Multimode Seismic Survey System Hybrid Arrays

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Seismic surveys face challenges with the logistical and environmental impacts of extensive cabling, including damage, reliability issues, and increased costs, particularly in populated or environmentally sensitive areas, where traditional cabled systems are impractical.

Innovation Solution

A multimode seismic survey system that allows seismic units to operate in different readout modes (conventional cabled, wireless, and nodal) simultaneously or adaptively, enabling hybrid arrays that combine these modes to optimize data collection based on terrain and operational needs, with subsystems for time reference provisioning and data synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional cabled systems are used for seismic surveys, then data collection reliability is improved, but logistical burden and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection reliabilityVSAvoidlogistical burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cable infrastructure from the seismic survey system, replacing it with wireless communication capabilities embedded in each seismic unit. This removes the complex cable deployment and management logistics while maintaining data collection reliability through direct wireless transmission to base stations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based data transmission system with wireless electromagnetic communication. Each seismic unit is equipped with wireless transceivers that transmit data and receive control signals without physical connections, eliminating the need for cable laying and retrieval operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If more sensors are deployed closer together to improve image quality, then survey quality is improved, but cable requirements and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurvey qualityVSAvoidcable quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable network with wireless communication infrastructure, allowing dense sensor deployment without proportional increases in cable quantity. Each sensor unit communicates independently via wireless signals, enabling high-resolution survey quality without the physical constraints of cable management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes each seismic unit self-sufficient with integrated wireless communication capabilities, power management, and sensor functions. This universal design eliminates the need for external cable connections for each unit, allowing flexible dense deployment patterns optimized for survey quality rather than cable logistics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If cabled systems are used in populated or environmentally sensitive areas, then data collection is possible, but environmental impact and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection capabilityVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the invasive cable infrastructure from the survey system, replacing it with non-intrusive wireless communication. This allows data collection in environmentally sensitive and populated areas without the harmful effects of cable deployment, which can damage ecosystems and create safety hazards in populated regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of cable deployment in sensitive areas into a benefit by using wireless technology that eliminates physical intrusion. The wireless seismic units can be deployed minimally and retrieved easily, reducing environmental disruption while maintaining data collection productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Loss of information

If cabled systems are used for extensive survey areas, then data transmission bandwidth is improved, but deployment cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission bandwidthVSAvoiddeployment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable deployment process with wireless communication setup. Each seismic unit is equipped with wireless transceivers that automatically establish communication with base stations, eliminating the time-consuming cable laying and connection processes while maintaining adequate data transmission bandwidth through modern wireless protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10495767B2Multimode seismic survey system

Publication Date: 2019.12.03 WIRELESS SEISMIC INC

AI summary

A multimode seismic survey system is disclosed where seismic information for a given seismic survey is read out by different seismic units using different modes. Such multimode systems encompass hybrid arrays where information is read out via different output modes for a single seismic event, and other multimode arrays where seismic information is read out via different modes for different seismic events. The modes utilized in such arrays may include wireless, nodal and/or cable modes. The multimode arrays can be implemented using multimode seismic units or single mode seismic units. In any event, the multimode arrays can be utilized to achieve a combination of advantages associated with the different readout modes or to address any of various multimode mode contexts in relation to seismic surveys.