Reconfigurable Seismic Sensor Cable for Marine Surveys

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seismic sensor cables for marine geophysical surveys have fixed configurations of seismic sensors, limiting sampling density and flexibility, which restricts data accuracy and increases operating costs.

Innovation Solution

A reconfigurable seismic sensor cable that allows for variable distribution and reassignment of seismic sensors throughout its volume, enabling closer spacing and dynamic reconfiguration of sampling groups in response to sensor failures or changing conditions, using film-based or MEMS sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fixed configuration of seismic sensors is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and adaptability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidsensor configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of sensor groups through software control, allowing the system to adapt sensor assignments and sampling parameters in real-time based on operational conditions, sensor failures, or optimization requirements, thereby achieving high measurement precision without permanent hardware complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters such as sampling rates, group assignments, and sensor activation states dynamically during operation, enabling the same physical hardware to achieve different measurement configurations and optimize data accuracy for various survey conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If fixed sampling groups are used, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor reconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs sensor group reconfiguration and failure compensation without requiring manual intervention, using algorithms that dynamically assign sensors to groups based on operational needs, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving high adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from sensor status monitoring and survey performance data to automatically adjust sensor group configurations, enabling adaptive reconfiguration that responds to actual operational conditions while maintaining simple operation through automated control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If sensors are spaced further apart, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling densityVSAvoidnumber of sensors

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the effective sampling density by reconfiguring sensor groups and varying sampling rates, allowing closer effective spacing through software optimization without permanently installing a larger number of physical sensors, thereby improving measurement precision while controlling hardware quantity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11573340B2Reconfigurable seismic sensor cable

Publication Date: 2023.02.07 PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS

AI summary

Embodiments relate to a sensor cable that may be reconfigurable to have various combinations of seismic sensors. An apparatus may comprise a sensor cable and seismic sensors distributed throughout a volume of the sensor cable and along all three axes of the sensor cable, wherein the seismic sensors are assigned to sampling groups that are reconfigurable and not hardwired.