Seabed seismic source apparatus

• US 7,710,820 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reflection Marine Norge AS
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Clark, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes; Scott A
• Application Number:
  US11/458,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20070039776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 367/15, 367/23, 181/118, 181/120
• US Class Current: 367/23
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/04 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3808 Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design

Abstract

A seabed seismic source apparatus includes a control module adapted for deployment at a seabed. The control module has a receiver for receiving a remote signal and a firing controller for generating a firing signal in response to the remote signal. The seabed seismic source apparatus further includes at least one seismoacoustic source module adapted for deployment at the seabed with the control module. The seismoacoustic source module has a seismoacoustic source for generating a seismic signal and a firing device for firing the seismoacoustic source to generate the seismic signal. The seabed seismic source apparatus further includes a transmission link between the firing controller and the firing device, wherein the firing device fires the seismoacoustic source upon receiving the firing signal generated by the firing controller.

Claims

1. A seabed seismic source apparatus, comprising:

a control module adapted for deployment at a seabed, the control module having a receiver which receives a remote signal and a firing controller which generates a firing signal in response to the remote signal;

at least one seismoacoustic source module adapted for deployment at the seabed with the control module, the seismoacoustic source module having a seismoacoustic source which generates a seismic signal and a firing device which fires the seismoacoustic source to generate the seismic signal;

a transmission link wherein signals travel through a body of water between the firing controller and the firing device, wherein the firing device fires the seismoacoustic source upon receiving the firing signal through the transmission link; and

means for determining a travel time of the firing signal through the water.

2. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seismoacoustic source generates the seismic signal by implosion.

3. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seismoacoustic source generates the seismic signal by explosion.

4. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver is an acoustic receiver.

5. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module further includes a transmitter for transmitting signals to a remote location.

6. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transmitter is an acoustic transmitter.

7. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module further includes a precision clock for determining time of firing of the seismoacoustic source.

8. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module further includes a processor for processing commands.

9. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module further includes memory for storing data.

10. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an anchoring system for anchoring the control module and the seismoacoustic source module to the seabed.

11. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control module is releasably coupled to the anchor system.

12. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a floatation device coupled to the control module to allow the control module to float to the surface of the water when released.

13. The seabed seismic source apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module further comprises a hydrophone for measuring a signature of the seismic signal.

14. A marine seismic data acquisition system, comprising:

a control module deployed at a seabed, the control module having a receiver which receives a remote signal and a firing controller which generates a firing signal in response to the remote signal;

at least one seismoacoustic source module deployed at the seabed with the control module, the seismoacoustic source module having a seismoacoustic source which generates a seismic signal and a firing device which fires the seismoacoustic source to generate the seismic signal;

a transmission link wherein signals travel through a body of water between the firing controller and the firing device, wherein the firing device fires the seismoacoustic source upon receiving the firing signal through the transmission link;

a transmitter coupled to a structure at the surface of the sea which sends the remote signal to the control module; and

means for determining a travel time of the firing signal through the water.

15. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the seismoacoustic source generates the seismic signal by implosion.

16. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the seismoacoustic source generates the seismic signal by explosion.

17. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the receiver is an acoustic receiver and the transmitter is an acoustic transmitter.

18. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is located on the offshore rig.

19. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is located on a surface buoy.

20. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 19, further comprising a transmission link between the transmitter and an offshore rig.

21. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the control module further comprises a transmitter which communicates with one or more receivers on an offshore rig.

22. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, further comprising one or more seismoacoustic receivers located at or below the seabed.

23. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 22, wherein the seismoacoustic receivers are located in a well drilled below the seabed.

24. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 23, wherein the seismoacoustic receivers are carried by a tool disposed in the well.

25. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 24, wherein the tool is a drill string including a seismic measurement-while-drilling tool.

26. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 24, wherein the tool is a wireline tool.

27. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the control module and the seismoacoustic source module are positioned along a planned trajectory of a well.

28. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the seismoacoustic source module is spaced from the control module.

29. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, further comprising an anchor system for anchoring the control module and the seismoacoustic source module to the seabed.

30. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 29, wherein the control module is releasably coupled to the anchor system.

31. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 30, further comprising a floatation device coupled to the control module.

32. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the control module further includes a precision clock which determines when the seismoacoustic source is fired.

33. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the control module further includes a processor which processes received and transmitted signals.

34. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the control module further includes memory for storing data.

35. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, wherein the control module further comprises a hydrophone for measuring a signature of the seismic signal.

36. The marine seismic data acquisition system of claim 14, further comprising a hydrophone suspended from the surface of the sea for measuring the seismic signal.