Multiple receiver line deployment and recovery

• US 8,611,181 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magseis FF, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fairfield Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Thompson, James N., Woodward, Reagan Neil Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J
• Application Number:
  US13/671,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20130070558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 367/15, 405/158, 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, a marine vessel is provided. The marine vessel includes a deck having a plurality of seismic sensor devices stored thereon, two remotely operated vehicles, each comprising a seismic sensor storage compartment, and a seismic sensor transfer device comprising a container for transfer of one or more of the seismic sensor devices from the vessel to the sensor storage compartment of at least one of the two remotely operated vehicles.

Claims

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

deploying a remotely operated vehicle from a vessel;

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

operating the remotely operated vehicle at a second speed to deploy a first plurality of sensor devices, the second speed being greater than the first speed at intermittent intervals, wherein the remotely operated vehicle deploys the first plurality of sensor devices in a pattern relative to the first direction of the vessel;

deploying a seismic sensor transfer device from the vessel, the seismic sensor transfer device having a second plurality of sensor devices disposed thereon; and

transferring the second plurality of sensor devices onto the remotely operated vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the seismic sensor transfer device comprises a container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the seismic sensor transfer device comprises a transfer skid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern is selected from the group consisting of one or more substantially linear rows, one or more substantially parallel rows, one or more substantially diagonal rows, a serpentine layout, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more substantially linear rows comprises at least three rows.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the at least three rows are linear rows.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the remotely operated vehicle comprises one or more sensor devices disposed thereon prior to deployment from the vessel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deploying a second remotely operated vehicle from the vessel.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transferring another plurality of seismic sensor devices to the second remotely operated vehicle from the seismic sensor transfer device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the remotely operated vehicle operates relative to a port side of the vessel and the second remotely operated vehicle operates relative to a starboard side of the vessel.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing the first plurality of sensor devices in selected locations using the remotely operated vehicle, wherein the selected locations form a pattern relative to the first direction of the vessel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the pattern is selected from the group consisting of one or more substantially linear rows, one or more substantially parallel rows, one or more substantially diagonal rows, a serpentine layout, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more substantially linear rows comprises at least three rows.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least three rows are substantially parallel relative to the first direction.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least three rows are substantially normal relative to the first direction.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least three rows are substantially diagonal relative to the first direction.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring the second plurality of sensor devices comprises utilizing a conveyor having sensor devices disposed thereon.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring the second plurality of sensor devices comprises utilizing a movable platform having sensor devices disposed thereon.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring the second plurality of sensor devices comprises utilizing a rack having sensor devices disposed thereon.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring the second plurality of sensor devices comprises utilizing a tray having sensor devices disposed thereon.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deploying a second remotely operated vehicle from the vessel.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transferring a third plurality of seismic sensor devices to the second remotely operated vehicle at a subsurface location.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the transferring the second plurality of sensor devices comprises utilizing a conveyor having sensor devices disposed thereon.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the transferring the second plurality of sensor devices comprises utilizing a movable platform having sensor devices disposed thereon.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the transferring the second plurality of sensor devices comprises utilizing a rack having sensor devices disposed thereon.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the transferring the second plurality of sensor devices comprises utilizing a tray having sensor devices disposed thereon.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the remotely operated vehicle further comprises:

deploying seismic sensor devices in a plurality of substantially linear rows.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the remotely operated vehicle further comprises:

deploying seismic sensor devices in a plurality of substantially parallel rows.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the remotely operated vehicle further comprises:

deploying seismic sensor devices in a plurality of substantially diagonal rows.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the remotely operated vehicle further comprises:

deploying seismic sensor devices in a serpentine pattern.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the remotely operated vehicle is operated in a second direction.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first direction and the second direction are a same direction at intermittent intervals.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring comprises:

transferring the second plurality of sensor devices to a sensor storage compartment of the remotely operated vehicle at a subsurface location above a seabed.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring comprises:

transferring the second plurality of sensor devices onto the remotely operated vehicle at a subsurface location above a seabed.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the seismic sensor transfer device comprises a tray.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the seismic sensor transfer device comprises at least one of a container, a drone, a skid structure, a transfer skid, a basket, a rack and a magazine.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein the remotely operated vehicle comprises an onboard sensor storage compartment, the onboard sensor storage compartment comprising a tray.

38. The method of claim 1 wherein the remotely operated vehicle comprises an onboard sensor storage compartment, the onboard sensor storage compartment comprising at least one of a container, a drone, a skid structure, a transfer skid, a basket, a rack and a magazine.

39. A method for deploying seismic sensors in a marine environment, comprising:

deploying, from a vessel, a seismic sensor transfer device configured to house and transport a plurality of seismic sensors;

transferring at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors from the seismic sensor transfer device to a remotely operated vehicle;

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 one remotely operated vehicle at a second speed different from the first speed; and

placing, by the remotely operated vehicle, the at least one seismic sensor on a seabed.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein transferring comprises:

transferring, at a subsurface location, the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein transferring comprises:

transferring, at a subsurface location above a seabed, the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein transferring comprises:

transferring, at a subsurface location at a seabed, the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the remotely operated vehicle comprises a seismic sensor storage compartment, and transferring comprises:

transferring at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors from the seismic sensor transfer device to the seismic sensor storage compartment of the remotely operated vehicle.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the seismic sensor transfer device and the seismic sensor storage compartment comprises a tray.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the seismic sensor transfer device and the seismic sensor storage compartment comprises at least one of a container, a drone, a skid structure, a transfer skid, a basket, a rack, and a magazine.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein powering the vessel to operate at the first speed occurs before transferring the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein powering the vessel to operate at the first speed occurs after transferring the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors.

48. The method of claim 39, wherein:

transferring the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors occurs at a subsurface location above a seabed; and

powering the vessel to operate at the first speed occurs after transferring the at least one of the plurality of seismic sensors.