LAND BASED UNIT FOR SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION

• US 20140126329A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magseis FF, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fairfield Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: GUYTON, William, DOWNEY, John C., RICE, Geoff, NIKIRK, Christopher T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,720,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/76
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/16 Receiving elements for seismic signals; Arrangements or adaptations of receiving elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/18 Receiving elements, e.g. seismometer, geophone or torque detectors, for localised single point measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/247 Digital recording of seismic data, e.g. in acquisition units or nodes

Abstract

In one aspect, a seismic data acquisition unit is disclosed including a closed housing containing: a seismic sensor; a processor operatively coupled to the seismic sensor; a memory operatively coupled to the processor to record seismic data from the sensor; and a power source configured to power the sensor, processor and memory. The sensor, processor, memory and power source are configured to be assemble as an operable unit in the absence of the closed housing.

Claims

1. A seismic data acquisition unit comprising:

a closed housing containing;

a seismic sensor;

a processor operatively coupled to the seismic sensor;

a memory operatively coupled to the processor to record seismic data from the sensor; and

a power source configured to power the sensor, processor and memory.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the sensor, processor, memory and power source are configured to be assembled as an operable unit in the absence of the closed housing.

3. The unit of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a cap having one or more pins that provide electrical connection to one or more elements contained in the housing.

4. The unit of claim 3, further comprising:

a flexible electrical connector member disposed under the cap in the closed housing configured to provide electrical connection between the one or more pins and the one or more elements contained in the housing;

wherein the flexible electrical connector is configured to flex in response to a deformation of the cap without causing an interruption of the electrical connection between the pin and the one or more elements contained in the housing.

5. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a connection port configured to allow one or more external seismic sensors to be operatively coupled to the processor contained in the closed housing.

6. The unit claim 1, further comprising a light emitting element included in the housing and operatively coupled to the processor.

7. The unit of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to modulate the output of the light emitting element to transmit data to a receiver external to the sensor.

8. The unit of claim 7, wherein the receiver external to the sensor is mounted on a vehicle.

9. A system comprising:

the unit of claim 7; and

the receiver.

10. A method comprising:

deploying the seismic data acquisition unit of claim 1; and

acquiring seismic data using the unit.

11. An ambidextrous seismic data acquisition unit comprising:

a closed housing containing;

a seismic sensor;

a processor operatively coupled to the seismic sensor;

a memory operatively coupled to the processor to record seismic data from the sensor; and

a power source configured to power the sensor, processor and memory; and

a connection port configured to allow one or more external seismic sensors to be operatively coupled to the processor contained in the closed housing.

12. The ambidextrous seismic data acquisition unit of claim 11, further comprising at least one external seismic sensor operatively coupled to the processor via the connection port.

13. The ambidextrous seismic data acquisition unit of claim 11, wherein the sensor, processor, memory, and power source are configured to be assembled as an operable unit in the absence of the closed housing.

14. The ambidextrous seismic data acquisition unit of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a cap having one or more pins that provide electrical connection to one or more elements contained in the housing.

15. The ambidextrous seismic data acquisition unit of claim 14, further comprising:

a flexible electrical connector member disposed under the cap in the closed housing configured to provide electrical connection between the one or more pins and the one or more elements contained in the housing;

wherein the flexible electrical connector is configured to flex in response to a deformation of the cap without causing an interruption of the electrical connection between the pin and the one or more elements contained in the housing.

16. The ambidextrous seismic data acquisition unit of claim 11, further comprising a light emitting element included in the housing and operatively coupled to the processor.

17. The ambidextrous seismic data acquisition unit of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to modulate the output of the light emitting element to transmit data to a receiver external to the sensor.

18. The unit of claim 17, wherein the receiver external to the sensor is mounted on a vehicle.

19. A system comprising:

the unit of claim 17; and

the receiver

20. A method comprising:

deploying the ambidextrous seismic data acquisition unit of claim 11;

acquiring seismic data using the unit;

reconfiguring the unit by connecting at least one external seismic sensor to the processor via the connection port; and

acquiring additional seismic data using the reconfigured unit.