Sensor apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A method of conducting a seismic survey comprising the steps of:
- positioning at least one sensor apparatus comprising three orthogonally arranged accelerometers in terrain of interest;
using the accelerometers of the apparatus to detect steady state acceleration;
collecting seismic data produced by seismic events;
transferring data to a central location for analysis;
analysing the steady state acceleration data to determine the orientation of the apparatus; and
analysing the seismic data to measure the seismic vibrations.
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Abstract
A multi component seismic sensor which utilises orthogonal accelerometers to determine its orientation. The accelerometers may be used to measure seismic signals directly, or the system may include geophones for this purpose.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of conducting a seismic survey comprising the steps of:
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positioning at least one sensor apparatus comprising three orthogonally arranged accelerometers in terrain of interest; using the accelerometers of the apparatus to detect steady state acceleration; collecting seismic data produced by seismic events; transferring data to a central location for analysis; analysing the steady state acceleration data to determine the orientation of the apparatus; and analysing the seismic data to measure the seismic vibrations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sensor apparatus for use in seismic surveys, comprising three accelerometers disposed in fixed positions relative to one another in an orthogonal array wherein each accelerometer is sensitive only to accelerations applied along the axis of the sensor apparatus in which the accelerometer is disposed;
- and wherein each accelerometer is sensitive both to accelerations with frequencies representative of seismic movement of the earth'"'"'s surface, and to steady state accelerations representative of the effect of gravity.
- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
- 9. A sensor apparatus according to claim S comprising three analog geophones each associated with a respective one of the accelerometers for measuring vibration, the geophones being coupled to an analog-to-digital converter.
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14. A seismic survey apparatus for seabed use, the apparatus comprising a cable and at least one watertight container along the length of the cable and adapted to be lowered by said cable to contact the seabed;
- each container containing a sensor apparatus comprising three accelerometers disposed in fixed positions relative to one another in an orthogonal array wherein each accelerometer is sensitive only to accelerations applied along the axis of the sensor apparatus in which the accelerometer is disposed, and wherein each accelerometer is sensitive both to accelerations with frequencies representative of seismic movement of the earth'"'"'s surface, and to steady state accelerations representative of the effect of gravity; and
means to communicate seismic signals to a data processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- each container containing a sensor apparatus comprising three accelerometers disposed in fixed positions relative to one another in an orthogonal array wherein each accelerometer is sensitive only to accelerations applied along the axis of the sensor apparatus in which the accelerometer is disposed, and wherein each accelerometer is sensitive both to accelerations with frequencies representative of seismic movement of the earth'"'"'s surface, and to steady state accelerations representative of the effect of gravity; and
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16. A seismic survey apparatus, comprising:
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a sensor unit including a housing having a housing axis; a first accelerometer disposed in the housing, the first accelerometer measuring acceleration along a first axis; a second accelerometer disposed in the housing, the second accelerometer measuring acceleration along a second axis; a third accelerometer disposed in the housing, the third accelerometer measuring acceleration along a third axis, wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are substantially orthogonal to each other and form a sensor reference frame relative to the housing axis; and a processor configured to process an output of each of said first accelerometer second accelerometer and third accelerometer to determine a transposition matrix, the transposition matrix being used at least in part to transpose measured seismic vibrations to a second reference frame. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification