route is a wire conductor and the secondary route is an optic fiber.

43. The system of claim 32 further comprising a central controller for receiving the data packets, said central controller adapted to determine from said characterizing bits a timing parameter for storing said received data packets in order.

44. The system of claim 32 further comprising a conductor coupling the field unit to the main control and recording unit for transmitting a synchronizing signal between the field unit and the central control and recording unit.

45. A method of deploying a seismic data acquisition system comprising:

a) extending a first signal transmission medium over a first distance;

b) coupling the first signal transmission medium to a field unit;

c) extending a second signal transmission medium over second distance;

d) coupling the second signal transmission medium to a plurality of sensors;

e) coupling the first signal transmission medium to a central control unit.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the first signal transmission medium includes a wire conductor for transmitting signals, the first distance being substantially less than the second distance and the second signal transmission medium includes an optic fiber.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the field unit includes a plurality of ports for reconfiguring the seismic data acquisition system to have the second signal coupled to the central controller and the first signal transmission medium coupled to the plurality of sensors.