METHODS AND UNDERWATER BASES FOR USING AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE FOR MARINE SEISMIC SURVEYS

• US 20150000582A1
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PXGEO UK Ltd. (PXGEO Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Cgg Services Sa (CGG)
• Inventors: BRIZARD, Thierry, LELAURIN, Antoine
• Granted Patent: US 9,469,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/257
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/002 for goods other than bulk goods detachable decks B63B25/18; palletised articles B63B25/22; frozen goods B63B25/26; deck loads B63B25/28
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/004 autonomously operating
• 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: G01V 1/3808 Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3852 to the seabed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/30 Assessment of water resources

Abstract

A recovery underwater base for handling an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with seismic sensors for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The recovery underwater base includes a storing part configured to store the AUV; an inlet part configured to control access to the storing part; a control part configured to control the inlet part; and a support part configured to support the control part, the storing part and the inlet part and to prevent a burial of the recovery underwater base if deployed on the ocean bottom. The control part is further configured to guide the AUV from the ocean bottom to the inlet part.

Claims

1. A recovery underwater base for handling an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with seismic sensors for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey, the recovery underwater base comprising:

a storing part configured to store the AUV;

an inlet part configured to control access to the storing part;

a control part configured to control the inlet part; and

a support part configured to support the control part, the storing part and the inlet part and to prevent a burial of the recovery underwater base into the ocean bottom,

wherein the control part is further configured to guide the AUV from the ocean bottom to the inlet part.

2. The recovery underwater base of claim 1, wherein the control part comprises:

an acoustic system configured to generate acoustic signals for guiding the AUV to the inlet part; and

a control system configured to control the acoustic system.

3. The recovery underwater base of claim 2, wherein the acoustic system comprises:

first and second transducers (T1, T2) configured to emit the acoustic signals.

4. The recovery underwater base of claim 2, wherein the acoustic system comprises:

only first and second transducers (T1, T2) configured to emit the acoustic signals.

5. The recovery underwater base of claim 3, wherein the first and second transducers (T1, T2) are located on a central pole.

6. The recovery underwater base of claim 5, wherein the first and second transducers are symmetrically distributed on the central pole relative to a recovery navigation plane that is substantially perpendicular on the central pole.

7. The recovery underwater base of claim 6, wherein the recovery navigation plane intersects the inlet part.

8. The recovery underwater base of claim 6, wherein the recovery navigation plane is located between the inlet part and the storing part.

9. The recovery underwater base of claim 1, wherein the inlet part comprises:

an AUV interface configured to detect an impact of the AUV with the inlet part.

10. The recovery underwater base of claim 9, wherein the AUV interface includes piezoelectric fabric material.

11. The recovery underwater base of claim 9, wherein the control system determines which AUV has collided with the AUV interface.

12. The recovery underwater base of claim 9, wherein the control system instructs the colliding AUV to shut off its propulsion mechanism.

13. The recovery underwater base of claim 12, wherein the inlet part has a shape that deviates a trajectory of the colliding AUV toward the storing part.

14. A recovery underwater system for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with seismic sensors for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey, the system comprising:

a recovery underwater base for handling the AUV;

a vessel for deploying the recovery underwater base underwater; and

the AUV located on the ocean bottom,

wherein the recovery underwater base is configured to generate acoustic signals that guide the AUV inside the recovery underwater base.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the recovery underwater base comprises:

a storing part configured to store the AUV;

an inlet part configured to control access to the storing part;

a control part configured to control the inlet part; and

a support part configured to support the control part, the storing part and the inlet part and to prevent a burial of the recovery underwater base into the ocean bottom,

wherein the control part is further configured to guide the AUV from the ocean bottom to the inlet part.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control part comprises:

an acoustic system configured to generate acoustic signals for guiding the AUV to the inlet part; and

a control system configured to control the acoustic system,

wherein the acoustic system comprises first and second transducers (T1, T2) configured to emit the acoustic signals.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first and second transducers (T1, T2) are located on a central pole and the first and second transducers are symmetrically distributed on the central pole relative to a recovery navigation plane that is substantially perpendicular on the central pole.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the recovery navigation plane intersects the inlet part or is between the inlet part and the storing part.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the inlet part comprises:

an AUV interface configured to detect an impact with the AUV,

wherein the control system determines which AUV has collided with the AUV interface; and

the AUV is configured to receive instructions, after colliding with the AUV interface, to shut off its propulsion mechanism.

20. A recovery underwater base for handling an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with seismic sensors for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey, the recovery underwater base comprising:

an inlet part configured to receive the AUV; and

a control part configured to control the inlet part,

wherein the control part is further configured to guide the AUV from the ocean bottom to the inlet part.