Autonomous Ocean Bottom Seismic Sensor Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional marine seismic surveys face challenges in efficiently deploying and retrieving seismic sensors on the ocean bottom, leading to inefficiencies in data collection and high operational costs due to the need for towing streamer cables and manual handling.
Innovation Solution
A modular ocean bottom seismic sensor system comprising seismic sensors, memory devices, and energy sources, with depth and pressure sensors for autonomous deployment and retrieval, and a vessel body design that allows for easy coupling and decoupling with a rope for precise placement and retrieval, enabling efficient data collection and power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional marine seismic surveys use towing streamer cables with manual handling, then deployment and retrieval can be performed, but operational costs are high and data collection efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The seismic sensor system performs autonomous deployment and retrieval operations using its own depth and pressure sensors to control the process, eliminating the need for manual handling and towing vessels. The system self-manages its deployment by detecting depth/pressure conditions and automatically initiating retrieval sequences, thereby improving productivity while reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical towing system (streamer cables dragged by vessels) with an autonomous system that uses depth and pressure sensors combined with controlled release mechanisms. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical towing operations and manual handling, allowing the sensor system to deploy and retrieve itself, thus improving data collection efficiency while reducing deployment complexity
2Ease of operation
If manual handling is used for deploying and retrieving sensors, then placement can be achieved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seismic sensor system uses its own depth and pressure sensors to autonomously control deployment and retrieval operations. The system monitors environmental conditions and automatically initiates retrieval when depth/pressure thresholds are met, eliminating the need for expensive manual handling operations while maintaining precise sensor placement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors depth and pressure conditions through dedicated sensors and uses this feedback to automatically control deployment and retrieval operations. When the depth/pressure sensor detects predetermined conditions, the system automatically initiates retrieval, optimizing operational efficiency and reducing costs without compromising placement precision
3Productivity
If autonomous deployment is implemented, then manual handling is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous system is divided into distinct functional modules: depth sensing subsystem, pressure sensing subsystem, control subsystem, and retrieval mechanism. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently managed, which reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high deployment efficiency through coordinated operation of these segmented components
Solution Approach 2:
The depth and pressure sensors serve multiple functions: they monitor environmental conditions during deployment, trigger automated retrieval sequences, and provide data for positioning accuracy. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems, thereby managing complexity while improving deployment efficiency through versatile sensor utilization
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An seismic sensor device may include a sensor module and a connected vessel. The sensor module may include a seismic sensor for collecting seismic data. The vessel may include a first region for engaging the sensor module. The vessel may also include a second region for coupling the seismic sensor device to a location for collecting seismic data.