99 results about "Submarine earthquake" patented technology

A seismometer having a hydrodynamically efficient shaped body containing a seismic sensor or source, having a propulsion unit located and a control unit for directional control of the propulsion unit for guiding the seismometer to and from an ocean floor. The seismometer can be deployed from a surface ship, helicopter or airplane. The seismometer or surface support vessel contains a navigation unit for directing the control unit to a desired location on the ocean bottom. The apparatus provides a storage device for storing seismic data sensed by the seismic sensor. The navigation system sends a responsive directional command to the apparatus based on the current location and the desired location. Upon arrival at the desired ocean bottom location, the propulsion system acts to couple the apparatus to the ocean floor. A flight control system manages a plurality of the seismometers during navigation to and from the a ocean bottom.

A system for underwater seismic prospecting or exploration on seafloors, especially deep seafloors, including streamers designed to contain the measurement devices and to lie on the seafloor, in the form of an inner tube that is non-stretching and non-compressible and an outer tube that is extensible to a certain extent. Through the injection of liquid between these two tubes, the buoyancy of each streamers is made positive. This enables it to be detached from the seafloor and towed to the next measuring position.

Apparatus and methods for acquiring seismic data using a seabed seismic data cable positioned on a seabed are described, including correcting for the effect of one or more sensor non-linear motions, which improves accuracy of seismic data. One or multiple non-linear movements of the sensor may be corrected for. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Seismic sensor systems and sensor station topologies, as well as corresponding cable and sensor station components, manufacturing and deployment techniques are provided. For some embodiments, networks of optical ocean bottom seismic (OBS) stations are provided, in which sensor stations are efficiently deployed in a modular fashion as series of array cable modules deployed along a multi-fiber cable.

Provided is a permanent seafloor seismic recording system utilizing Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems seismic sensors. The system includes and expandable backbone, multiple hubs and sensor lines. The sensor lines include multiple sensor modules that include 3-C accelerometers and a hydrophone for providing a 4-C sensor module output signal.

An ocean bottom seismic cable recording apparatus comprising a plurality of seismic node casings (1), said node casings being separated from each other by separate stress member sections (2), each stress member section having acoustic decoupling arrangements (3) at each end connecting to said seismic node casings (1), and where each seismic node casing comprising an autonomous sensor capsule (5) for sensing and recording seismic data, and wherein the autonomous sensor capsule (5) is removable from said seismic node casing (1), and wherein each seismic node casing (1) further comprising an inner compartment (4) accommodating the autonomous sensor capsule (5).

Multiple Modeling, wherein the wavefield is separated into up/down wavefield on either source-side or receiver-side; wherein WEMM is used to extrapolate and predict multiples, which are attenuated from OBC seismic data.

Storage and installation systems used in storage, deployment or retrieval of a seismic cable array include one or more baskets adapted for being stacked. Each basket is dimensioned to allocate, in an ordered arrangement, a number of seismic stations interconnected by sections of seismic cable. Corresponding methods of storing a seismic cable and deploying/retrieving a seismic cable are based on the use of baskets having an ordered arrangement of seismic stations.

There is provided herein a system and method of seismic exploration that produces improved locations and timings for ocean bottom seismometers. The instant method utilizes linearized inversion in conjunction with a conventionally accurate clock to provide both time and positioning for each OBS unit with high accuracy as compared with the prior art approach. Inversion is one mathematical tool that effectively performs the requisite triangulation. Furthermore, the clock drift can be accounted for in the inversion scheme. The inversion not only determines the OBS position and shot timing errors, but also estimates the accuracy of the position and timing determination.

In-sea seismic energy sources, deployed at or near the seabed, generate seismic waves in earth formations beneath the seabed when activated by a triggering mechanism at a precise time synchronized with seismic data acquisition by sensors deployed at predetermined locations around a well drilled for oil and gas exploration. Seismic waves generated at the seabed travel with more direct and predictable ray-paths through the earth to the sensors. Acquired data, including a precise time and location of the seismic events, are used to provide enhanced borehole and sea-bottom seismic surveys.

Methods and apparatus for cable termination and sensor integration at a sensor station within an ocean bottom seismic (OBS) cable array are disclosed. The sensor stations include a housing for various sensor components. Additionally, the sensor stations can accommodate an excess length of any data transmission members which may not be cut at the sensor station while enabling connection of one or more cut data transmission members with the sensor components. The sensor stations further manage any strength elements of the cable array.

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.

Seismic autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for recording seismic signals on the seabed. The AUV may be negatively buoyant and comprise an external body (which may be formed of multiple housings) that substantially encloses a plurality of pressure housings. Portions of the external body housing may be acoustically transparent and house one or more acoustic devices for the AUV. The AUV may comprise a main pressure housing that holds substantially all of the electronic components of the AUV, while a second and third pressure housing may be located on either side of the main pressure housing for other electronic components (such as batteries). A plurality of external devices (such as acoustic devices or thrusters) may be coupled to the main pressure housing by external electrical conduit. The AUV may comprise fixed or retractable wings for increased gliding capabilities during subsea travel.

The invention discloses a submarine cable underwater synchronous paying-off underwater vehicle which is characterized by comprising a shipborne mechanical system, a synchronous pushing system, a pneumatic launching system, a calculation center control system and a dragging and underwater-moving system. The technologies of electric automatization, aerodynamics, mechatronics and single chip microcomputer control and the like are integrated, underwater operation can be achieved, and the underwater vehicle is less affected by stormy waves; automatic detection and real-time paying-off can be achieved, the positioning precision is 0.5-3 m, the course accuracy is 0.01 degree, and a cable line corridor can be accurately controlled; cable laying is high in speed and can be controlled in real time, and the highest cable laying speed can reach 50 KM/h; the automation degree is high, and the number of construction staff is greatly decreased; the integration degree is high, and the whole process can be monitored; construction obstacles for the cable line corridor do not need to be cleared away, so that the environment is protected; all the systems can be recycled, and secondary investment is low; the systems operate synchronously, and the tension force of submarine cable laying is reduced; the line first-aid repair capability is high, and the submarine cable underwater synchronous paying-off underwater vehicle is suitable for line reconstruction work after seaquakes; and the structure is reasonable, and the performance is reliable.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for monitoring, positioning, and/or guiding a plurality of seismic nodes on or near the seabed by a plurality of acoustic pinging devices coupled to a deployment line and at least one surface buoy. The acoustic pinging devices are configured to emit a unique ID that may be detected by a receiver or transceiver located on each of the surface buoys. The acoustic pinging devices may be coupled to each node or only to a portion of the plurality of nodes (such as every two, three, or four nodes). The monitoring system may be configured to identify the ID, position, depth, and height of each seismic node during travel to the seabed and upon node touchdown with the seabed. A guidance system may be configured to guide the deployment of the deployment cable based upon node position data determined by the monitoring system.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses related to coupling an autonomous seismic node to the seabed. In one embodiment, the node may comprise a plurality of holes on a bottom surface of the node and a plurality of openings on one or more sides and/or surfaces of the node. The bottom surface may comprise a coupling plate that is coupled to the node and/or coupled to a housing or casing that substantially surrounds a pressure node housing. The node may be configured to route water vertically from the bottom holes through the side openings and/or upper holes to decrease the potential of cavitation and fluidization of the seismic sediment and increase the seismic coupling of the node to the seabed.

An ocean bottom cable system includes: a cable adapted to be extended from a vessel at the surface of a body of water to the bottom of a body of water. The cable includes at least one electrical conductor or at least one optical fiber. A plurality of sensor units is disposed at spaced apart locations along the cable; and at least one swivel is disposed in the cable between the vessel and at least one of the sensor units. The swivel is adapted to enable relative rotation thereby relieving torsional stress between ends of the cable coupled thereto, and is adapted to transmit axial force along the cable therethrough.

Harrison hurricane pulse and tsunami duty protective seawalls (HHTPS) are constructed of permanent, heavily steel rebar reinforced concrete, with multiple seawall foundations driven down to ground rock refusal every 30 feet and are normally 140 feet high. These seawalls shall protect many areas that are subject to flooding and/or massive storm pulses such as hurricane Katrina. These seawalls shall protect areas at risk of tsunami waves. Tsunamis are caused by undersea earthquakes, undersea volcanoes, etc. that produce a huge destructive sea wave called a tsunami. These seawalls have the strength on top to allow construction of roads for vehicular traffic. These seawalls protect such locations as New Orleans, La. and adjacent Gulf Coast areas, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Texas Gulf Coast and others. These seawalls shall protect such places as Indonesia, and other places that are subject to a tsunami. These seawalls allow sandy or other beaches for humans and sea animals (such as sea turtles). These seawalls function off shore over water to protect small islands from a huge storm pulse or tsunami.

The invention discloses a multi-node OBS vertical cable earthquake collection system. The system comprises a first hydrophone array cable, a collection station, a second hydrophone array cable, a positioning floating drum, a floating body, an acoustic releaser and a counterweight anchor. Auxiliary bearing cables are weaved on the surfaces of the first hydrophone array cable and the second hydrophone array cable. Pressure-resistant hydrophones are uniformly and isometrically distributed on and connected with the first hydrophone array cable and the second hydrophone array cable along the axial direction. The collection is connected with and fixed on the part between the lower end of the auxiliary bearing cable weaved on the surface of the first hydrophone array cable and the upper end of the auxiliary bearing cable weaved on the surface of the second hydrophone array cable. The collection station comprises a main collection station and a slave collection station, is used for exploring seabed earthquakes and natural gas hydrates and is capable of carrying out unconventional processing on stereo observation earthquake data according to the characteristics of hydrate ore bodies such as a seabed diffuse type hydrate ore body, carrying out modeling and imaging on wideband wide-angle earthquake reflection stratums and providing technical support for hydrate identification and reserve prediction.