Geophysical measurement device for natural soil resource exploration in aquatic environment

• US 8,269,500 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale
• Original Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale
• Inventors: D'eu, Jean-François, Cairns, Graeme, Tarits, Pascal, Jegen-Kulcsar, Marion, Dubreule, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Vazquez, Arleen M
• Application Number:
  US12/160,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20110031973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 324345-365
• US Class Current: 324/345
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

A geophysical measurement device is provided for exploration of natural resources of the floor in an aquatic domain. The device includes a frame designed to rest in a stable manner on the floor of the aquatic environment, at least one buoyancy caisson resting on the frame, measurement instruments. The measurement instruments including: at least one sensor making it possible to measure locally at least one of the components of the magnetic field; an analogue and/or digital data acquisition and processing device; and a source of energy supply of the sensor and of the data acquisition and processing device. The at least one sensor is contained inside the buoyancy caisson.

Claims

1. Geophysical measurement device for exploration of natural resources of soil in an aquatic environment, comprising:

a supporting frame intended to rest in a stable manner on said soil of said aquatic environment;

at least one watertight floatability caisson resting on the supporting frame; and

a measurement instrument comprising;

at least one magnetic sensor used to measure locally at least one of component of the magnetic field;

an analog and/or digital data acquisition and processing device; and

a power supply source for the at least one magnetic sensor and the data acquisition and processing device;

wherein the at least one magnetic sensor is contained inside the at least one watertight floatability caisson.

2. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetic sensor comprises means for measuring three components of the magnetic field.

3. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 1, comprising a single watertight floatability caisson.

4. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 3, wherein the data acquisition and processing device and the power supply source are comprised in the single watertight floatability caisson.

5. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 1, comprising at least two watertight floatability caissons, wherein the at least one magnetic sensor, the data acquisition and processing device and the power supply source are comprised in one of the at least two watertight floatability caissons.

6. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 1, comprising at least two watertight floatability caissons, wherein the at least one magnetic sensor, the data acquisition and processing device and the power supply are distributed in at least two of the watertight floatability caissons.

7. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 1, comprising an inclinometer attached to the at least one magnetic sensor.

8. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the watertight floatability caisson is obtained from at least one amorphous material.

9. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the analog and/or digital data acquisition and processing device include means for determining an induction vector component.

10. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 9, comprising a transponder, which transmits the data and the induction vector component to a remote receiver.

11. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 9, wherein the induction vector component is determined for at least two separate frequencies.

12. Geophysical measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one watertight floatability caisson has an internal volume containing the measurement instrument, which is substantially equal to the volume of the measurement instrument.