Method for synchronizing continuous seismic survey

• US 10,514,474 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2014
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Original Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Inventors: Eick, Peter M., Brewer, Joel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Murphy, Daniel L
• Application Number:
  US14/476,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20150078128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,938 Days
• Field of Search: 367 27, 367 77, 367 37
• 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 1/223 Radioseismic systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for synchronizing continuous seismic survey. In particular, the present invention employs a semaphore scheme for the vibes to autonomously and continuously initiate sweeps, thereby decoupling the vibratory source subsystem from the recording subsystem. By using a continuous recorder and the method of the present invention, the recording trucks and the observers can be eliminated, and the vibratory sources can be initiated more efficiently than conventional systems.

Claims

1. A method for autonomously initiating vibratory sources in a seismic survey, the method comprising:

providing m number of vibrator units, wherein each of the vibrator units is capable of scanning, detecting and broadcasting radio waves of predetermined frequencies, and wherein m is a positive integral, wherein each of the vibrator units emits uniquely encoded vibratory energy;

scanning a multiplicity of predetermined n channels of frequency, wherein n is another positive integral that is less than or equal to m;

determining if a first channel is available from the multiplicity of predetermined n channels of frequency;

imparting a first pattern of source seismic signals by a first vibrator unit of the vibrator units while simultaneously broadcasting a blocking tone on the first channel after determining that the first channel is available;

determining if a second channel is available from the multiplicity of predetermined n channels of frequency after detecting the blocking tone on the first channel using a second vibrator unit of the vibrator units;

imparting a second pattern of source seismic signals by the second vibrator unit while simultaneously broadcasting a second blocking tone on the second channel after determining that the second channel is available, the first pattern of source seismic signals and the second pattern of source seismic signals being imparted simultaneously at least in part;

ending the first pattern of source seismic signals; and

ending the broadcast of the blocking tone on the first channel after a length of time elapses from when the first pattern of source seismic signals ends.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibrator units are ZENSEIS™

, vibroseis, seismic vibrators, airguns, plasma shots, or dynamite.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein m=n=4.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pattern of source seismic signals is a vibration sweep with varying frequencies.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the vibration sweep has frequencies increasing from low to high.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the vibration sweep has frequencies increasing from 5 to 500 Hz.

7. A method for performing continuous seismic survey, the method comprising:

providing m number of vibrator units, wherein each of the vibrator units is capable of scanning, detecting and broadcasting radio waves of predetermined frequencies, and wherein m is a positive integral, wherein each of the vibrator units emits uniquely encoded vibratory energy;

providing at least one recorder operatively coupled to a plurality of data acquiring units, the at least one recorder being completely decoupled from the vibrator units, wherein the data acquiring units are capable of acquiring seismic data, and wherein the recorder is capable of autonomously and continuously recording the seismic data;

scanning a multiplicity of predetermined n channels of frequency, wherein n is another positive integral that is less than or equal to m;

determining if a first channel is available from the multiplicity of predetermined n channels of frequency;

imparting a first pattern of source acoustic wave by a first vibrator unit of the vibrator units while simultaneously broadcasting a blocking tone on the first channel after determining that the first channel is available;

determining if a second channel is available from the multiplicity of predetermined n channels of frequency after detecting the blocking tone on the first channel using a second vibrator unit of the vibrator units;

imparting a second pattern of source acoustic wave by the second vibrator unit while simultaneously broadcasting a second blocking tone on the second channel after determining that the second channel is available, the first pattern of source acoustic wave and the second pattern of source acoustic wave being imparted simultaneously at least in part;

ending the first pattern of source acoustic wave;

ending the broadcast of the blocking tone on the first channel after a length of time elapses from when the first pattern of source acoustic wave ends; and

continuously recording data corresponding to the first pattern of source acoustic wave and the second pattern of source acoustic wave by the recorder.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the vibrator units are ZENSEIS™

, vibroseis, seismic vibrators, airguns, plasma shots, or dynamite.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the data acquiring units are geophones, hydrophones, accelerometers, electrodynamic receivers, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein m=n=4.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first pattern of source acoustic wave is a vibration sweep with varying frequencies.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vibration sweep has frequencies increasing from low to high.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the vibration sweep has frequencies increasing from 5 to 500 Hz.

14. A method for performing continuous seismic survey, the method comprising:

scanning a digital radio for a blocking signal on a plurality of channels using a first vibrator unit in a vibrator arrangement, each of the plurality of channels having a different predetermined frequency;

determining that the blocking signal is not being broadcast on a first channel of the plurality of channels using the first vibrator unit;

autonomously imparting a first pattern of source seismic signals emitted at a first uniquely encoded vibratory energy using the first vibrator unit;

broadcasting a first corresponding blocking signal on the first channel simultaneously with the first pattern of source seismic signals being imparted using the first vibrator unit;

detecting the first corresponding blocking signal on the first channel while scanning the plurality of channels using a second vibrator unit in the vibrator arrangement;

determining that the blocking signal is not being broadcast on a second channel of the plurality of channels using the second vibrator unit;

autonomously imparting a second pattern of source seismic signals emitted at a second uniquely encoded vibratory energy using the second vibrator unit;

broadcasting a second corresponding blocking signal on the second channel simultaneously with the second pattern of source seismic signals being imparted using the second vibrator unit, the first pattern of source seismic signals, the second pattern of source seismic signals, the first corresponding blocking signal, and the second corresponding blocking signal occurring at least partially simultaneously;

ending the first pattern of source seismic signals;

continuing to broadcast the first corresponding blocking signal on the first channel until a length of time elapses from when the first pattern of source seismic signals ends.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the length of time prevents crosstalk with another arrangement of vibrator units.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

continuously and autonomously recording data using at least one recorder in response to imparting at least one of the first pattern of source seismic signals and the second pattern of source seismic signals.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one recorder is completely decoupled from the first vibrator unit and the second vibrator unit.

18. A system for performing continuous seismic survey, the system comprising:

a first vibrator unit in a vibrator arrangement, the first vibrator unit autonomously imparting a first pattern of source seismic signals emitted at a first uniquely encoded vibratory energy corresponding to a first channel of a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having a different predetermined frequency, the first vibrator unit broadcasting a first blocking signal on the first channel simultaneously with the first pattern of source seismic signals being imparted, the first vibrator unit continuing to broadcast the first blocking signal until a length of time elapses from when the first pattern of source seismic signals ends; and

a second vibrator unit in the vibrator arrangement, the second vibrator unit detecting the first blocking signal on the first channel and in response autonomously imparting a second pattern of source seismic signals emitted at a second uniquely encoded vibratory energy corresponding to a second channel of the plurality of channels, the second vibrator unit autonomously selecting the second channel by determining that a blocking signal is not being broadcast on the second channel, the second vibrator unit broadcasting a second blocking signal on the second channel simultaneously with the second pattern of source seismic signals being imparted, the first pattern of source seismic signals, the second pattern of source seismic signals, the first blocking signal, and the second blocking signal occurring at least partially simultaneously.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one recorder continuously and autonomously recording data captured in response to imparting at least one of the first pattern of source seismic signals and the second pattern of source seismic signals.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one recorder is completely decoupled from the first vibrator unit and the second vibrator unit.