MARINE SEISMIC SURVEY AND METHOD USING AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES AND UNDERWATER BASES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A seismic survey system for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey, the system comprising:
- first to third underwater bases, each housing at least one autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV);
the first to third underwater bases each being connected through a corresponding cable to a corresponding buoy that is floating at the water surface;
the first to third underwater bases each having a controller that determines its geographical location and transmits the geographical location to the at least one AUV; and
the at least one AUV being configured to receive a pinger signal from at least two of the first to third underwater bases when traveling under water so that its trajectory is adjusted in real-time, based on the geographical locations of the at least two of the first to third underwater bases while moving toward a target position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seismic survey system records seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The system includes at least two underwater bases and plural autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that carry appropriate seismic sensors. An AUV is housed by an underwater base and it is launched to a final destination from the underwater base. The AUV receives pinger signals from at least two underwater bases for correcting its trajectory toward the final destination.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A seismic survey system for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey, the system comprising:
-
first to third underwater bases, each housing at least one autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV); the first to third underwater bases each being connected through a corresponding cable to a corresponding buoy that is floating at the water surface; the first to third underwater bases each having a controller that determines its geographical location and transmits the geographical location to the at least one AUV; and the at least one AUV being configured to receive a pinger signal from at least two of the first to third underwater bases when traveling under water so that its trajectory is adjusted in real-time, based on the geographical locations of the at least two of the first to third underwater bases while moving toward a target position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for recording seismic data during a marine seismic survey, the method comprising:
-
deploying first to third underwater bases underwater; launching from the first underwater base at least one autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV); receiving at the AUV pinger signals from at least two of the first to third underwater bases while traveling toward a target position; adjusting a trajectory of the AUV based on the pinger signals; landing at the target position; recording seismic data; and returning to the first underwater base for transferring the seismic data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A seismic survey system for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey, the system comprising:
-
first and second underwater bases, each housing plural autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs); the first and second underwater bases each being connected through a corresponding cable to a corresponding buoy that is floating at the water surface; the first and second underwater bases each having a controller that determines its geographical location; and at least one AUV being configured to receive pinger signals from the first and second underwater bases while traveling under water so that its trajectory toward a target position is adjusted in real-time, based on (1) the geographical locations of the first and second underwater bases and (2) the pinger signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification