Autonomous Seismic Acquisition Modules for Cable Cut Resilience

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Seismic data acquisition systems are sensitive to cable cuts, leading to loss of connection and data, especially in challenging terrains, and existing solutions either fail to fully address the issue or increase costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A seismic data acquisition system with a cabled network where each electronic unit is associated with two intermediate modules, each equipped with autonomous synchronization, bidirectional power supply, and bidirectional storage, allowing the system to remain operational and store data locally in case of a cable cut, with secondary communication means for status monitoring and data retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cabled network is used for seismic data acquisition, then data can be transmitted to the central processing unit, but cable cuts cause loss of connection and data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operational continuityVSAvoidcable cut vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the acquisition network into autonomous segments, where each electronic unit can operate independently with its own power supply and synchronization capabilities. This segmentation allows units to continue functioning even when cable connections are severed, eliminating the single-point-failure vulnerability of traditional cabled networks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each electronic unit is equipped with backup power supplies (batteries) and autonomous synchronization means (GPS receivers) that are activated beforehand. These cushioning resources ensure that units can maintain operation and data collection even when the main power and synchronization connections are cut.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of operation

If electronic units are powered and synchronized via modules in a cabled network, then centralized control is achieved, but cable cuts cause loss of power supply and synchronisation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized control capabilityVSAvoidpower supply continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges centralized control capabilities with autonomous unit functionality. Each unit maintains its own power supply and synchronization means while still being able to communicate with the central processing unit when connected. This combination allows centralized coordination during normal operation while ensuring autonomous survival during cable disruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Power supply and synchronization capabilities are distributed to each electronic unit rather than being集中ized in remote modules. Each unit has locally available batteries and GPS receivers, ensuring that power and time synchronization are maintained at the local level even when connection to central modules is lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If data are transmitted continuously to the central processing unit, then real-time monitoring is enabled, but cable cuts result in irremediable loss of seismic data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseismic data preservationVSAvoiddata storage and retrieval system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data storage function is segmented and distributed to each electronic unit rather than being centralized. Each unit has its own memory for storing seismic data, allowing data to be preserved locally even when connection to the central processing unit is lost. This distributed storage architecture prevents single-point data loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Electronic units are configured to automatically store seismic data in their local memories before transmission to the central processing unit. This preliminary storage action ensures that data is preserved even if transmission is interrupted by cable cuts, allowing for later retrieval and transmission when connectivity is restored.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8339899B2Seismic data acquisition system comprising modules associated with units connected to sensors, the modules being autonomous with respect to power supply, synchronisation and storage

Publication Date: 2012.12.25 SERCEL SAS

AI summary

Described herein is a land seismic data acquisition system comprising a central processing unit; a cabled network connected to the central processing unit comprising a plurality of acquisition lines each comprising: electronic units assembled in series along a telemetry cable and each associated with at least one seismic sensor, the units processing signals transmitted by the sensor(s); intermediate modules assembled in series along the telemetry cable and each associated with at least one of the electronic units, each intermediate module providing power supply and synchronization of the electronic unit(s) wherewith it is associated; wherein each electronic unit is associated with at least two intermediate modules including at least one upstream and at least one downstream from the electronic unit along the telemetry cable, and comprises synchronization means independent from the cabled network, bidirectional and autonomous power supply means, bidirectional storage means of the signals processed by the electronic units.