Ocean Bottom Node Secondary Positioning via Nested Sleeve and Atomic Clock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ocean bottom seismic nodes (OBNs) face challenges in accurate secondary positioning due to low positioning accuracy and increased operational complexity, leading to potential shell damage during deployment and the need for external transponders, which complicates maintenance and construction.
Innovation Solution
A combined submarine seismic acquisition node with a secondary positioning function is designed, featuring a redesigned shell without protruding protective sleeves, a built-in atomic clock for reduced clock drift, and integrated response components for accurate and efficient positioning, including a transducer for information interaction with the loading ship, and a protective sleeve for enhanced protection and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If protective sleeves are added to the shell of the acquisition node, then the shell is protected during deployment, but the protective sleeves protrude and collide with releasing devices, causing damage to the protective sleeves and increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is nested inside the shell during deployment, with only a small portion protruding through the opening. The releasing device inserts a releasing tool through the opening to access the tether, and after release, the protective sleeve retracts fully inside the shell, avoiding collision with deployment equipment while maintaining protection during hoisting.
2Measurement precision
If an external acoustic transponder is bound to the OBN for secondary positioning, then accurate positioning is achieved, but the operation complexity and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic transponder is integrated into the acquisition node shell, sharing the same pressure-resistant chamber and power supply system. The transponder, geophone, and other components are housed together in a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate external transponder units and reducing both operational complexity and maintenance requirements while maintaining accurate acoustic positioning capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If an ordinary temperature compensated crystal oscillator is used in the acquisition node, then the device can operate, but clock drift is large, requiring data interpolation and resampling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent upgrades from an ordinary temperature compensated crystal oscillator to a high-precision atomic clock, fundamentally changing the timekeeping parameter. The atomic clock provides extremely stable frequency output with minimal drift, eliminating the need for data interpolation and resampling operations, and ensuring accurate time synchronization for seismic data acquisition over extended deployment periods.
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
The solution provides accurate and efficient secondary positioning, reduces operational complexity, and minimizes shell damage during deployment, allowing for simplified maintenance and improved construction efficiency with reduced need for external transponders and data interpolation.
Implementation Method 1
response components fixed inside the ocean bottom node, and the response components are configured to send position information of the ocean bottom node, and the response components may perform an information interaction with the loading ship
Implementation Method 2
built-in atomic clock for reduced clock drift
Implementation Method 3
The accurate positioning of the OBNs may be realized by binding the geophone and an underwater acoustic transponder, according to a sound wave transmission time and combining the global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of a measuring ship
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a combined submarine seismic acquisition node with a secondary positioning function, including an ocean bottom node connected with an external loading ship; a protective sleeve circumferentially covering outside the ocean bottom node; and response components fixed inside the ocean bottom node, and the response components are configured to send position information of the ocean bottom node, and the response components may perform an information interaction with the loading ship.