Autonomous Seismic Equipment Guided by Acoustic Beacons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for deploying and retrieving seismic equipment on the seabed are inaccurate, time-consuming, and not suitable for deep waters or large-scale operations, lacking the precision and efficiency required for precise geometry placement and multiple unit guidance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving acoustic waves transmitted from the surface to guide seismic acquisition equipment with autonomous guiding systems, using acoustic beacons and GPS buoys for precise positioning and retrieval, allowing simultaneous deployment and retrieval of multiple units without the need for dynamic positioning or lengthy operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If acoustic waves are transmitted from the surface to guide seismic acquisition equipment, then positioning precision and deployment speed are improved, but system complexity increases due to autonomous guiding equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Acoustic waves serve as an intermediary communication medium between surface-based acoustic beacons and the autonomous guiding equipment on seismic acquisition units. The acoustic signals transmit positioning information through water without requiring direct mechanical or electronic connections, resolving the contradiction by enabling precise guidance while maintaining system modularity and reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seismic acquisition equipment incorporates autonomous guiding equipment that independently receives acoustic signals, processes positioning information, and controls its own trajectory without continuous surface intervention. This self-service capability improves positioning precision while reducing the operational complexity of surface control systems.
2Productivity
If multiple seismic acquisition units are deployed simultaneously using autonomous guiding, then productivity increases, but the risk of acoustic signal interference and positioning errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic positioning system is segmented into multiple independent acoustic beacons distributed across the deployment area, each transmitting dedicated acoustic signals. This segmentation allows simultaneous guidance of multiple seismic acquisition units without signal interference, as each unit receives and processes signals from multiple beacons to determine its own position independently, thereby maintaining high productivity while ensuring positioning reliability.
3Measurement precision
If traditional crane-based deployment with Short Base positioning is used, then equipment can be placed on the seabed, but the operation takes considerable time and location accuracy deteriorates with depth
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical crane-based deployment system is replaced with an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) system guided by acoustic signals. This substitution eliminates the need for lengthy crane operations and eliminates the depth-related accuracy deterioration of Short Base systems, as acoustic positioning accuracy remains consistent regardless of depth. The AUV autonomously navigates to the target position and deploys equipment, dramatically reducing deployment time while maintaining high location accuracy.
4Measurement precision
If ROV type wire-guided vessels are used for positioning, then precise positioning can be achieved, but operations become lengthy and expensive due to umbilical restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The physical umbilical connection between the ROV and surface vessel is extracted and replaced with wireless acoustic communication. This allows the guiding equipment to operate autonomously without the constraints of cable length or surface vessel position, enabling precise positioning while significantly improving operational efficiency and reducing costs associated with lengthy cable management and surface vessel coordination.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick, inexpensive, and precise placement and retrieval of seismic equipment on the seabed, suitable for large-scale operations, improving accuracy and reducing operational time and costs by using autonomous guiding systems and acoustic beacons.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting acoustic waves in the water layer above said zone by means of a plurality of sources
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for acquiring seismic data at a plurality of positions spread out over a zone on the seabed which includes transmitting acoustic waves in the water layer above the zone by a plurality of sources, for each of the acquisition positions, dropping from the surface a seismic acquisition equipment, the equipment comprising a seismic acquisition unit and autonomous guiding equipment adapted to receive while descending acoustic signals from the sources and to control its trajectory according to the received acoustic signals so as to direct said equipment towards said position, performing the seismic acquisition, causing the acquisition equipments to move up to the surface, and retrieving the acquisition equipments on the surface.