SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION USING SELF-PROPELLED UNDERWATER VEHICLES

• US 20140198610A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WesternGeco LLC
• Original Assignee: WesternGeco LLC
• Inventors: WELKER, KENNETH E., KRAGH, JULIAN EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US14/214,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20140198610A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/16
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/36 Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for floating cargo deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts of hoists B63B27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/52 Tools specially adapted for working underwater, not otherwise provided for
• 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: G01S 11/14 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/26 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/38 specially adapted for water-covered areas G01V1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3808 Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3852 to the seabed

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to the use of a self-propelled underwater vehicle for seismic data acquisition. The self-propelled underwater vehicle is adapted to gather seismic data from the seafloor and transmit such data to a control vessel. The self-propelled underwater vehicle may be redeployed to several seafloor locations during a seismic survey. Methods for real-time modeling of a target zone and redeployment of the self-propelled underwater vehicle based on the modeling are also described.

Claims

1. A system for surveying subterranean formations, comprising:

a flotation element;

a surface control unit disposed on the flotation element; and

at least one self-propelled underwater vehicle, the vehicle having a control unit;

whereby the surface control unit and the vehicle control unit are adapted to communicate with one another during surveying of subterranean formations.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the flotation element comprises a vessel, an autonomous sea surface vehicle or a buoy.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the flotation element is an autonomous sea surface vehicle, the autonomous sea surface vehicle having a net-like device operatively connected thereto for collecting the at least one self-propelled underwater vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a sensor for gathering seismic data.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is a seismic sensor.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the seismic sensor is a hydrophone, a geophone or an accelerometer.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is an electromagnetic sensor.

8. A method for retrieving self-propelled underwater vehicles, comprising:

providing an autonomous sea surface vehicle;

attaching a net-like device to an underwater portion of the autonomous sea surface vehicle; and

using the net-like device to capture one or more self-propelled underwater vehicles.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising providing the autonomous sea surface vehicle with a surface control unit, and issuing positioning commands to the surface control unit to position the autonomous sea surface vehicle for retrieval of the one or more self-propelled underwater vehicles.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein issuing positioning commands comprises positioning the autonomous sea surface vehicle to minimize total travel distance of the self-propelled underwater vehicles to be retrieved.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising disposing a sensor on or near the net-like device, and upon sensing entry of the one or more self-propelled underwater vehicles, signaling closure of the net-like device.