Constant energy displacements

• US 9,217,798 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Original Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Inventors: Eick, Peter M., Brewer, Joel D., Shan, Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): Diacou, Ari M
• Application Number:
  US13/874,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 181/111, 181/114, 181/121
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/005 with exploration systems emitting special signals, e.g. frequency swept signals, pulse sequences or slip sweep arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/006 generating single signals by using more than one generator, e.g. beam steering or focusing arrays G01V1/13, G01V1/3861 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/047 Arrangements for coupling the generator to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/143 using mechanical driving means , e.g. motor driven shaftG01V1/104, G01V1/133 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/145 by deforming or displacing surfaces , e.g. by mechanically driven vibroseis™
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/18 Receiving elements, e.g. seismometer, geophone or torque detectors, for localised single point measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/24 Recording seismic data

Abstract

An electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons is provided. In one example, the source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. A foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground in a rapid progression, acoustic energy is created and delivered into the ground for geophones to sense and record.

Claims

1. A process for delivering acoustic energy into the earth for seismic prospecting, the process comprising:

a) providing an electrically powered seismic source having about 100 to 5,000 linear electric motors carried by a frame where a ground contact element of each linear electric motor is arranged to be provided in contact with the ground;

b) putting the ground contact element of each linear electric motor into contact with the ground; and

c) actuating the linear electric motors to repeatedly and forcefully press against the ground deflecting the ground and thereby deliver acoustic energy to the ground and into the earth as a sweep where the sweep is characterized as having a core frequency spectrum from about 2 Hz to about 120 Hz where the ground deflection is substantially consistent across the core frequency spectrum.

2. The process for delivering acoustic energy into the earth according to claim 1, further including the step of lowering each of the rods to the ground and maintaining the lower ends of the rods in continuous contact with the ground as the acoustic energy is delivered into the earth.

3. The process for delivering acoustic energy into the earth according to claim 1, wherein the core frequency spectrum is between 8 Hz and 60 Hz and the ground deflection is near consistent across the core frequency spectrum.

4. The process for delivering acoustic energy into the earth according to claim 1, wherein the core frequency spectrum is between 8 Hz and 50 Hz and the ground deflection is near consistent across the core frequency spectrum.

5. The process for delivering acoustic energy into the earth according to claim 1, wherein the core frequency spectrum is between 6 Hz and 80 Hz and the ground deflection is near consistent across the core frequency spectrum.

6. The process for delivering acoustic energy into the earth according to claim 1 wherein the core frequency spectrum is between 15 Hz and 40 Hz and the ground deflection is near consistent across the core frequency spectrum.

7. The process for delivering acoustic energy into the earth according to claim 1, further including the step of receiving and recording the seismic energy returning to the surface of the earth.

8. The process for delivering acoustic energy into the earth according to claim 1, wherein the ground deflection at the higher frequency of the core frequency spectrum is at least 50 percent of the ground deflection at the low frequency end of the core frequency spectrum.