Data recorder system for use in a seismic survey and a method of carrying out a seismic survey

Abstract

Title: Data recorder system for use in a Seismic Survey and a Method of Carrying out a Seismic Survey A data recorder system for collecting and recording seismic data set from a seismic node or a plurality of seismic nodes of the same type or different types, the data recorder system comprising a memory, computer code, one or more processor(s) or processing circuitry, and a communication port configured to receive seismic data set from a seismic node and to transmit the received seismic data set to the one or more processor(s), wherein when the computer code is executed by the one or more processor(s) or processing circuitry, the data recorder system is configured to determine the format of the seismic data set received from a seismic node, based on the determined format of the seismic data set, select one from a plurality of data reformatting algorithms, use the selected data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic data set,and store the reformatted seismic data set in the memory.

Description

[0001] Data recorder system for use in a Seismic Survey and a Method of Carrying out a Seismic Survey

[0002] This application relates to a new configuration of data recorder system for collecting and storing seismic data from a plurality of seismic nodes, and a method of operating such a data recorder system to carry out a seismic survey.

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] It is known to carry out an ocean bottom seismic survey by distributing a plurality of ocean bottom seismic nodes on the seabed in the area of interest. Some such seismic nodes are described as autonomous seismic nodes, and typically comprise at least one seismic sensor, a clock, a power supply unit, a processor, a battery and a memory, all enclosed in a water-tight housing. Some autonomous seismic nodes also include a propulsion system which can be operated so that the autonomous seismic node can propel itself to a desired location on the sea bed.

[0005] Autonomous seismic nodes are essentially self-sufficient, and are not reliant on a connection to a vessel, buoy or the like. The node data storage memory is used to record and store the signals from each seismic sensor. These recorded signals comprise data containing information about geological subsurface formations, obtained by applying an acoustic signal to the ground and receiving the reflected signal, data which is generally, and will hereinafter be referred to as “seismic data”.

[0006] The seismic survey is carried out by extracting and processing the seismic data stored on all the seismic nodes in the area of interest. To do this, the seismic data stored in the data storage memories of the seismic nodes is transferred or copied to the memory of one or more data recorder systems, and then transferred to a data processing centre for processing.

[0007] The seismic nodes can be deployed and retrieved either individually or in groups. Groups of nodes can be connected together by attaching nodes to ropes, cables and other devices, which are deployed into the ocean or retrieved by paying out or reeling in the cable with the nodes attached. Nodes can be deployed or retrieved individually by using either an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) or remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to place or collect each node on the ocean bottom. Nodes can also be discharged from a surface marine vessel to descend to the ocean bottom whether by un-guided free fall, by direction control systems and / or by propelled control systems.

[0008] In these cases, the transfer of data to the data recorder system may take place on board the survey vessel once each node is retrieved.

[0009] It is also known to provide seismic nodes which are tethered to a buoy by means of a cable. Such a seismic node can operate in much the same way as an autonomous node, and therefore has the same components, but these are distributed between the ocean bottom node and the buoy. In this case, the seismic node on the ocean bottom contains at least the or each seismic sensor, with one or more of the power supply unit, battery, processor and data storage memory being located on the buoy, power and I or signals from the seismic sensors being transmitted between the node and the buoy via the tethering cable. In this case, where the data storage memory is provided on the buoy, the seismic data may be collected by retrieving the buoy, and placing it on board the survey vessel, with the transfer of the seismic data to the data recorder system again taking place on the survey vessel.

[0010] It is also known for the process of extraction of the seismic data to occur without retrieving the seismic node or buoy. In these cases, the seismic data may be copied or downloaded from the seismic node or buoy to a portable data storage memory transported to the seismic node on an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) or remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the seismic data then being transferred from the portable data storage apparatus to the data recorder system on board the survey vessel. The seismic data is extracted from the seismic node or buoy and transferred to the data recorder system either by wired connections or wireless communication between the node or buoy and the portable data storage apparatus and between the portable data storage apparatus and the data recorder system. A seismic survey can cover an extremely large area, and require a large number of seismic nodes. The seismic survey may, in some instances, use a plurality of different types of seismic nodes. These could be seismic nodes made by different manufacturers, or different generation or specification seismic nodes made by a single manufacturer) The format in which the seismic data is stored in the data storage memory of the seismic node may vary between the different types of seismic node. As such, where the seismic survey uses a plurality of different type of seismic nodes, the data collected in the survey may be stored in a plurality of different formats. The present application relates to a novel way of handling such seismic data.

[0011] SUMMARY

[0012] According to a first aspect of the disclosed technology we provide a data recorder system for collecting and recording seismic data from a seismic node, the data recorder system comprising a memory, computer code, one or more processor(s) or processing circuitry, and a communication port configured to receive a seismic data set comprising at least seismic data from a seismic node and to transmit the received seismic data set to the one or more processor(s), wherein when the computer code is executed by the one or more processor(s) or processing circuitry, the data recorder system is configured to: a) determine the format of the seismic data set received from a seismic node, b) based on the determined format of the seismic data set, select one from a plurality of data reformatting algorithms, c) use the selected data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic data set, and d) store the reformatted seismic data set in the memory.

[0013] Using such a data recorder system avoids the need to provide a plurality of data recorder systems to collect the different formats of seismic data sets gathered during a seismic survey using a plurality of different types of node.

[0014] The communication port may be configured to be temporarily connected to a data storage memory holding seismic data collected by a seismic sensor to facilitate transfer of the seismic data to the processor.

[0015] The data recorder system may be configured to receive a plurality of seismic data sets from a plurality of seismic nodes and, when the computer code is executed by the one or more processor(s) or processing circuitry, is configured to: a) determine the format of each seismic data set received from each seismic node, b) for each seismic data set, based on the determined format of the seismic data set, select one from a plurality of data reformatting algorithms, c) use the selected data reformatting algorithm to reformat each seismic data set, and d) store each reformatted seismic data set in the memory.

[0016] In one embodiment the data recorder system may be configured to, based on the determination of the format of the or each seismic data set, determine if the or each seismic data set requires reformatting, and, if it is determined that the seismic data set does not require reformatting, to store the seismic data set received from the seismic node in the memory.

[0017] Thus, one of the data formats used by the seismic nodes in the survey may be selected to be the common format for the seismic data set to be transmitted to the data processing centre, and reformatting is only required for seismic data set received which is not in this format.

[0018] In one embodiment, the data recorder system may be configured to identify and use an indication of the type of seismic node used to collect the or each seismic data set to determine the format of the or each seismic data set.

[0019] The data recorder system may be further configured to process the or each seismic data set using at least one data assurance algorithm by means of which the data in the seismic data set is checked I validated.

[0020] The data recorder system may be provided with a survey data set, and is configured to combine the survey data set with the seismic data set or sets to create a seismic survey data set.

[0021] The data recorder system may be further configured to process the seismic survey data set using a delivery data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic survey data set to create a delivery data set, and to store the delivery data set in the memory.

[0022] The data recorder system may be provided with a user interface by means of which a user can select a delivery data format, and is configured to select one from a plurality of delivery data reformatting algorithms based the selected delivery data format and to use the selected delivery data reformatting algorithm to create the delivery data set. According to a second aspect of the disclosed technology we provide a seismic survey system comprising a plurality of seismic nodes and a data recorder system according to the first aspect of the disclosed technology.

[0023] Each seismic node may include a seismic sensor and a data storage memory configured to hold seismic data collected by the seismic sensor.

[0024] According to a third aspect of the disclosed technology we provide a method of carrying out a seismic survey using a plurality of seismic nodes and a data recorder system according to the first aspect of the disclosed technology, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) establishing a communication link between a data recorder system and a first one of the plurality of seismic nodes, b) transferring a seismic data set from the seismic node to the data recorder system, c) the data recorder system determining the format of the data received from the seismic node, d) based on the determination of the format of the seismic data set, the data recorder system selecting one of a plurality of data reformatting algorithms, e) the data recorder system using the selected data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic data set, and f) storing the reformatted seismic data set in a memory of the data recorder system.

[0025] Step a may comprise establishing a temporary communication link between the data recorder system and the first one of the plurality of seismic nodes, and step b comprises transferring the seismic data set directly from a data storage memory of the seismic node to the data recorder system.

[0026] The method may further include, after the seismic data set or reformatted seismic data set is stored in the memory of the data recorder system, establishing a temporary communication link between a data recorder system and a second one of the plurality of seismic nodes, and repeating steps b to f of the method described above.

[0027] The data storage memory may be provided in a portable data storage apparatus, there being a plurality of seismic data sets collected from a plurality of seismic nodes stored in the data storage memory, and step a comprise establishing a temporary communication link between the data recorder system and the portable data storage apparatus, and the method comprise carrying steps b-f in relation to the plurality of seismic data sets stored in the data storage memory.

[0028] Step c may further comprise the step of, based on the format of the seismic data set, the data recorder system determining if reformatting of the seismic data set is required, and if it is determined that reformatting of the seismic data set is not required, storing the seismic data set received from the seismic node in the memory of the data recorder system, or if it is determined that reformatting of the data is required carrying out steps d, e and f.

[0029] The method may further include the data recorder system processing the or each seismic data set using at least one data assurance algorithm by means of which the data in the seismic data set is checked and / or validated.

[0030] The data recorder system may be provided with a survey data set, and the method may further comprise the data recorder system combining the survey data set with the seismic data set or sets to create a seismic survey data set.

[0031] The method may further comprise the data recorder system processing the seismic survey data set using a delivery data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic survey data set to create a delivery data set, and to store the delivery data set in the memory.

[0032] According to a fourth aspect of the disclosed technology we provide a computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processor(s) or circuitry of a data recorder system cause the data recorder system to perform the method aspect or any of its embodiments disclosed herein.

[0033] According to a fifth aspect of the disclosed technology we provide computer code comprising computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processor(s) or circuitry of a data recorder system cause the data recorder system to perform the method aspect or any of its embodiments disclosed herein.

[0034] According to a sixth aspect of the disclosed technology we provide a computer- readable storage media storing computer code comprising computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processor(s) or circuitry of a data recorder system cause the data recorder system to perform the method aspect or any of its embodiments disclosed herein.

[0035] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] These and other characteristics will become clear from the following description of illustrative embodiments, given as non-restrictive examples, with reference to the attached drawings, in which

[0037] FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of a seismic survey system comprising a seismic node and a seismic data setdata recorder system according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology,

[0038] FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of a seismic survey system according one embodiment of the disclosed technology comprising a plurality of seismic nodes and a data recorder system provided on an underwater autonomous vehicle,

[0039] FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of a method of operating the seismic data recorder system illustrated in Figure 1 to store seismic data from the seismic node illustrated in Figure 1,

[0040] FIGURE 4 is a schematic illustration of an additional method of operating the seismic data recorder system illustrated in Figure 1 ,

[0041] FIGURE 5 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of seismic data recorder system according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, and

[0042] FIGURE 6 is a schematic illustration of a further alternative embodiment of seismic diata recorder according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology .

[0043] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a seismic node 10 and data recorder system 12 for collecting and recording seismic data from the seismic node 10. The seismic node 10 has at least one seismic sensor 14 and data storage memory 16.

[0045] The seismic sensor 14 may be any form of seismic sensor such as, but not limited to, a hydrophone, geophone, MEMS or optical sensor. The seismic node 10 may be provided with a plurality of such sensors. The seismic node 10 may also be provided with additional sensors, including, but not limited to inclinometers, rotation sensors, translation sensors, and heading sensors. The data storage memory 16 is connected to the or each sensor 14 such that signals from the or each sensor 14 are stored in the data storage memory 16. The recorded signals from the seismic sensor or sensors comprises data containing information about geologic subsurface formations, obtained by applying an acoustic signal to the ground and receiving the reflected signal, data which is generally, and will hereinafter be referred to as “seismic data”. The data stored in the data storage memory 16 is hereinafter referred to as the “seismic data set”, and may, in addition to all of the seismic data gathered by the seismic node during a seismic survey, also comprise other data, such as meta-data (which could include time, date, location, and QA / QC information), or recorded signals from any additional sensors in the seismic node 10. The seismic data set may be stored in a single file, or multiple files in the data storage memory 16.

[0046] The seismic sensor 14 and data storage memory 16 are typically contained in a water-tight protective pressure resistant housing, along with a power source (such as a battery pack), processor (which may be programmed to execute instructions to the node, for example, to carry out quality control I assurance checks on the operation of the node, control data sensing and storage operations, or manage data storage in the data storage memory) and a reference clock. Such autonomous seismic nodes are well known in the art, and are described in patents including US 9,523, 780, US 6,024,344, US 7,310,287, US 2,675,821 , US 7,646,670, US7,883,393, US 8,427,900 and US 8,675,446. The housing may simply rest directly on the seafloor. Alternatively, the housing and its contents may be located in and attached to a seafloor casing, the seafloor casing having at least one surface which is in direct contact with the seabed, as described in US2021 / 0263174, for example. A plurality of such seismic nodes can be contained within the seafloor casing.

[0047] Although not essential, the seismic node 10 could be provided with a processor which processes the signals from the or each sensor, the seismic data stored in the data storage memory 16 comprising processed signals from the or each sensor 14.

[0048] The seismic node 10 also comprises a communication port 18 by means of which data may be transferred from or to the data storage memory 16.

[0049] The data recorder system 12 is separate to the seismic node 10 (is it is not provided in the same housing as the components of the seismic node 10 specified above), and is configured to be usable to collect and process seismic data from a plurality of seismic nodes as will be described in more detail below. Whilst the seismic nodes 10 are configured to be placed on the sea floor, the data recorder system 12 is typically located on a survey vessel. Data may be collected from the seismic nodes and transferred to the data recorder system 12 by loading the seismic nodes onto the survey vessel, or by using a portable data storage apparatus which is then loaded onto the survey vessel. Alternatively, the data recorder system 12 could be provided on an autonomous underwater vehicle so that seismic data can be transferred to directly to the data recorder system 12 whilst the seismic node 10 remains on the sea floor, the data recorder system 12 returning to the survey vessel when the data collection process is complete.

[0050] The data recorder system 12 is configured to process seismic data received from a plurality of seismic nodes to generate a delivery data set which comprises all the data required by a data processing centre to produce an image of the geological subsurface formations of the surveyed area. As the data recorder system 12 is separate to the seismic nodes 10, it may be transported to a location at which transfer of the delivery data set to the data processing centre can occur, whilst the seismic nodes remain in place.

[0051] The data recorder system 12 does not comprise any seismic sensors. It comprises a memory 20 in which is stored a plurality of data reformatting algorithms, a processor 22, and a communication port 24 configured to receive a seismic data set from a seismic node 10 (or a portable data storage apparatus carrying a seismic data set from the seismic node 10) by means of a temporary communication link with the seismic node 10 (or portable data storage apparatus) and to transmit the received seismic data to the processor 22.

[0052] The memories 16, 20 may be a flash drive, SD card, hard drive or any other suitable electronic memory.

[0053] The communication ports 18, 24 may be ports, receivers, transceivers suitable for establishing a temporary wired or wireless communication between the seismic node 10 (or a portable data storage apparatus carrying a seismic data set from the seismic node 10) and the data recorder system 12, and for transmitting data between the seismic node 10 (or portable date storage apparatus) and the data recorder system 12. Computer code is stored in the memory 20, and when the computer code is executed by the processor 22 causes the data recorder system 12 to determine the format of the seismic data set received from the seismic node 10. For example, the data transmitted from the seismic node 10 to the data recorder system 12 may include an indication of data format used, or the type (manufacturer and I or model number) of the seismic node 10. This information could be provided as part of the seismic data set or as meta-data. Where this information is an indication of the seismic node type, a look-up table comprising a list of known seismic node types and the respective formatting type used by each type may be stored in the memory 20 of the data recorder system 12, and this look-up table used to determine the data format from the node type.

[0054] In this embodiment, the computer code, when executed by the processor, causes the data recorder system 12 to, based on the determination of the format of the seismic data set, determine if the seismic data set requires reformatting, and, if it is determined that the seismic data set does not require reformatting, to store the seismic data set received from the seismic node 10 to the memory 20 of the data recorder system 12. The determination of whether or not the seismic data set requires reformatting could be made on the basis of whether or not the format of the data is one particular, pre-determined, seismic data set format.

[0055] If it is determined that reformatting of the data is required (because the format of the seismic data set is not the pre-determined data format), the data recorder system 12 is configured to, based on the determined format of seismic data set, to select from one of the plurality of data reformatting algorithms and use the selected data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic data set. The reformatted seismic data set is then stored in memory 20..

[0056] The data recorder system 12 may be used to collect data from a plurality of seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c, for example as illustrated in Figure 2. This figure shows a schematic illustration of an off-shore seismic survey system comprising a plurality of seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c which are located on the ocean floor 26. In this embodiment, a seismic data set is collected from each of a plurality of seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c, using a portable data storage apparatus 25, such as a portable hard drive, memory card, USB stick or the like, provided on an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) 28, which moves from node to node, collecting a seismic data set from each of the seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c whilst the nodes 10a, 10b, 10c remain on the ocean floor 26. The AUV 28 then transports the portable data storage apparatus to a survey vessel 27, where the seismic data sets may be transferred from the portable data storage apparatus to the data recorder system 12.

[0057] It should be appreciated, however, that this need not be the case, and any other known method of establishing a communication link between a seismic node and data recorder system to extract a seismic data set from the seismic node could equally be used. The seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c could, for example, be retrieved and brought on board the survey vessel 27, the communication link between the nodes 10a, 10b 10c and the data recorder system 12 being established on the survey vessel 27. The data recorder system 12 could, alternatively, be provided on the AUV 28, communication link between the nodes 10a, 10b, 10c, and the data recorder system 12 being established “on the fly”, and the extraction and processing of the seismic data set from each seismic node 10a, 10b, 10c being carried out on a node by node basis.

[0058] A seismic survey can be carried out using the data recorder system 12 using the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2, and a method illustrated schematically in Figure 3.

[0059] First a communication link is established between a communication port of the portable data storage apparatus 25 and the communication port 18a of a first one of the plurality of seismic nodes 10a - this is step 30 in Figure 3, and then the transfer of seismic data set from the seismic node 10a to the portable data storage apparatus 25 via the communication link is step 32. Once the seismic data set has been transferred or copied into the portable data storage apparatus 25, the communication link is broken and the AUV 28 then moves on 44 to a second one of the seismic nodes 10b, and the process repeated for all the seismic node 10a, 10b, 10c, until a seismic data set is collected from all the relevant seismic nodes and stored in the portable data storage apparatus 25. The data which is stored in the portable data storage apparatus 25 thus comprises seismic data collected by a plurality of seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c.

[0060] The AUV 28 then returns to the survey vessel 27, and a communication link is established between the communication port 24 of the data recorder system 12 and the portable data storage apparatus 25 and the seismic data sets are transferred to the data recorder system 12 (step 34).

[0061] The processor 22 of the data recorder system 12 uses the seismic data set received from each seismic node 10a, 10b, 10c to determine the format of each data set received, and, based on the determination of the format of each seismic data set, the processor 22 determines whether reformatting of the seismic data set is required (step 36). In this embodiment, reformatting of the seismic data set is required if the incoming data set is not in a desired, pre-selected, format.

[0062] If it is determined that reformatting of a seismic data set is required, the processor selects, based on the data format of the seismic data set in question, one of a plurality of data reformatting algorithms (step 38), and using the selected data reformatting algorithm, reformats the seismic data set (step 40), before transmitting the reformatted seismic data set to the memory 20 of the data recorder system 12, illustrated as step 42 in Figure 3. Steps 36, 38 and 40 are hereinafter referred to collectively as the data reformatting process 44.

[0063] If it is determined that reformatting of the data is not required, the data recorder system 12 merely stores the (unreformatted) seismic data set received from the seismic node 10a in the memory 20 of the data recorder system 12.

[0064] This process is repeated for all seismic data sets received from all the seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c, until seismic data sets collected from all the relevant seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c have been reformatted (where necessary) and stored in the memory 20 of the data recorder system 20. This data reformatting process 44 may be carried out for each seismic data set in turn, or on a plurality of seismic data sets simultaneously / in parallel.

[0065] All of the plurality of data reformatting algorithms are configured to reformat the data into the same, pre-selected, data format. The process carried out by the reformatting algorithm will, of course, depend on the original data format, hence the need to provide a plurality of different algorithms, which each translates data in one particular format into the pre-selected data format. The processor 22 therefore selects the reformatting algorithm which will translate data in the format of the data received from the seismic node 10a, 10b, 10c into the pre-selected data format. It should be appreciated that if the pre-selected data format is different to the data format used by all the seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c used in the survey, the step 36 may be omitted, and all the incoming seismic data set be reformatted using the selected reformatting algorithm.

[0066] The seismic data collected by all the seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c in a seismic survey is to be processed at a data processing centre to produce an image of the geological subsurface formations in the area covered by the survey. In order to do this, the data processing centre also requires, in addition to the seismic data sets from the seismic nodes, survey data which cannot be obtained from the seismic nodes. The survey data could include, but is not limited to, for example, information about the absolute location of each of the seismic nodes; the location, number, depth and characteristics of the acoustic sources used in the survey; characteristics of the generated source shots; environmental characteristics such as salinity, impurities, turbidity, temperature or depth; clock timing, synchronization or correction data; quality assurance and performance data for batteries and all survey equipment; planned survey performance parameters and actual survey performance; and any other survey information to facilitate seismic data processing. This survey data is supplied to, and may be stored in the memory 20 of, the data recorder system 12.

[0067] Moreover, typically, before being supplied to the data processing centre, the seismic data sets are processed using one or more assurance workflows, i.e. algorithms, by means of which the data in the seismic data sets is checked and validated, so that any data suspected of being inaccurate (possibly because of a fault in the seismic node from which it was collected) can be either discarded, corrected or flagged as being potentially unreliable. The or each assurance workflow is also stored in the memory 20 of the data recorder system 12, and the processor 22 of the data recorder system 12 is configured to use the or each assurance workflow, in combination with the survey data, to process each seismic data set to check and validate the data in the seismic data set (a step hereinafter referred to as “assurance processing”) after it has been through the re-formatting process described above. One or more assurance workflow may be used to process individual seismic data sets. Alternatively or additionally one or more assurance workflow may be used to process multiple seismic data sets together, or even to process all the seismic data sets from the survey in order to look at spatial attributes acress the entire survey.

[0068] The survey data is typically used in this assurance processing.

[0069] The re-formatting process described above ensures that all the seismic data sets are in the same format, and, as such, the same assurance workflow or workflows can be applied to all the seismic data sets. This would not be possible if the seismic data sets had a number of different formats, having been pulled from a variety of different types of seismic nodes and / or loaded into a number of different recording systems.

[0070] Once the assurance processing is completed, the seismic data sets and the survey data can be combined as a seismic survey data set, which comprises all the data required by a data processing centre to enable them to produce an image of the geological subsurface formations of the surveyed area.

[0071] It is, however, likely that the pre-selected format in which seismic data sets is stored in the data recorder system 12 does not meet with the requirements of the data processing centre. In this case, the data recorder system 12 may be configured to carry out a final re-formatting of the seismic survey data set into a delivery format acceptable to the data processing centre (“the delivery data reformatting”). To facilitate this, a delivery data reformatting algorithm, which when executed by the processor 22 converts the seismic survey data set into the desired delivery data format, may be stored in the memory of the data recorder system 12, and the processor 22 of the data recorder system configured to use the delivery data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic survey data set, thus creating a delivery data set, which is then stored in the memory 20 of the data recorder system 12. The delivery data set comprises all the data (survey data, plus seismic data and meta data from each seismic node) required by a data processing centre to enable them to produce an image of the geological subsurface formations of the surveyed area, in an format ready for use by the data processing centre.

[0072] The process is illustrated in Figure 4, the re-formatting process described above is shown as step 44, the application the assurance workflows, i.e. the assurance processing, as step 46, the combination of the seismic data sets with the seismic survey data as step 48, the delivery data reformatting as step 50, and the saving of the delivery data set as step 52. It will be appreciated that the seismic data sets could also be stored in the memory 20 of the data recorder system after all or any of steps 44, 46 or 48.

[0073] An alternative embodiment of data recorder system 12 is illustrated in Figure 5. In this embodiment, the data recorder system 12 is provided with a user interface 50 by means of which a user can select from one of a plurality of delivery data formats which delivery data format the seismic survey data set is to be translated into for delivery to the data processing centre. The user interface 50 could comprise a panel with a plurality of buttons (one button for each end data format), keyboard, a touch screen, or a screen and device such as a track pad or button, which is configured to allow a user to select one of a plurality of formats displayed on the screen. The user interface could equally be a wireless or wired communication port to which a separate control device, such as a personal computer, laptop, cell phone, or tablet could be connected. A user could use the separate control device to select the required format, the chosen format then being transmitted to the processor (22) via the communication port.

[0074] In this case, a plurality of delivery data reformatting algorithms are stored in the memory 20 of the data recorder system 12, and the processor 22 is configured to select the appropriate delivery reformatting algorithm for converting the seismic survey data set to the user selected delivery data format.

[0075] Whilst the description above relates to offshore seismic surveys, it should be appreciated that the inventions could equally be used in a land based seismic survey in which the seismic nodes are located on land.

[0076] Whilst it is specified in the description above that the plurality of data reformatting algorithms are stored in the memory 20 of the data recorder system 12, this need not be the case. They may, for example be stored in a separate, possibly remote, memory or memories (such as a remote server farm), with which the processor 22 can communicate via a wired or wireless telecommunications link. The same could apply to the look up table comprising a list of known seismic node types and the respective formatting type used by each type.

[0077] It should also be appreciated that whilst the computer code which, when executed by the processor 22, causes the data recorder system 12 to operate as described above, is stored in the memory 20 in which the seismic data set is stored, this need not be the case. It could be stored in a separate memory of the data recorder system 12, or in a separate remote memory with which the processor 22 can communicate via a wired or wireless telecommunications link, or it could be coded in processing circuitry.

[0078] It should be appreciated that, whilst in the embodiments described above, the seismic data set received from the seismic node 10 is used to determine the format of the seismic data set, this need not be the case. For example, where the communication link between the seismic node 10 and the data recorder system 12 is a wireless link, the data recorder system 12 could be configured to determine the data format from a node identifier provided in a communication handshake transmitted from the seismic node 10 to the data recorder system 12 when establishing the wireless communication link. Alternatively, one or more of the seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c may be provided with another form of identification device such as a QR code, bar code, or RFID tag, and the data recorder system 12 is configured to use this identification device to determine the format of the seismic data set stored thereon, and therefore which of the plurality of data re-formatting algorithms is required.

[0079] Whilst in the embodiments described above, the data recorder system 12 receives the seismic data set from all the seismic nodes 10a, 10b, 10c via a single intermediate portable data storage memory 25, such as a portable hard drive, memory card, USB stick or the like, this need not be the case. A seismic survey may be carried out using hundreds or thousands of seismic nodes, and in this case, a plurality of portable data storage apparatus and AUVs may be used to collect the seismic data sets from all the seismic nodes in the survey. Alternatively, as mentioned above, the seismic data sets may be collected via a direct connection between the seismic nodes and the communication port 24 of the data recorder system 12. The seismic data sets could equally be collected by a combination of direct transfer from some seismic nodes and transfer via an intermediate portable data storage apparatus from other seismic nodes.

[0080] Whilst in this embodiment, the data recorder system 12 is provided with a single communication port 24, this need not be the case. The data recorder system 12 could be provided with a plurality of different configuration communication ports to facilitate the establishment of a communication link with a plurality of different types of seismic node 10 or portable data storage apparatus. For example, some types of seismic node 10 or portable data storage apparatus may only have the capability to communicate with a data recorder system via a wired connection, whilst others may only have the capability to transfer data to a data recorder system wirelessly. The data recorder system 12 could, therefore be provided with one or more ports 24a, 24b for receiving a data transfer cable, and one or more wireless receivers or transceivers 24c, 24d, as illustrated in Figure 6.

[0081] The inventions are not limited by the embodiments described above; reference should be had to the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A data recorder system for collecting and recording seismic data from a seismic node, the data recorder system comprising a memory, computer code, one or more processor(s) or processing circuitry, and a communication port configured to receive a seismic data set comprising at least seismic data collected by a seismic node and to transmit the received seismic data set to the one or more processor(s), wherein when the computer code is executed by the one or more processor(s) or processing circuitry, the data recorder system is configured to: a) determine the format of the seismic data set received from a seismic node, b) based on the determined format of the seismic data set, select one from a plurality of data reformatting algorithms, c) use the selected data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic data set, and d) store the reformatted seismic data set in the memory.

2. A data recorder system according to claim 1 wherein the communication port is configured to be temporarily connected to a data storage memory holding seismic data collected by a seismic sensor to facilitate transfer of the seismic data to the processor.

3. A data recorder system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the data recorder system is configured to receive a plurality of seismic data sets from a plurality of seismic nodes and, when the computer code is executed by the one or more processor(s) or processing circuitry, is configured to: a) determine the format of each seismic data set received from each seismic node, b) for each seismic data set, based on the determined format of the seismic data set, select one from a plurality of data reformatting algorithms, c) use the selected data reformatting algorithm to reformat each seismic data set, and d) store each reformatted seismic data set in the memory.

4. A data recorder system according to claim 1 , 2 or 3 wherein the data recorder system is configured to, based on the determination of the format of the or each seismic data set, determine if the seismic data set requires reformatting, and, if it is determined that the seismic data set does not require reformatting, to store the seismic data set received from the seismic node in the memory.

5. A data recorder system according to any preceding claim wherein the data recorder system is configured to use an indication of the type of seismic node used to collect the or each seismic data set to determine the format of the or each seismic data set.

6. A data recorder system according to any preceding claim wherein the data recorder system is further configured to process the or each seismic data set using at least one data assurance algorithm by means of which the data in the seismic data set is checked and / or validated.

7. A data recorder system according to any preceding claim wherein the data recorder system is provided with a survey data set, and is configured to combine the survey data set with the seismic data set or sets to create a seismic survey data set.

8. A data recorder system according to claim 7 wherein the data recorder system is further configured to process the seismic survey data set using a delivery data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic survey data set to create a delivery data set, and to store the delivery data set in the memory.

9. A data recorder system according to claim 8 wherein the data recorder system is provided with a user interface by means of which a user can select a delivery data format, and is configured to select one from a plurality of delivery data reformatting algorithms based the selected delivery data format and to use the selected delivery data reformatting algorithm to create the delivery data set.

10. A seismic survey system comprising a plurality of seismic nodes and a data recorder system according to any preceding claim.

11. A seismic survey system according to claim 10 wherein each seismic node includes a seismic sensor and a data storage memory configured to hold seismic data collected by the seismic sensor.

12. A method of carrying out a seismic survey using a plurality of seismic nodes and a data recorder system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) establishing a communication link between a data recorder system and a data storage memory containing seismic data set collected by a first one of the plurality of seismic nodes, b) transferring a seismic data set collected by the seismic node to the data recorder system, c) the data recorder system determining the format of the received seismic data set, d) based on the determination of the format of the seismic data set, the data recorder system selecting one of a plurality of data reformatting algorithms, e) the data recorder system using the selected data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic data set, and f) storing the reformatted seismic data set in the memory of the data recorder system.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein step a comprises establishing a temporary communication link between the data recorder system and the first one of the plurality of seismic nodes, and step b comprises transferring the seismic data set directly from a data storage memory of the seismic node to the data recorder system.

14. A method according to claim 13 further includes after the seismic data set or reformatted seismic data set is stored in the memory of the data recorder system, establishing a temporary communication link between a data recorder system and a second one of the plurality of seismic nodes, and repeating steps b to f of the method described above.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein the data storage memory is provided in a portable data storage apparatus, there being a plurality of seismic data sets collected from a plurality of seismic nodes stored in the data storage memory, and step a comprises establishing a temporary communication link between the data recorder system and the portable data storage apparatus, and the method comprises carrying steps b-f in relation to the plurality of seismic data sets stored in the data storage memory.

16. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein step c further comprises the steps of, based on the format of the seismic data set, the data recorder system determining if reformatting of the seismic data set is required, and if it is determined that reformatting of the seismic data set is not required, storing the seismic data set received from the seismic node in the memory of the data recorder system, or if it is determined that reformatting of the data is required carrying out steps d, e and f.

17. A method according to any one of claims 12 - 16 wherein the method further includes the data recorder system processing the or each seismic data set using at least one data assurance algorithm by means of which the data in the seismic data set is checked and / or validated.

18. A method according to any one of claims 12 -17 wherein the data recorder system is provided with a survey data set, and the method further comprises the data recorder system combining the survey data set with the seismic data set or sets to create a seismic survey data set.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the method further comprises the data recorder system processing the seismic survey data set using a delivery data reformatting algorithm to reformat the seismic survey data set to create a delivery data set, and to store the delivery data set in the memory.

20. A method according to claim 18 or 19 wherein the data recorder system is provided with a user interface by means of which a user can select a delivery data format, and the method comprises the data recorder system selecting one of a plurality of delivery data reformatting algorithms based the selected delivery data format and using the selected delivery data reformating algorithm to create the delivery data set.

21. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processor(s) or circuitry of a data recorder system cause the data recorder system to perform the method according to any one of claims 12 to 20.

22. Computer code comprising computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processor(s) or circuitry of a data recorder system causethe data recorder system to perform the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18.

23. A computer-readable storage media storing computer code comprising computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processor(s) or circuitry of a data recorder system cause the data recorder system to perform the method according to any one of claims 12 to 20.

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