Communication in a seismic sensor array

• US 8,964,500 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Souders, Keith A., Haque, Jamal
• Primary Examiner(s): BREIER, KRYSTINE E
• Application Number:
  US12/392,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20100214871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,190 Days
• Field of Search: 367/21, 367/76, 367/77, 3408554- 6
• US Class Current: 367/6
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for communicating data with a seismic sensor are provided. The method comprises identifying data to be transmitted and one or more seismic events that correspond to the data to be transmitted. One or more seismic events are created that are distinguishable into binary code from one or more seismic sensors within the array. Seismic events can be distinguished by their pattern or frequency. A first frequency can be assigned as a first binary code and a second frequency can be assigned as a second binary code. Likewise, different patterns of acoustic energy can designate different binary codes. Combinations of patterns and frequencies can be used together to create distinct distinguishable seismic events.

Claims

1. A seismic communication network, the network comprising:

a plurality of acoustic sensors, wherein each acoustic sensor comprises;

a seismic transmitter configured to create acoustic energy waves distinguishable into binary code, wherein the seismic transmitter comprises a plurality of seismic transponders and is configured to transmit a multiple-bit binary word via the plurality of seismic transponders, each seismic transponder of the plurality of seismic transponders being configured to create a seismic event that corresponds to a respective bit of the multiple-bit binary word;

a seismic detector configured to receive acoustic energy waves; and

a central processing unit configured to distinguish received acoustic energy waves into binary code.

2. The network of claim 1, further comprising a central data unit, wherein the central data unit is configured to communicate with at least one acoustic sensor of the plurality of acoustic sensors in the network, and wherein the network is configured such that data received at a first acoustic sensor of the plurality of acoustic sensors is transmitted between at least two acoustic sensors of the plurality of acoustic sensors, and transmitted to the central data unit via the at least one acoustic sensor in the network.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein each acoustic sensor of the plurality of acoustic sensors is placed within range of at least one other acoustic sensor of the plurality of acoustic sensors to communicate with the at least one other acoustic sensor.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is configured to distinguish received acoustic energy waves into binary code by at least distinguishing received seismic events in the received acoustic energy waves, the received seismic events corresponding to places and values of multiple-bit binary words.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is configured to distinguish received acoustic energy waves by at least:

distinguishing, within the received acoustic energy waves, a first acoustic energy wave frequency that denotes a logical 1; and

distinguishing, within the received acoustic energy waves, a second acoustic energy wave frequency that denotes a logical 0.

6. The network of claim 5, wherein the seismic transmitter is configured to:

create an acoustic energy wave of the first acoustic energy wave frequency if the logical 1 is desired; and

create an acoustic energy wave of the second acoustic energy wave frequency if the logical 0 is desired.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is configured to distinguish received acoustic energy waves by at least:

distinguishing, within the received acoustic energy waves, a first acoustic energy wave pattern that denotes a logical 1; and

distinguishing, within the received acoustic energy waves, a second acoustic energy wave pattern that denotes a logical 0.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein the seismic transmitter is configured to create acoustic energy waves distinguishable into binary code by at least:

creating the first acoustic energy wave pattern if a logical 1 is desired; and

creating the second acoustic energy wave pattern if a logical 0 is desired.

9. The network of claim 1, further comprising a memory that stores assignments between seismic events and respective binary codes, wherein the central processing unit is configured to distinguish received acoustic energy waves into binary code based on the assignments between the seismic events and respective binary codes.

10. The network of claim 1, wherein the multiple-bit binary word comprises a transmitted multiple-bit binary word, and wherein the received acoustic energy comprises received seismic events, the central processing unit being configured to decode a sequence of the received seismic events into a received multiple-bit binary word.

11. The network of claim 1, wherein the seismic transmitter is configured to simultaneously transmit seismic events corresponding to the bits of the multiple-bit binary word by at least controlling the plurality of seismic transponders to create the respective seismic event at a same time.

12. The network of claim 1, wherein each transponder of the plurality of transponders is tuned to a different frequency.

13. The network of claim 1, wherein at least one of the acoustic sensors of the plurality of acoustic sensors comprises a plurality of seismic transmitters.