Method and system for transmission of seismic data

• US 8,879,356 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2014
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magseis FF, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fairfield Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ray, Clifford H., Fisseler, Glenn D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alsomiri, Isam
• Assistant Examiner(s): HULKA, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US14/280,318
• Time in Patent Office: 172 Days
• Field of Search: 367/76
• US Class Current: 367/76
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/00 Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
• 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 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/223 Radioseismic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/226 Optoseismic systems

Abstract

The transmission method utilizes multiple seismic acquisition units within an array as intermediate short range radio receivers/transmitters to pass collected seismic data in relay fashion back to a control station. Any one seismic unit in the array is capable of transmitting radio signals to several other seismic units positioned within radio range of the transmitting unit, thus allowing the system to select an optimal transmission path. Utilizing an array of seismic units permits transmission routes back to a control station to be varied as needed. In transmissions from the most remote seismic unit to the control station, each unit within a string receives seismic data from other units and transmits the received seismic data along with the receiving unit'"'"'s locally stored seismic data. Preferably, as a transmission is passed along a chain, it is bounced between seismic units so as to be relayed by each unit in the array.

Claims

1. A system of acquiring seismic data, comprising:

a first seismic data acquisition unit having at least one processor, the at least one processor in communication with a first geophone, a first one or more wireless transmitters, and one or more wireless receivers;

the first geophone configured to detect first seismic data from an acoustic signal that propagates into earth and is reflected by subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth;

the one or more wireless receivers of first the seismic data acquisition unit configured to receive;

via a first short range wireless transmission, second seismic data representative of the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers;

via wireless transmission, a control signal; and

the first one or more wireless transmitters configured to transmit, via a second short range wireless transmission, in a time period, using a first transmission parameter;

the first seismic data detected by the first geophone, the first seismic data representative of the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers; and

the second seismic data representative of the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers;

a second seismic data acquisition unit in communication with a second geophone configured to detect third seismic data from the acoustic signal that propagates into the earth and is reflected by subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth;

the second seismic data acquisition unit configured to transmit, via a third short range wireless transmission, in the time period, using a second transmission parameter;

the third seismic data detected by the second geophone, wherein the first transmission parameter and the second transmission parameter substantially prevent communication interference between the second short range wireless transmission and the third short range wireless transmission during the time period.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the first seismic data acquisition unit including a local clock; and

the at least one processor of the first seismic data acquisition unit configured to synchronize the local clock responsive to a synchronization signal.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the first seismic data acquisition unit including a local memory configured to store at least one of the first seismic data and the second seismic data.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a power supply to power the first seismic data acquisition unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first seismic data detected by the first geophone is a reflection of the acoustic signal from the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the first seismic data acquisition unit externally connected to the first geophone;

wherein the at least one processor of the first seismic data acquisition unit receives the first seismic data from the first geophone; and

wherein the one or more wireless receivers of the first seismic data acquisition unit receives;

via the first short range wireless transmission, the second seismic data representative of the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers from a third seismic data acquisition unit;

via the wireless transmission, the control signal from one of a concentrator and a control station; and

the first one or more wireless transmitters of the first seismic data acquisition unit transmits, via the second short range wireless transmission;

the first seismic data detected by the first geophone to at least one of a fourth seismic data acquisition unit and the concentrator; and

the second seismic data to at least one of the fourth seismic data acquisition unit and the concentrator.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the fourth seismic data acquisition unit receives the first seismic data and the second seismic data from at least one of the first seismic data acquisition unit and the second seismic data acquisition unit.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the third seismic data acquisition unit transmits the second seismic data to the first seismic data acquisition unit.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the first one or more wireless transmitters configured to transmit, via the second short range wireless transmission, the first seismic data along with the second seismic data to a concentrator or a control station.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a concentrator, the concentrator being a different type of device than each of the first seismic data acquisition unit and the second seismic data acquisition unit, the concentrator comprising a transmitter, a receiver, mass memory, a local clock, and a processor.

11. The system of claim 10, comprising:

a control station;

the concentrator connected to the control station by a data communications cable.

12. The system of claim 10, comprising:

the concentrator connected to a data communications cable.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the concentrator transmits at least one of the first seismic data, the second seismic data, and the control signal via the data communications cable.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first seismic data acquisition unit obtains global positioning system survey information.

15. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the first seismic data acquisition unit preset prior to operation of the system to relay data along at least one predetermined transmission path.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a number of predetermined transmission paths are determined based on at least one of a volume of data to be transmitted, a data transmission rate, a signal strength, a number of radio channels having different transmission parameters, power of a power supply, and a location of the wireless seismic data acquisition unit.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one processor of the first seismic data acquisition unit determines a transmission path that includes the first seismic data acquisition unit based on a power level of a power supply of at least one of the first seismic data acquisition unit and the second seismic data acquisition unit.

18. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the first seismic data acquisition unit configured to use the at least one processor and a beacon signal to verify a transmission path for at least one of the first seismic data, the second seismic data, and the control signal prior to a relay of data along the transmission path.

19. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the first seismic data acquisition unit synchronized with the second seismic data acquisition unit to record reflections of the acoustic signal from the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth.

20. The system of claim 19, comprising:

the at least one processor of the first seismic data acquisition unit operational to time stamp the first seismic data based on a shot time of the acoustic signal.

21. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the one or more wireless receivers of the first seismic data acquisition unit configured to receive a beacon signal; and

the first one or more wireless transmitters configured to transmit a return acknowledgment signal responsive to the beacon signal.

22. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the at least one processor of the first seismic data acquisition unit configured to process a beacon signal to determine part of a transmission path for a transmission of the first seismic data.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the first seismic data acquisition unit is part of a first transmission path and a second transmission path.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first seismic data acquisition unit forms part of a transmission path;

a master clock provides a master clock time;

one of the first seismic data acquisition unit, a concentrator, and a control station determines a data delay value along the transmission path based on the master clock time;

wherein the first seismic data is not time stamped, and the system synchronizes the first seismic data with the second seismic data based on the master clock time and the data delay value.

25. A method of acquiring seismic data, comprising:

providing a first seismic data acquisition unit having at least one processor, the at least one processor in communication with a first one or more wireless transmitters, and one or more wireless receivers;

detecting, by a first seismic sensor, first seismic data from an acoustic signal that propagates into earth and is reflected by subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth;

receiving, by the one or more wireless receivers of the first seismic data acquisition unit;

via a first short range wireless transmission, second seismic data representative of the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers;

via wireless transmission, a control signal; and

transmitting, by the first one or more wireless transmitters, via a second short range wireless transmission, during a time period, using a first transmission parameter;

the first seismic data, the first seismic data representative of the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers; and

the second seismic data representative of the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers;

detecting, by a second seismic sensor in communication with a second seismic data acquisition unit, third seismic data from the acoustic signal that propagates into the earth and is reflected by subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth; and

transmitting, by a second one or more wireless transmitters of the second seismic data acquisition unit, via a third short range wireless transmission, during the time period, using a second transmission parameter;

the third seismic data detected by the second sensor, the third seismic data representative of the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers;

wherein the first transmission parameter and the second transmission parameter substantially prevent communication interference between the second short range wireless transmission and the third short range wireless transmission during the time period.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first seismic sensor comprises a first geophone, and the second seismic sensor comprises a second geophone, comprising:

propagating the acoustic signal into the earth.

27. The method of claim 25, comprising:

transmitting, by the first seismic data acquisition unit, global positioning system survey information.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the first seismic data acquisition unit forms part of a transmission path, comprising:

providing, by a master clock, a master clock time;

determining a data delay value along the transmission path based on the master clock time;

synchronizing the first seismic data with the second seismic data based on the master clock time and the data delay value.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first seismic data is not time stamped.

30. A method of obtaining seismic data, the seismic data having information relating to subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers from an acoustic signal that propagates into earth and is reflected by the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers, comprising:

providing a plurality of seismic data acquisition units that acquire and transmit seismic data from the acoustic signal that propagates into the earth and is reflected by the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth, each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units associated with a respective geophone;

providing a control station;

providing a plurality of concentrators, each of the plurality of concentrators being a different type of device than each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units, at least one of the plurality of concentrators connected to the control station by a data communications cable, and at least one of the plurality of concentrators in a wireless transmission range of at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;

acquiring, by at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units, the seismic data responsive to propagation of the acoustic signal into the earth and reflections of the acoustic signal by the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth, the seismic data including information relating to the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers; and

transmitting, by the plurality of seismic data acquisition units, the seismic data to the control station via;

a first short range wireless transmission, during a time period, using a first transmission parameter, of at least a first portion of the seismic data from a first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to a second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;

a second short range wireless transmission, during the time period, using a second transmission parameter, of at least a second portion of the seismic data from a third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to a fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units, wherein the third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units are different data acquisition units than the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;

wherein the first transmission parameter and the second transmission parameter substantially prevent communication interference between the first short range wireless transmission and the second short range wireless transmission during the time period; and

a third short range wireless transmission of at least the first portion of the seismic data from the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to a first of the plurality of concentrators; and

transmitting, by the first of the plurality of concentrators, at least the first portion of the seismic data from the first of the plurality of concentrators to the control station via the data communications cable.