Geophone with depth sensitive spikes

• US 5,124,956 A
• Filed: 01/17/1991
• Issued: 06/23/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Arevalo, Roel, Rice, James A., Houston, Louis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): STEINBERGER, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US07/642,706
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 181/122, 181/401, 367/178-188, 411/439, 411/446, 411/480, 411/483, 411/484, 411/493, 411/494, 411/498, 411/499
• US Class Current: 367/178
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/16 Receiving elements for seismic signals; Arrangements or adaptations of receiving elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 181/401 Earth

Abstract

A geophone configuration is disclosed that includes an elongated extension or spike that couples with the soil in the hole made by the spike in the region near the end of the spike without hard or firm coupling with the soil above that region. A bow spring or drill bit larger in diameter than the diameter of the spike can be used for achieving predominant contact for the coupled region compared to soil opposite the remainder of the spike. Alternately, a weighted tip can be employed to achieve relative superior coupling by weight compared with the less heavy region of the spike above such weighted tip.

Claims

1. A geophone, comprising

a seismic sensitive element for sensing elastic motion and converting the motion to an electrical signal,

a housing for enclosing said seismic element, and

an elongated spike attachable to said housing, said spike having a lower segment which includes a drill head larger in diameter than the diameter of the spike;

and said spike being suitable to be driven into the ground and said spike further includes a means for predominantly coupling the lower segment of said spike with the ground while leaving relatively lightly coupled with the ground the remaining segment of said spike.

2. A geophone in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least more than one-half of the coupling is obtained by substantially less than one-half of the lower length of said spike.

3. A geophone in accordance with claim 2, wherein a length of at least two inches of said spike acoustically couples with the ground.

4. A geophone in accordance with claim 1, wherein the length of said spike is in the range between 3 inches and 10 feet.

5. A geophone in accordance with claim 4, wherein the length of said spike is in the range between 10 inches and 5 feet.

6. A geophone in accordance with claim 4, wherein the length of said spike is in the range between 2 and 3 feet.

7. A geophone in accordance with claim 1, wherein more than one-half of the mass of said spike is included in substantially less than one-half of the lower length of said spike.

8. A geophone in accordance with claim 7, wherein more than one-half of the mass of said spike is included in the lower 3 inches of the length of said spike.

9. A geophone in accordance with claim 1, and including a coupler providing a lip at the upper end thereof for accommodating a removal tool.

10. A geophone in accordance with claim 1, wherein said spike has a diameter within the range of one-quarter to one-half inch.

11. A geophone in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower segment of said spike is removably attachable from said remaining segment of said spike.

12. A geophone in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lower segment of said spike is also heavier than the remaining portion.

13. A geophone, comprising

a seismic sensitive element for sensing elastic motion and converting the motion to an electrical signal,

a housing for enclosing said seismic sensitive element, and

an elongated spike attachable to said housing, said spike having a tapered lower segment and includes at least one bow spring attached to the spike at a location above said tapered lower segment, said spike being suitable to be driven into the ground and including means for predominantly coupling the lower segment of said spike with the ground while leaving relatively lightly coupled with the ground the remaining segment of said spike.

14. A geophone in accordance with claim 13, wherein said lower segment of said spike is also heavier than the remaining portion.

15. A geophone, comprising

a seismic sensitive element for sensing elastic motion and converting the motion to an electrical signal,

a housing for enclosing said seismic sensitive element, and

an elongated spike attachable to said housing, said spike having a lower segment which is a drill bit, and said spike suitable for being driven into the ground and including means for predominantly coupling the lower segment of said spike with the ground while leaving relatively lightly coupled with the ground the remaining segment of said spike.

16. A geophone, comprising

a seismic sensitive element for sensing elastic motion and converting the motion to an electrical signal,

a housing for enclosing said seismic sensitive element, and

an elongated spike attachable to said housing, said spike having a lower segment which is steel tipped and lead filled, and said spike suitable for being driven into the ground and including means for predominantly coupling the lower segment of said spike with the ground, wherein said lower segment is steel tipped and lead filled, while leaving relatively lightly coupled with the ground the remaining segment of said spike.

17. A geophone in accordance with claim 16, wherein said lower segment of said spike is also heavier than the remaining portion.

18. A geophone in accordance with claim 16, wherein more than one-half of the mass of said spike is included in substantially less than one-half of the lower length of said spike.

19. The method of coupling a geophone to the ground beneath the surface, comprising

using a spike that includes a lower segment that provides a hole larger in diameter than the diameter of the rest of the spike, capping the top of the spike with a block that can accept driving of the spike by pounding, driving the spike to a distance greater than three inches deep so that the bottom of said spike couples with the soil while the remainder of the spike remains substantially uncoupled, and

securely attaching a geophone such that its housing is secured to the exposed top of the spike to provide coupling of the spike with the housing.