Seismic Receiver Deployment via Aerial Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic surveys in remote, inaccessible regions with dense vegetation and rugged terrain pose health and safety risks for operators and cause environmental impact due to the need for extensive setup of seismic sources and receivers, which can be hazardous and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method involving seismic receivers that measure and analyze additional ground vibrations to detect human, animal, or vehicle presence, allowing for real-time monitoring and potentially triggering alarms or stopping receiver placement, while also using a higher density of receivers within the seismic source area and additional sensors to improve subsurface data quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If seismic receivers are carried by foot by teams of operators through dense vegetation and rugged terrain, then the seismic survey can be conducted in remote regions, but the health and safety risks for operators increase and environmental impact worsens due to trail clearing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual carrying and trail clearing with an aerial delivery system using helicopters or drones. Seismic receivers are transported through the air and deployed via controlled release mechanisms, eliminating the need for ground-based mechanical operations in sensitive environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary aerial platform (helicopter or drone) that mediates between the seismic survey objectives and the sensitive environment. This intermediary enables receiver deployment without direct ground contact by operators, reducing both safety risks and environmental disturbance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If seismic receivers are dropped from flying vehicles to reduce environmental impact and operator risks, then trail clearing is minimized, but new hazards are created for humans and animals that may be in the region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using detection systems (seismic sensors, cameras, radar) to scan the area before receiver deployment. The system identifies and avoids zones with humans or animals, and selects safe drop zones in advance, preventing hazards before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where real-time detection data from the area is fed back to the control system. Based on this feedback, the deployment system adjusts drop locations, timing, and trajectories to ensure receivers are released only in safe zones, dynamically responding to changing conditions.
3Measurement precision
If a high density of seismic receivers is deployed to obtain good quality subsurface images, then the image quality improves, but the complexity and cost of setup increases significantly in inaccessible regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex ground-based logistics for deploying high-density receiver arrays with aerial delivery systems. Helicopters or drones can rapidly distribute numerous receivers across difficult terrain simultaneously, reducing the complexity and cost associated with manual deployment while maintaining high receiver density for improved image quality.
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 method reduces health and safety risks, minimizes environmental impact, and enhances the quality of seismic survey results by enabling safer and more efficient data acquisition in challenging terrains.
Implementation Method 1
The seismic receivers are able to record mainly the reflections of the seismic waves produced by the seismic sources on the different layers of the earth in order to build an image of the subsurface
Implementation Method 2
measuring with the plurality of seismic receivers at least one second type of ground vibrations induced by a mechanical source different from the or from each seismic source
Data Source
AI summary
The method comprises providing at least one seismic source in a seismic source area and providing a plurality of seismic receivers in said seismic source area, said method comprising measuring a first type of ground vibrations induced in a subsurface of the area of interest by the at least one seismic source with the plurality of seismic receivers. The method further comprises measuring with the plurality of seismic receivers at least one second type of ground vibrations induced by a mechanical source different from the or from each seismic source and analyzing the second type of ground vibrations to determine at least one information among: a physical parameter of the subsurface and/or, a presence of human and/or an animal and/or a vehicle.