SEISMIC SENSOR TRANSFER DEVICE

• US 20090052992A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magseis FF, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fairfield Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ray, Clifford H., Thompson, James N., Woodard, Reagan N. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,632,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/158
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/40 adapted to specific work
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/004 autonomously operating
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/001 Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/38 specially adapted for water-covered areas G01V1/28 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for storing, transporting, and transferring one or more sensor devices is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a transfer device having a frame, and a movable platform coupled to the frame. A mesh material may be coupled to the frame and surround at least one side of the movable platform and a mating interface is formed in a side of the frame that is adapted to couple with a remotely operated vehicle in an underwater location.

Claims

1. A method of installing a sensor array in a marine environment, comprising:

deploying a remotely operated vehicle from a vessel, the remotely operated vehicle carrying a first plurality of sensor devices in a storage compartment;

placing each of the first plurality of sensor devices in selected locations in the marine environment;

deploying a transfer skid from the vessel having a second plurality of sensor devices disposed on a platform integral to the transfer skid; and

transferring each of the second plurality of sensor devices from the transfer device to the storage compartment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring step comprises:

actuating the platform in one of a linear or circular direction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein actuation of the platform is accomplished by a motor disposed on the transfer skid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the platform includes one or more linear belts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a rotating member.

6. A method of installing a plurality of sensor devices in a marine environment, comprising:

a) deploying a remotely operated vehicle from an operations platform, the remotely operated vehicle having a portion of the plurality of sensor devices disposed in a storage compartment;

b) placing each of the sensor devices at selected locations on a seabed using the remotely operated vehicle until the storage compartment is depleted;

c) deploying a transfer skid from the operations platform, the transfer skid having a payload comprising another plurality of sensor devices, and

d) transferring the payload to the storage compartment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transferring step includes moving each sensor device with an end effector disposed on the remotely operated vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the transfer skid includes a movable platform and the transferring step includes moving the platform in a linear direction.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the transfer skid includes a movable platform and the transferring step includes rotating the platform.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

e) lifting the transfer skid to the operations platform and reloading the transfer skid with another payload of sensor devices.

11. A method of retrieving a plurality of sensor devices from a subsurface location, comprising:

a) retrieving a portion of sensor devices from a seabed using a remotely operated vehicle in the subsurface location and placing the each of the retrieved sensor devices in a storage compartment;

b) transferring the retrieved sensor devices from the storage compartment to a transfer device in the subsurface location; and

c) lifting the transfer device to a vessel for unloading of the retrieved sensor devices as the remotely operated vehicle retrieves another portion of sensor devices from the seabed.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

d) lowering the transfer device to the subsurface location.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the transferring step includes moving each sensor device with an end effector disposed on the remotely operated vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the transfer device includes a movable platform and the transferring step includes moving the platform in a linear direction.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the transfer device includes a movable platform and the transferring step includes rotating the platform.

16. A method of installing a plurality of sensor devices in a marine environment, comprising:

deploying a remotely operated vehicle from an operations platform, the remotely operated vehicle having a portion of the plurality of sensor devices disposed in a storage compartment;

placing each of the sensor devices at selected locations on a seabed using the remotely operated vehicle until the storage compartment is depleted; and

placing one or more transfer devices at selected locations on the seabed, wherein each of the one or more transfer devices includes another portion of the plurality of sensor devices.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transferring the sensor devices from a selected one of the one or more transfer devices previously placed on said seabed with the remotely operated vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transferring step comprises linear or circular movement of a platform disposed on each of the storage compartment and one or more transfer devices.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

decoupling the storage compartment from the remotely operated vehicle.

20. A transfer skid capable of storing one or more seismic devices, comprising:

a frame;

a movable platform coupled to the frame; and

a mating interface formed in a first side of the frame adapted to couple to a guide pin disposed on a remotely operated vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the movable platform comprises a carousel.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the movable platform comprises a belt.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the movable platform comprises a plurality of linear belts.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the frame includes a mesh material covering the one or more seismic devices and the mesh material includes an opening adjacent one end of the movable platform.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the frame includes a power receptacle.

26. A transfer skid capable of storing one or more seismic devices, comprising:

a frame having a mesh material forming a basket structure on an upper surface thereof to house the one or more seismic devices;

a platform disposed within the basket structure adapted to support the one or more seismic devices; and

a mating interface formed in the frame parallel to a base of the basket structure, the mating interface adapted to receive at least one guide pin extending from a remotely operated vehicle.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the platform is movable and includes a carousel.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the platform is movable and includes linear belt.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the frame includes at least two platforms disposed above or below one another.