Dynamic Source Vessel Positioning for Marine Survey Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Previous marine survey techniques face challenges in enhancing illumination of subsurface locations due to fixed positions of source vessels relative to receiver vessels, which limits the optimization of azimuths and offsets, leading to suboptimal data acquisition, especially when encountering subsurface obstructions.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic survey plan that allows the source vessel to change its heading and speed independently of the receiver vessel, enabling the secondary source to be actuated at various positions to enhance illumination, and the ability to update the survey route during the survey based on real-time data to improve data quality without increasing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the source vessel maintains a fixed position relative to the receiver vessel, then the survey operation is simplified and easier to control, but the illumination of subsurface locations is suboptimal and cannot be optimized for different azimuths and offsets
Solution Approach 1:
The source vessel transitions from a static fixed position relative to the receiver vessel to a dynamic configuration where it can independently navigate to predetermined positions. This allows the source to be actuated at multiple locations along the survey route, optimizing illumination for different azimuths and offsets while the receiver vessel maintains its course.
Solution Approach 2:
The survey operation is segmented into independent source actuation events at multiple predetermined positions along the receiver vessel's route. Instead of continuous operation from a fixed position, the source vessel makes discrete positioning and actuation stops at optimized locations to enhance subsurface illumination coverage.
2Measurement precision
If the source vessel is positioned to optimize illumination at specific subsurface locations, then data quality improves, but the complexity of coordinating source and receiver vessel positions increases
Solution Approach 1:
Predetermined source vessel positions are calculated and established before the survey begins, based on the receiver vessel's survey route and subsurface illumination requirements. This pre-planning eliminates real-time coordination complexity during the actual survey, as the source vessel simply navigates to predetermined waypoints and actuates the source.
Solution Approach 2:
A computational system acts as an intermediary to translate the receiver vessel's survey route and subsurface illumination requirements into predetermined source vessel positions. This intermediary processing layer handles the complex coordination calculations, allowing the actual survey operation to proceed with simpler execution.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sources are used to enhance illumination of subsurface locations, then the coverage and data quality improve, but the resource requirements and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of deploying multiple physical sources simultaneously, the system dynamically repositions a single source vessel to multiple predetermined locations along the survey route. Each position provides enhanced illumination for specific azimuths and offsets, achieving multi-source coverage效果 with a single reusable source.
Solution Approach 2:
The single source vessel serves multiple functions by actuating the source at different positions along the survey route. Each actuation event targets different subsurface locations and angles, making one source perform the work that would traditionally require multiple sources deployed simultaneously.
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
This approach improves the quality of marine survey data by optimizing illumination at subsurface locations, including those with obstructions, by dynamically adjusting the source vessel's position and actuation locations, leading to more effective data acquisition with reduced resource requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The source control may cause the source, which can include an impulsive source such as an air gun, a non-impulsive source such as a marine vibrator source, an electromagnetic source, or combinations thereof, to produce signals at selected times. Each signal is essentially a wave called a wavefield that travels down through the water and into the subterranean formation.
Implementation Method 2
At each interface between different types of rock, a portion of the wavefield may be refracted, and another portion may be reflected
Implementation Method 3
At each interface between different types of rock, a portion of the wavefield may be refracted, and another portion may be reflected, which may include some scattering, back toward the body of water to propagate toward the sea surface.
Implementation Method 4
The receivers thereby measure a wavefield that was initiated by the actuation of the source.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuation location for actuation of a first source coupled to a first marine survey vessel relative to a position of a second marine survey vessel towing a receiver to enhance illumination of a subsurface location can be determined based on a survey route of the second marine survey vessel and a priori data of the subsurface location. The first marine survey vessel can be navigated along a survey route of the first marine survey vessel to the actuation location during a marine survey by changing at least a cross-line position or an in-line position of the first marine survey vessel relative to the survey route of the second marine survey vessel.