SYNCHRONIZING A SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION NETWORK

• US 20100318299A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WesternGeco LLC
• Original Assignee: WesternGeco LLC
• Inventors: Golparian, Daniel, Dao, Anh Duc
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0661 using timestamps

Abstract

Described herein are implementations of various technologies for a method for configuring a seismic data acquisition network. A first message may be received from a first node of the seismic data acquisition network over a first direct communication link. The first message may comprise a first precision quality of a first reference clock to which the first node may be synchronized. A second message may be received from a second node of the seismic data acquisition network over a second direct communication link. The second message may comprise a second precision quality of a second reference clock to which the second node may be synchronized. One of the first precision quality and the second precision quality may be determined to have a higher precision quality. A real time clock may be synchronized to one of the first reference clock and second reference clock having the higher precision quality.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a seismic data acquisition network, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first node of the seismic data acquisition network over a first direct communication link, wherein the first message comprises a first precision quality of a first reference clock to which the first node is synchronized;

receiving a second message from a second node of the seismic data acquisition network over a second direct communication link, wherein the second message comprises a second precision quality of a second reference clock to which the second node is synchronized;

determining one of the first precision quality and the second precision quality as having a higher precision quality; and

synchronizing a real time clock to one of the first reference clock and the second reference clock having the higher precision quality.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node and the second node are seismic sensors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node and the second node are seismic data acquisition network concentrators.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first precision quality and the second precision quality are based on parts-per-million (PPM).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first precision quality is based on a number of nodes between the first node and a node having the first reference clock.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second precision quality is based on a number of nodes between the second node and a node having the second reference clock.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first precision quality is further based on a first unique identifier of the first node, and wherein the second precision quality is further based on a second unique identifier of the second node.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first unique identifier is a serial number of the first node, and wherein the second unique identifier is a serial number of the second node.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a third message having the one of the first precision quality and the second precision quality with the higher precision quality.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the third message is transmitted over the first direct communication link, the second direct communication link or both.

11. A method for configuring a seismic data acquisition network, comprising:

receiving a message from a first node of the seismic data acquisition network over a direct communication link, wherein the message comprises a first precision quality of a first reference clock to which the first node is synchronized;

determining one of the first precision quality and a second precision quality of a second reference clock as having a higher precision quality; and

synchronizing a real time clock to one of the first reference clock and the second reference clock having the higher precision quality.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

deactivating the second reference clock if the first precision quality is the higher precision quality.

13. A method for configuring a seismic data acquisition network, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first node of the seismic data acquisition network over a first direct communication link, wherein the first message comprises a first precision quality of a first reference clock to which the first node is synchronized;

receiving a second message from a second node of the seismic data acquisition network over a second direct communication link, wherein the second message comprises a second precision quality of a second reference clock to which the second node is synchronized;

determining that a third reference clock is deactivated;

determining whether the first direct communication link or the second direct communication link is a valid communication link;

if so, then determining one of the first precision quality and the second precision quality as having a higher precision quality; and

synchronizing a real time clock to one of the first reference clock and the second reference clock having the higher precision quality.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

if neither the first direct communication link nor the second direct communication link is the valid communication link, then determining whether to activate the third reference clock based on a predetermined amount of time.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if the third reference clock is activated, then synchronizing the real time clock to the third reference clock.

16. A system, comprising:

a first node in a seismic data acquisition network having a first real time clock that is synchronized to a first reference clock; and

a second node in direct communication with the first node, wherein the second node comprises a second real time clock and a second reference clock and wherein the second node comprises a processor and a memory comprising computer-executable instructions executable by the processor to;

receive a message from the first node, wherein the message comprises a first precision quality of the first reference clock;

determine one of the first precision quality and a second precision quality of the second reference clock as having a higher precision quality; and

synchronize the second real time clock to one of the first reference clock and the second reference clock having the higher precision quality.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first node comprises the first reference clock.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein a third node in direct communication with the first node comprises the first reference clock.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first precision quality is based on a number of nodes between the third node and the second node.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first precision quality is further based on a unique identifier of the second node and the third node.