Techniques for surface exploration and monitoring
First Claim
1. A system for introducing electrical currents into a surface as stimulus for geophysical measurements, the system comprising:
- a plurality of survey probes for electrode contact with the surface at respective points thereof, wherein respective ones of the survey probes are configurable as current injection-type and current receiver-type survey probes for introduction of the electrical current stimulus into the surface;
a current injection power supply coupled to supply the electrical current to, and to receive return current from, respective ones of the survey probes;
a controller is configured to individually and selectively program plural of the current injection-type survey probes to inject current into the surface and to individually and selectively program plural of the current receiver-type survey probes to provide respective return paths for current injected into the surface; and
cable segments suitable for electrically connecting the controller to a first one of the survey probes and for electrically interconnecting each successive downstream neighbor survey probe to a next successive downstream neighbor survey probe,wherein the controller is configured to execute a startup sequence that polls the survey probes using signals conveyed via the cable segments to determine a relative interconnected order of the survey probes.
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Abstract
Techniques for surface exploration and monitoring are presented. In representative embodiments, a system is provided that cars perform multiple types of measurements of a surface. For example a single system of survey probes and one or more survey controllers can be used to offer both seismic and electrical measurements. A survey controller can be configured to automatically poll survey probes to obtain identifiers of the probes aid determine a relative order the probes. Survey probes can be configured to: (a) collect signals associated with a surface; (b) digitize the signals to form digital data; and (c) store the digital data for later transmission to the survey controller. Relative positions of survey probes can be automatically determined using a transmitting beacon or other techniques. Survey probes can automatically disconnect from a power conduit while measuring a surface property and operate using an internal source of power when disconnected, to reduce noise. The survey controller can be remotely accessible through a computer network for remote control of the survey probes.
37 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for introducing electrical currents into a surface as stimulus for geophysical measurements, the system comprising:
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a plurality of survey probes for electrode contact with the surface at respective points thereof, wherein respective ones of the survey probes are configurable as current injection-type and current receiver-type survey probes for introduction of the electrical current stimulus into the surface; a current injection power supply coupled to supply the electrical current to, and to receive return current from, respective ones of the survey probes; a controller is configured to individually and selectively program plural of the current injection-type survey probes to inject current into the surface and to individually and selectively program plural of the current receiver-type survey probes to provide respective return paths for current injected into the surface; and cable segments suitable for electrically connecting the controller to a first one of the survey probes and for electrically interconnecting each successive downstream neighbor survey probe to a next successive downstream neighbor survey probe, wherein the controller is configured to execute a startup sequence that polls the survey probes using signals conveyed via the cable segments to determine a relative interconnected order of the survey probes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for introducing electrical currents into a surface as stimulus for geophysical measurements, the system comprising:
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a plurality of survey probes for electrode contact with the surface at respective points thereof, wherein respective ones of the survey probes are configurable as current injection-type and current receiver-type survey probes for introduction of the electrical current stimulus into the surface; a current injection power supply coupled to supply the electrical current to, and to receive return current from, respective ones of the survey probes; a controller is configured to individually and selectively program plural of the current injection-type survey probes to inject current into the surface and to individually and selectively program plural of the current receiver-type survey probes to provide respective return paths for current injected into, the surface; and cable segments suitable for electrically connecting the controller to a first one of the survey probes and for electrically interconnecting each successive downstream neighbor survey probe to a next successive downstream neighbor survey probe, wherein the controller is further configured to execute a startup sequence that polls the survey probes using signals conveyed via the cable segments to determine a relative interconnected order of the survey probes, wherein each survey probe is configured to (i) disconnect its respective downstream neighbor survey probe and enter an idle state, (ii) if in the idle state, report its identifier to the controller in response to a polling command; and
(iii) change to a state other than the idle state after reporting its respective identifier.
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12. A system for introducing electrical currents into a surface as stimulus for geophysical measurements, the system comprising:
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a plurality of survey probes for electrode contact with the surface at respective points thereof, wherein respective ones of the survey probes are configurable as current injection-type and current receiver-type survey probes for introduction of the electrical current stimulus into the surface; a current injection power supply coupled to supply the electrical current to, and to receive return current from, respective ones of the survey probes; a controller is configured to individually and selectively program plural of the current injection-type survey probes to inject current into the surface and to individually and selectively program plural of the current receiver-type survey probes to provide respective return paths for current injected into the surface; and cable segments suitable for electrically connecting the controller to a first one of the survey probes and for electrically interconnecting each successive downstream neighbor survey probe to a next successive downstream neighbor survey probe, wherein the controller is further configured to execute a startup sequence that polls the survey probes using signals conveyed via the cable segments to determine a relative interconnected order of the survey probes, wherein each survey probe is configured to (i) disconnect its respective downstream neighbor survey probe and enter an idle state, (ii) if in the idle state, report its identifier to the controller in response to a polling command; and
(iii) change to a state other than the idle state after reporting its respective identifier; andwherein, for an actual deployment of the survey probes at respective positions along the surface and with respective of the interconnecting cable segments coupled therebetween, the individual and selective programming is in accordance with a desired spatial and temporal scheme for current injection based on the respective identifiers, and orderings, thereof reported as part of the startup sequence.
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13. A method comprising:
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placing a plurality of survey probes for electrode contact with a surface at respective points thereof, wherein respective ones of the survey probes are configurable as current injection-type and current receiver-type survey probes for introduction of an electrical current stimulus into the surface; coupling a current injection power supply to respective ones of the survey probes, wherein the current injection power supply is configured to supply the electrical current to, and to receive return current from the respective ones of the survey probes; programming, individually and selectively, plural of the current injection-type survey probes to inject current into the surface; programming, individually and selectively, plural of the current receiver-type survey probes to provide respective return paths for current injected into the surface; via a plurality of respective cable segments, electrically connecting a controller to a first one of the survey probes and each successive downstream neighbor survey probe to a next successive downstream neighbor survey probe; and executing a startup sequence that polls the survey probes using signals conveyed via the plurality of cable segments to determine a relative interconnected order of the survey probes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification