Multiple receiver line deployment and recovery

• US 8,310,899 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magseis FF, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fairfield Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Thompson, James N., Woodard, Reagan Neil Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian
• Application Number:
  US12/343,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20100157727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 367 15- 18, 405/190
• US Class Current: 367/15
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/28 for deck loads
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/10 of cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/52 Tools specially adapted for working underwater, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3808 Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3843 Deployment of seismic devices, e.g. of streamers equipment for marine deployment in general B63B
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3852 to the seabed
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/1427 Sea bed
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method of transferring seismic equipment to and from a marine vessel and subsurface location. In one embodiment, the method includes deploying at least one remotely operated vehicle from a vessel operating in a first direction, and operating the at least one remotely operated vehicle in a pattern relative to the direction of the vessel to form at least two receiver lines.

Claims

1. A method for deploying seismic sensor devices in a marine environment, comprising:

deploying at least one remotely operated vehicle from a vessel, the remotely operated vehicle comprising an onboard storage compartment having a first plurality of sensor devices disposed therein;

operating the vessel in a first direction at a first speed that is greater than zero knots;

operating the at least one remotely operated vehicle at a second speed in a pattern relative to the first direction, the second speed being greater than the first speed, the pattern comprising;

a first course that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

a second course that is substantially parallel to the first direction; and

a third course that is opposite of the first course; and

placing each of the first plurality of sensor devices in selected locations along the pattern as the vessel operates at the first speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern further comprises:

a fourth course that is substantially parallel to the second course.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first speed of the vessel is about 0.2 knots to about 0.6 knots.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

turning the vessel to a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction; and

deploying sensor devices from the at least one remotely operated vehicle while the vessel travels in the second direction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one remotely operated vehicle comprises a first remotely operated vehicle and a second remotely operated vehicle, and the first remotely operated vehicle and the second remotely operated vehicle places the sensor devices in two or more parallel rows.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second remotely operated vehicle operates in a pattern that is substantially identical to the pattern followed by the first remotely operated vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second remotely operated vehicle operates in a pattern that is substantially a mirror-image of the pattern followed by the first remotely operated vehicle.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

reloading the first remotely operated vehicle and second remotely operated vehicle with a second plurality of sensor devices at a location below the vessel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reloading of the first remotely operated vehicle and second remotely operated vehicle are performed at different times.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reloading the at least one remotely operated vehicle with a second plurality of sensor devices at a location below the vessel.

11. A method for deploying seismic sensor devices in a marine environment, comprising:

deploying at least two remotely operated vehicles from a vessel, each of the remotely operated vehicles carrying a plurality of sensor devices;

powering the vessel to operate at a first speed in a first direction, the first speed being greater than zero knots;

operating the at least two remotely operated vehicles at a second speed to deploy the plurality of sensor devices, the second speed being greater than the first speed, wherein the at least two remotely operated vehicles comprise a first remotely operated vehicle and a second remotely operated vehicle, and the first remotely operated vehicle and the second remotely operated vehicle deploy the plurality of sensor devices in a pattern.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein operating each of the remotely operated vehicles further comprises:

deploying seismic sensor devices in a plurality of linear rows while the vessel is traveling in the first direction.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the pattern comprises:

a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the vessel direction;

a second direction that is substantially parallel to the vessel direction;

a third direction that is opposite of the first direction; and

a fourth direction that is substantially parallel to the vessel direction.

14. A method for deploying seismic sensor devices in a marine environment, comprising:

deploying at least one remotely operated vehicle from a vessel, the remotely operated vehicle comprising an onboard storage compartment having a first plurality of sensor devices disposed therein;

operating the vessel in a first linear direction at a first speed that is greater than zero knots;

operating the at least one remotely operated vehicle at a second speed in a pattern relative to the first linear direction, the second speed being greater than the first speed, the pattern comprising;

a first travel path that is substantially perpendicular to the first linear direction;

a second travel path that is substantially parallel to the first linear direction; and

a third travel path that is opposite of the first travel path; and

a fourth travel path that is substantially parallel to the second travel path; and

placing a first sensor device from the first plurality of sensor devices in a first location along the first travel path and a second sensor from the first plurality of sensor devices in a second location along the second travel path as the vessel operates at the first speed.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

placing a third sensor device from the first plurality of sensor devices along the third travel path.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one remotely operated vehicle comprises a first remotely operated vehicle and a second remotely operated vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second remotely operated vehicle operates in a pattern that is substantially identical to the pattern followed by the first remotely operated vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second remotely operated vehicle operates in a pattern that is substantially a mirror-image of the pattern followed by the first remotely operated vehicle.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

reloading at least one of the first remotely operated vehicle or the second remotely operated vehicle with a second plurality of sensor devices at a location below the vessel.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

reloading the first remotely operated vehicle and the second remotely operated vehicle with a second plurality of sensor devices at a location below the vessel.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the reloading of the first remotely operated vehicle and second remotely operated vehicle are performed at different times.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the reloading is performed as the vessel is operated in the first linear direction.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

reloading the at least one remotely operated vehicle with a second plurality of sensor devices.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the reloading is performed along or adjacent the fourth travel path.