WIRELESS EXPLORATION SEISMIC SYSTEM

• US 20080049554A1
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wireless Seismic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wireless Seismic Incorporated
• Inventors: Beffa, Mihai, Crice, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/79
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/00 Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
• 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 1/20 Arrangements of receiving elements, e.g. geophone pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/223 Radioseismic systems

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for acquiring seismic data using a wireless network and a number of individual data acquisition modules that are configured to collect seismic data, and forward data to a central recording and control system. In one implementation, a number of remote modules (301) are arranged in lines. Base station modules (302) receive information from the lines and relay the information to a central control and recording system (303). Radio links operating on multiple frequencies (F1-F12) are used by the modules (301). For improved data transfer rate, radio links from a remote module (301) leap past the nearest remote module to the next module closer to the base station.

Claims

1. A method for use in seismic data acquisition, comprising the steps of:

disposing, in series, a plurality of seismic data acquisition modules that are operative to wirelessly communicate acquired seismic data, wherein said acquisition modules define a wireless serial data transfer path for relaying data from upstream acquisition modules to downstream acquisition modules and a data collection unit;

assigning a first acquisition module in said serial data transfer path a first transmission frequency;

assigning a second acquisition module in said serial data transfer path a second transmission frequency, wherein said first and second transmission frequencies are different.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

first transmitting, on said first transmission frequency, seismic data from said first acquisition module to at least one downstream acquisition module; and

second transmitting, on said second transmission frequency, seismic data from said second acquisition module to at least one downstream acquisition module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said first transmitting and at least a portion of said second transmitting occur during a common transmission period.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said first transmitting comprises said first acquisition transmitting said seismic data to said second acquisition module.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said second transmitting comprises:

receiving a first set of seismic data from said first acquisition module;

appending a second set of seismic data from said second acquisition module; and

transmitting said first and second sets of seismic data to a downstream acquisition module.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning said first transmission frequency to a third data acquisition module.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first and third acquisition modules are positioned in said serial data transmission path at first and second locations, and wherein a distance between said first and second locations is greater than a transmission range of said first and third acquisition modules.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said third acquisition module is within a transmission range of said first acquisition module.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said third acquisition module is operative to transmit seismic data during a transmission period that is temporally distinct from a transmission period of said first acquisition module.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said third acquisition module form part of a different data transmission path, wherein said first and third acquisition modules are in a common seismic array.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said third acquisition module is disposed in a second serial data transfer path.

12-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A method for use in seismic data acquisition, comprising:

disposing a plurality of seismic data acquisition modules in an array, wherein each seismic data acquisition module is operative to wirelessly communicate with at least one other seismic data acquisition module in said array to define at least a first serial data transmission path;

assigning each of said plurality of seismic data acquisition modules in said first serial data transmission path a transmission frequency for use in transmitting said seismic data, wherein at least one transmission frequency is assigned to first and second seismic data acquisition modules in said first serial data transmission path;

during a common transmission period, transmitting seismic data from said first and second seismic data acquisition units using said at least one transmission frequency.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said first and second seismic data acquisition units are positioned is said first serial data transmission path at first and second locations, and wherein a distance between said first and second locations is greater than a transmission range of said first and second seismic data acquisition units.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

adjusting a transmission power of at least one of said first and second seismic data acquisition units such that a transmission range of said at least one seismic unit acquisition unit is less than said distance between said first and second locations.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

identifying a number of available transmission frequencies; and

assigning said available transmission frequencies in a repeating series to said seismic data acquisition units in said first serial data transmission path.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

assigning said at least one transmission frequency to a third seismic data acquisition unit within a transmission range of one of said first and second seismic data acquisition units.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said third seismic data acquisition unit is operative to transmit seismic data during a transmission period that is temporally distinct from said common transmission period.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said third data acquisition unit forms a portion of a second serial data transmission path separate from said first serial data transmission path.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein said plurality of data acquisition units are disposed in a linear array.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein said first serial transmission path is aligned with said linear array.

45-69. -69. (canceled)

70. A method for use in seismic data acquisition, comprising:

disposing a plurality of seismic data acquisition modules in series, wherein each seismic data acquisition module is operative to wirelessly communicate with at least one other seismic data acquisition module for purposes of serial relay of seismic data;

receiving at one of said seismic data acquisition modules, upstream seismic data from at least one upstream seismic data acquisition module, wherein said upstream data is received on a first transmission frequency;

transmitting from said one seismic data acquisition module said upstream seismic data to a downstream seismic data acquisition module, wherein said upstream seismic data is transmitted on a second transmission frequency, wherein said first and second transmission frequencies are different.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

appending seismic data generated by said one seismic data acquisition module to said upstream data prior to transmitting said upstream seismic data.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein receiving comprises receiving said upstream data from a non-adjacent upstream seismic data acquisition module in said series of seismic data acquisition modules.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting said upstream data to a non-adjacent downstream seismic data acquisition module in said series of seismic data acquisition modules.

74-138. -138. (canceled)

139. An apparatus for use in seismic data acquisition, comprising:

a plurality of seismic data acquisition modules, disposed in series, operative to wirelessly communicate acquired seismic data, wherein said acquisition modules define a wireless serial data transfer path for relaying data from upstream acquisition modules to downstream acquisition modules and a data collection unit;

a first acquisition module in said serial data transfer path for transmitting seismic data using a first transmission frequency; and

a second acquisition module inset serial data transfer path for transmitting seismic data using a second transmission frequency, when said first and second transmission frequencies are different.

140. The apparatus of claim 139, wherein said first acquisition module and said second acquisition module are operative to transmit seismic data during a common transmission,

141. The apparatus of claim 139, further comprising a third data acquisition module in said serial data transfer path for transmitting seismic data using said first transmission frequency.

142. The apparatus of claim 141, wherein said and first and third acquisition modules are positioned in said serial data transfer path at first and second locations, wherein a distance between said first and second locations is greater than a transmission range each of each of said first and third acquisition modules.

143. The apparatus of claim 141, wherein said third acquisition module is within a transmission range of said first acquisition module and said first acquisition modules operative to transmit seismic data during a transmission period that is temporally distinct from a transmission period of said third acquisition module.