COMMUNICATION IN A SEISMIC SENSOR ARRAY

• US 20100214871A1
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Souders, Keith A., Haque, Jamal
• Granted Patent: US 8,964,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/76
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for communicating data with a seismic sensor are provided. The method comprises identifying data to be transmitted and one or more seismic events that correspond to the data to be transmitted. One or more seismic events are created that are distinguishable into binary code from one or more seismic sensors within the array. Seismic events can be distinguished by their pattern or frequency. A first frequency can be assigned as a first binary code and a second frequency can be assigned as a second binary code. Likewise, different patterns of acoustic energy can designate different binary codes. Combinations of patterns and frequencies can be used together to create distinct distinguishable seismic events.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data with a seismic sensor, the method comprising:

identifying data to be transmitted;

identifying one or more seismic events that correspond to the data to be transmitted; and

creating one or more seismic events distinguishable into binary code from one or more seismic sensors within a seismic sensor array.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating one or more seismic events further comprises:

creating an acoustic energy wave of a first frequency if a logical 1 is desired; and

creating an acoustic energy wave of a second frequency if a logical 0 is desired.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein creating one or more seismic events further comprises:

creating a first seismic event pattern if a first binary code is desired; and

creating a second seismic event pattern if a second binary code is desired.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a first acoustic energy wave frequency to denote a first binary code for the one or more seismic sensors; and

assigning a second acoustic energy wave frequency to denote a second binary code for the one or more seismic sensors.

5. The method of claim 1, creating one or more seismic events further comprises:

creating at least one of eight distinct seismic events of a first frequency, wherein each of the eight distinct seismic events corresponds to a the first three digits of a four-bit binary word and the first frequency corresponds to the fourth digit of the four-bit binary word.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more seismic events at one or more seismic sensors; and

distinguishing the one or more received seismic events into binary code at one or more seismic sensors in the seismic sensory array.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving one or more seismic events at one or more seismic sensors further comprises wherein a second seismic sensor receives data from a first seismic sensor and transmits the data to a third seismic sensor in the network.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving one or more seismic events at one or more seismic sensors further comprises wherein data received at a first seismic sensor is transmitted to and by other seismic sensors in the network until the data is received at a central data unit.

9. A seismic communication network, the network comprising:

a plurality of acoustic sensors, wherein each acoustic sensor comprises;

one or more seismic transmitters operable to create acoustic energy waves distinguishable into binary code;

a seismic detector operable to receive acoustic energy waves; and

a central processing unit operable to distinguish received acoustic energy waves into binary code.

10. The network of claim 9, the network further comprising a central data unit wherein the central data unit is operable to communicate with at least one acoustic sensor in the network.

11. The network of claim 9, wherein the plurality of acoustic sensors are placed within range to communicate with at least one other acoustic sensor in the network.

12. The network of claim 9, wherein the central processing unit is further operable to distinguish seismic events corresponding to places and values of multiple-bit binary words.

13. The network of claim 9, wherein the central processing unit operable to distinguish received acoustic energy waves further comprises:

distinguishing a first acoustic energy wave frequency to denote a logical 1; and

distinguishing a second acoustic energy wave frequency to denote a logical 0.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein the one or more seismic transmitters operable to create acoustic energy waves distinguishable between a logical 1 and a logical 0 is further operable to:

create an acoustic energy wave of a first frequency if a logical 1 is desired; and

create an acoustic energy wave of a second frequency if a logical 0 is desired.

15. The network of claim 9, wherein the central processing unit operable to distinguish received acoustic energy waves further comprises:

distinguishing a first acoustic energy wave pattern to denote a logical 1; and

distinguishing a second acoustic energy wave pattern to denote a logical 0.

16. The network of claim 15, wherein a seismic transmitter operable to transmit acoustic energy waves distinguishable into binary code further comprises:

transmitting a first acoustic energy wave pattern if a logical 1 is desired; and

transmitting a second acoustic energy wave pattern if a logical 0 is desired.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for a method of operating a seismic sensor, the method comprising;

operating a seismic transmitter to transmit data using acoustic energy distinguishable into binary code; and

distinguishing received acoustic energy into binary code.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein distinguishing received acoustic energy further comprises distinguishing acoustic energy corresponding to places and values of multiple-bit binary words.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein distinguishing received acoustic energy further comprises applying signal processing techniques to the received acoustic energy.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the method stored on the computer readable medium further comprises transmitting a copy of the received acoustic energy.