Digital Elevation Model for Use with Seismic Data Acquisition Systems

• US 20070286023A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: INOVA Limited
• Original Assignee: Input/Output Incorporated
• Inventors: Bull, Andrew, Williams, Martin, Hoenmans, Scott, Barratt, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,325,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/59
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/003 Seismic data acquisition in general, e.g. survey design G01V1/3808, G01V1/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus

Abstract

A seismic data acquisition system includes a controller, a plurality of sensor stations and a plurality of seismic sources. Each sensor station includes a sensor coupled to the earth for sensing seismic energy in the earth. The sensor provides a signal indicative of the sensed seismic energy and a recorder device co-located with the sensor unit that receives and stores the signals. A communication device is co-located with the sensor station and provides direct two-way wireless communication with the central controller. In one embodiment, in-field personnel determine elevation values, or Z values, for the sensor stations and seismic source by accessing a digital elevation model or a look-up table based on the digital elevation model. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for seismic data acquisition, comprising:

a seismic device having a memory configured to store seismic data and a Z-coordinate with the detected seismic data; and

a memory module accessible by the seismic device, the memory module containing Z-coordinates for a selected geographical area of interest.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electronic device associated with the memory module.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a location sensor associated with the electronic device for determining an X and Y coordinate for the seismic device and wherein the Z-coordinate is retrieved from the memory module using the determined x and y coordinates.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a processor retrieving the Z-coordinate from the memory module.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the processor is positioned at one of (i) at the seismic device, and (ii) in the electronic device external to the seismic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a predetermined model that selects Z-coordinates from an elevation survey database, wherein the memory module contains the Z-coordinates selected by the predetermined model.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the predetermined model selects Z-coordinates from the elevation survey database by one of (i) excluding Z-coordinates in the elevation survey database that meet at least one selected criteria, and (ii) including Z-coordinates in the elevation survey database that meet at least one selected criteria.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory module is positioned at one of:

(i) in the seismic device, (ii) in a human held device, (iii) a mobile platform, (iv) at a stationary platform; and

(v) at a location remote from the seismic device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a server that contains an elevation survey database that provides the Z-coordinates to the memory module.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the database is created using light detecting and ranging techniques (LiDAR).

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seismic device communicates using a wireless communication link.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the z coordinate is a value relating to one of:

(i) an elevation, (ii) a depth below a surface of the earth, (iii) a depth below a surface of water, (iv) an altitude and (v) a vertical datum.

13. An apparatus for determining a Z value of a seismic device in a seismic survey spread, comprising:

a memory module loaded with a subset of Z values selected from a predetermined Z value database, the memory module being searchable to retrieve the Z value.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a processor selecting the subset of Z values for loading into the memory module.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the processor selects Z values using one of (i) a geometric shape, (ii) a mathematical relationship, (iii) a geographical parameter, and (iv) a topological parameter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor selects Z values using a specified geographical area and a field activity associated with the specified geographical area.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the memory module is positioned at a hand-held device.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the subset of Z values is structured as a lookup table.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the lookup table is queried using a location parameter.

20. A method for seismic data acquisition, comprising:

determining a location parameter for a seismic device;

determining a Z coordinate using the determined location parameter;

transmitting the determined Z coordinate to the seismic device; and

associating the determined Z coordinate with seismic data measured by the seismic device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the Z coordinate is determined by accessing a memory module loaded with a subset of Z values selected from a predetermined Z value database.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising selecting the subset of Z values using one of (i) a geometric shape, (ii) a mathematical relationship, (iii) a geographical parameter, and (iv) a topological parameter.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising selecting the subset of Z values using a specified geographical area and a field activity associated with the specified geographical area.

24. A computer-readable medium that is accessible to a processor for executing instructions contained in a computer program embedded on the computer-readable medium, wherein the computer program comprises:

a set of instructions to receive Z values from a digital elevation (DEM) database;

a set of instructions to receive a location parameter from a location sensor;

a set of instructions to select a Z value for a received location parameter; and

a set of instructions to transmit the selected Z value to a seismic device.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions to store the received Z values in a look-up table.