Ocean Bottom Seismic Cable Node Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine seismic exploration methods using ocean bottom seismic cables are inefficient and costly due to sensitivity to water leakage, mechanical wear, and the need for multiple vessels, especially in deep waters, limiting their application and increasing operational time and costs.
Innovation Solution
An ocean bottom seismic cable recording apparatus with autonomous seismic node casings connected by stress member sections with acoustic decoupling, eliminating electrical and optical wiring, and featuring removable sensor capsules for data storage and power, allowing for efficient deployment and recovery without continuous power and data transfer along the cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ocean bottom seismic cables with electrical wiring are used, then seismic data can be recorded in real-time, but the cable becomes sensitive to water leakage and mechanical wear, requiring slow and careful handling during deployment and recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into separate modular units (nodes) connected by stress member sections. Each node contains sealed electronic components and sensors, eliminating continuous electrical wiring along the cable. This segmentation allows individual nodes to be handled independently during deployment and recovery, increasing deployment speed while maintaining reliability through modular replacement if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Electrical and optical wiring are extracted from the cable structure and replaced with acoustic communication between discrete nodes. The stress member sections are separated from sensor elements, with acoustic decoupling arrangements placed at connection points. This extraction eliminates the vulnerability of continuous wiring to water leakage while maintaining data transmission capability.
2Reliability
If multiple vessels are used for seismic cable deployment and recording, then comprehensive seismic data acquisition is achieved, but operational costs and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The seismic cable nodes are designed to perform multiple functions: they contain sensors for seismic data recording, acoustic transducers for communication, and positioning capabilities. This multi-functionality allows a single vessel to deploy, retrieve, and process data from all nodes, eliminating the need for separate recording vessels and significantly reducing operational time and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Each node contains autonomous components including power supplies, data storage, and acoustic communication capabilities. The nodes can operate independently and transmit data acoustically to the deploying vessel, eliminating the need for continuous connection to surface recording equipment and enabling single-vessel operations.
3Loss of information
If electrical wiring is used throughout the cable for power and data transmission, then continuous monitoring is possible, but the cable becomes vulnerable to water leakage at multiple termination points
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is segmented into discrete nodes with sealed housings containing electronic components. Electrical wiring is confined to short connections within each node rather than running continuously along the cable. Stress member sections connect nodes acoustically without electrical wiring, eliminating multiple water termination points and reducing leakage vulnerability while maintaining data transmission through acoustic communication.
4Measurement precision
If dense sensor spacing is implemented for high-resolution seismic data, then measurement precision improves, but cable complexity and susceptibility to mechanical wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cable consists of repeated modular node units that can be easily assembled in dense configurations. Each node is a self-contained unit with standardized connections, allowing high sensor density without proportionally increasing overall cable complexity. The modular design simplifies manufacturing and deployment compared to traditional continuous cables with individually installed sensors.
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 solution enhances the durability and speed of cable deployment and recovery, reduces operational costs, and enables more efficient seismic data acquisition across various water depths without the limitations of existing systems, allowing for denser sampling and reduced mechanical wear.
Implementation Method 1
separate stress member sections having acoustic decoupling arrangements at each end connecting to said seismic node casings
Data Source
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AI summary
An ocean bottom seismic cable recording apparatus comprising a plurality of seismic node casings (1), said node casings being separated from each other by separate stress member sections (2), each stress member section having acoustic decoupling arrangements (3) at each end connecting to said seismic node casings (1), and where each seismic node casing comprising an autonomous sensor capsule (5) for sensing and recording seismic data, and wherein the autonomous sensor capsule (5) is removable from said seismic node casing (1), and wherein each seismic node casing (1) further comprising an inner compartment (4) accommodating the autonomous sensor capsule (5).