TECHNIQUES FOR SURFACE EXPLORATION AND MONITORING

• US 20130320984A1
• Filed: 02/18/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Geosciences Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Geosciences Incorporated
• Inventors: Lagmanson, Mats, Lagmanson, Liz, Lagmanson, Markus, Berglund, Bo
• Granted Patent: US 8,965,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/334
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/003 Seismic data acquisition in general, e.g. survey design G01V1/3808, G01V1/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/02 operating with propagation of electric current

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.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. 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; and

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.

4. The system of claim 3,

wherein the individual and selective programming provides simultaneous current injection at multiple sources through selected ones of the injection-type survey probes.

5. The system of claim 3,

wherein the individual and selective programming provides current injection through selected ones of the injection-type survey probes according to a timing scheme.

6. The system of claim 3,

wherein the individual and selective programming provides simultaneous current return paths through selected ones of the current receiver-type survey probes.

7. The system of claim 3,

wherein the individual and selective programming provides current return paths through selected ones of the current receiver-type survey probes according to a timing scheme.

8. The system of claim 3,

wherein the current injection power supply is integrated with the controller.

9. The system of claim 3,

wherein a particular one of the survey probes is selectively programmable by the controller to act as injection-type survey probes or current receiver-type survey probes.

10. The system of claim 9,

wherein the particular survey probe is further selectively programmable by the controller to act as electrical potential sensor-type survey probes.

11. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

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, 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.

12. The system of claim 11,

wherein, 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.

13. The system of claim 3,

each of plural sensor-type survey probes is configured to temporarily isolate itself from an external power supply connection, and to instead operate from an internal power source, for a period during which the respective survey probe acquires the geophysical measurements.