Cableless seismic digital field recorder having on-site seismic data processing capabilities

• US 4,885,724 A
• Filed: 06/23/1988
• Issued: 12/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amoco Corporation (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Amoco Corporation (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Warmack, Ralph E., Read, Randol R., Farmer, James M., Henshaw, Jerry D., Marshall, Connie T.
• Primary Examiner(s): STEINBERGER, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US07/212,157
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 367/13, 367/14, 367/21, 367/22, 367/23, 367/24, 367/37, 367/38, 367/46, 367/56, 367/57, 367/58, 367/59, 367/60, 367/61, 367/62, 367/63, 367/65, 367/66, 367/67, 367/68, 367/69, 367/70, 367/71, 367/72 , 367/73, 367/76, 367/77, 364/421, 364/422, 346/33 C
• US Class Current: 367/77
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/223 Radioseismic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/247 Digital recording of seismic data, e.g. in acquisition units or nodes

Abstract

An improved cableless seismic digital recording system is disclosed which records seismic-trace data generated by any type of seismic source, including high energy impulsive seismic sources, such as dynamite, and low energy surface seismic sources, such as vibrators and hammers. A seismometer, or geophone, is connected to a remotely deployed radio-controlled portable recorder which contains circuitry for sampling, digitizing, processing, storing, and recording seismic-trace data. Coded radio signals instruct each recorder to commence an operation or sequence of operations from a predetermined set of programmed instructions stored in program read only memory included in each recorder. Such operations include seismic-trace data acquisition; optional weighting and vertical stacking (summing); normalization; recording; and seismic source initiation.

Claims

1. A portable seismometer group recorder for use in seismic prospecting for processing seismic-trace signals from at least one seismic wave detector comprising:

(a) memory means in the recorder for storing a plurality of processing instructions for processing the seismic-trace signals, wherein the processing instructions include;

(i) instructions for weighting seismic-trace signals obtained from a plurality of initiations of a seismic source with inverse power weighting exponents selected from the group including 0, 1, 2, and 4; and

(ii) instructions for stacking weighted seismic-trace signals;

(b) means in the recorder responsive to transmitted coded signals for selecting processing instructions from the plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory means; and

(c) means in the recorder for processing the seismic-trace signals from at least one seismic wave detector in accordance with the selected processing instructions.

2. The recorder of claim 1 further including:

means in the recorder responsive to coded signals for activating the recorder by connecting the recorder to a supply of electrical power.

3. The recorder of claim 1 further including:

means in the recorder for digitizing the seismic-trace signals prior to processing.

4. The recorder of claim 1 wherein the processing instructions further include:

instructions for normalizing the processed seismic-trace signal.

5. The recorder of claim 1 further including:

data storage means in the recorder for storing the processed seismic-trace signals.

6. The recorder of claim 1 further including:

recorder if the time between successive initiations of the seismic source reaches a predetermined time.

7. The recorder of claim 1 further including:

means in the recorder responsive to transmitted coded signals for storing header block identification data and recording parameter data with the processed seismic trace signals.

8. The recorder of claim 7 wherein the header block identification data and recording parameter data include data selected from the group including:

9. A method for seismic prospecting using a portable seismometer group recorder for processing and recording seismic-trace signals from at least one seismic wave detector, comprising the steps of:

(a) activating the recorder by connecting the recorder to a supply of electrical power upon receiving first transmitted coded signals;

(b) transmitting a second coded signal to the recorder and selecting a set of operating instructions from a plurality of operating instructions stored within the recorder, wherein such operating instructions include;

(i) instructions for weighting the seismic-trace signals from a plurality of initiations of a seismic source with inverse power weighting exponents selected from the group including 0, 1, 2, and 4; and

(ii) instructions for stacking weighted seismic-trace signals;

(c) successively sampling and digitizing the seismic-trace signals in the recorder from at least one sesmic wave detector, thereby forming seismic-trace data;

(d) processing the seismic-trace data using the selected processing instructions; and

(e) storing the processed seismic-trace data in the recorder.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the operating instructions include:

instructions for normalizing processed seismic-trace signals.

11. A portable seismometer group recorder for use in seismic prospecting for processing seismic-trace signals from at least one seismic wave detector comprising:

(a) memory means in the recorder for storing a plurality of processing instructions for processing instructions include;

(i) instructions for weighting seismic-trace signals obtained from a plurality of initiations of a seismic source with inverse power weighting exponents selected from the group including 0, 1, 2, and 4;

(ii) instructions for stacking weighted seismic-trace signals; and

(iii) instructions for storing seismic trace signals from a plurality of initiations of a seismic source without weighting and stacking in the recorder;

(b) means in the recorder responsive to transmitted coded signals for selecting processing instructions from the plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory means; and

(c) means in the recorder for processing the seismic-trace signals from at least one seismic wave detector in accordance with the selected procesing instructions.