Wireless exploration seismic system

• US 7,773,457 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wireless Seismic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wireless Seismic Incorporated
• Inventors: Crice, Douglas, Beffa, Mihai
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US11/538,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20080049554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 367 76- 80, 702/1, 702/14, 702/15, 702 75- 79
• US Class Current: 367/80
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/00 Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/003 Seismic data acquisition in general, e.g. survey design G01V1/3808, G01V1/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/20 Arrangements of receiving elements, e.g. geophone pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/223 Radioseismic systems

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for acquiring seismic data using a wireless network and a number of individual data acquisition modules that are configured to collect seismic data and forward data to a central recording and control system. In one implementation, a number of remote modules (301) are arranged in lines. Base station modules (302) receive information from the lines and relay the information to a central control and recording system (303). Radio links operating on multiple frequencies (F1-F12) are used by the modules (301). For improved data transfer rate, radio links from a remote module (301) leap past the nearest remote module to the next module closer to the base station.

Claims

1. A method for use in seismic data acquisition, comprising the steps of

disposing, in series, a plurality of seismic data acquisition modules that are operative to wirelessly communicate acquired seismic data, wherein said acquisition modules define a wireless serial data transfer path for relaying data from upstream acquisition modules to downstream acquisition modules and a data collection unit;

assigning a first acquisition module in said serial data transfer path a first transmission frequency;

assigning a second acquisition module in said serial data transfer path a second transmission frequency, wherein said first and second transmission frequencies are different;

first transmitting, on said first transmission frequency, seismic data from said first acquisition module to at least one downstream acquisition module; and

second transmitting, on said second transmission frequency, seismic data from said second acquisition module to at least one downstream acquisition module;

wherein at least a portion of said first transmitting and at least a portion of said second transmitting occur simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first transmitting comprises said first acquisition module transmitting said seismic data to said second acquisition module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second transmitting comprises:

receiving a first set of seismic data from said first acquisition module;

appending a second set of seismic data from said second acquisition module; and

transmitting said first and second sets of seismic data to a downstream acquisition module.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning said first transmission frequency to a third data acquisition module.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said first and third acquisition modules are positioned in said serial data transmission path at first and second locations, and wherein a distance between said first and second locations is greater than a transmission range of said first and third acquisition modules.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said third acquisition module is within a transmission range of said first acquisition module.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said third acquisition module is operative to transmit seismic data during a transmission period that is temporally distinct from a transmission period of said first acquisition module.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said third acquisition module form part of a different data transmission path, wherein said first and third acquisition modules are in a common seismic array.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said third acquisition module is disposed in a second serial data transfer path.

10. An apparatus for use in seismic data acquisition, comprising:

a plurality of seismic data acquisition modules, disposed in series, operative to wirelessly communicate acquired seismic data, wherein said acquisition modules define a wireless serial data transfer path for relaying data from upstream acquisition modules to downstream acquisition modules and a data collection unit;

a first acquisition module in said serial data transfer path for transmitting seismic data using a first transmission frequency; and

a second acquisition module in said serial data transfer path for transmitting seismic data using a second transmission frequency, wherein said first and second transmission frequencies are different;

wherein said first acquisition module and said second acquisition module are operative to transmit seismic data simultaneously.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a third data acquisition module in said serial data transfer path for transmitting seismic data using said first transmission frequency.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said and first and third acquisition modules are positioned in said serial data transfer path at first and second locations, wherein a distance between said first and second locations is greater than a transmission range each of each of said first and third acquisition modules.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said third acquisition module is within a transmission range of said first acquisition module and said first acquisition modules operative to transmit seismic data during a transmission period that is temporally distinct from a transmission period of said third acquisition module.