Subterranean survey communication system and technique

• US 8,837,256 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2008
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WesternGeco LLC
• Original Assignee: WesternGeco LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Brian David
• Primary Examiner(s): BREIER, KRYSTINE E
• Application Number:
  US12/193,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,221 Days
• Field of Search: 367 76- 80
• US Class Current: 367/76
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2200/14 Quality control

Abstract

A technique includes acquiring data, which is indicative of operations that are being conducted in connection with a subterranean survey. The technique includes communicating the data in real time over a long range communication network to allow at least one remote user to remotely observe the operations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

acquiring data indicative of operations being conducted in connection with a subterranean survey;

communicating the data in real time over a long range communication network;

receiving the data from the long range communication network; and

using a processor-based machine to automatically compare performance metrics indicated by the received data with predetermined thresholds to selectively generate alarms to indicate performance of a crew conducting the survey.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean survey comprises a seismic survey.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of communicating comprises communicating the data over the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the data from the long range communication network; and

processing the data to automatically and selectively route the data to a group of users based on detected data types.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a database to store data indicative of problems associated with performance metrics and associated solutions to the problems.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise operations associated with setting up the survey.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise operations occurring during the survey.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise operations occurring after the survey.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the data over the long range network for a distance of at least ten miles between a site associated with the ongoing survey and a remote site at which said at least one user is located.

9. A system usable with a first subsystem being located in proximity to a site in which subterranean survey operations are being conducted, the system comprising:

a second subsystem being remotely located with respect to the site,

the second subsystem being adapted to;

receive data in real time over a long range communication network from the first subsystem; and

automatically compare performance metrics indicated by the received data with predetermined thresholds to selectively generate alarms to indicate performance of a crew conducting the survey.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the subterranean survey operations comprise seismic survey operations.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second subsystem is adapted to process data received from the long range communication network automatically and selectively route the data to a group of users based on detected data types.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second subsystem comprises a database to store data indicative of problems associated with performance metrics and associated solutions to the problems.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations comprise at least one of the following:

an operation occurring before the survey, an operation occurring during the survey and an operation occurring after the survey.

14. An article comprising a computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor-based system cause the processor-based system to:

acquire data in real time from a long range communication network, the data identifying a progress of a survey crew in connection with a an ongoing subterranean survey; and

automatically compare performance metrics indicated by the acquired data with predetermined thresholds to selectively generate alarms to indicate performance of a crew conducting the survey.

15. The article of claim 14, wherein the storage medium stores instructions that when executed by the processor-based system cause the processor-based system to search a database for problems associated with performance metrics and associated solutions to the problems.

16. The article of claim 14, wherein the operations comprise at least one of the following:

an operation occurring before the survey, an operation occurring during the survey and an operation occurring after the survey.