Seismic Shot Timing Windows for Multi-Vessel Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-vessel seismic systems face challenges in accurately managing shots, leading to missed shots and shot overlaps due to alignment issues and unreliable radio links, which affect the quality of seismic data acquisition.
Innovation Solution
A method that computes theoretical shot times for both scheduler and slave shooter vessels, with shooting time windows allowing for alignment adjustments, enabling shots to be taken either at precise theoretical times or at window borders, ensuring minimal alignment errors and preventing overlaps, even in cases of temporary radio link loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If shots are scheduled based on theoretical shot times computed from vessel speed, then shot placement accuracy is improved, but missed shots and overlaps occur due to alignment issues and radio link failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system computes theoretical shot times in advance based on vessel speed and preplot geometry, creating a schedule before actual shot execution. This preliminary scheduling allows the system to prepare timing windows that accommodate potential deviations, ensuring shots are taken at appropriate times even when communication or alignment issues occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that computes timing windows as buffers between theoretical shot times. These windows act as a mediator between the ideal scheduled times and actual shot execution, allowing flexibility to accommodate radio link failures and alignment issues while maintaining shot placement accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If the system waits for confirmed vessel alignment before scheduling shots, then shot placement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts shot timing by computing windows that adapt to actual vessel positions and speeds. Rather than rigidly waiting for perfect alignment, the system schedules shots within flexible time windows that accommodate real-time variations in vessel motion, maintaining precision while improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter from fixed theoretical shot times to flexible timing windows. By transforming the scheduling approach from static to dynamic parameter ranges, the system can accommodate alignment variations without requiring waiting periods, thus maintaining precision while enhancing acquisition efficiency.
3Device complexity
If the system uses centralized shot scheduling from one vessel, then coordination is simplified, but reliability decreases due to single point of failure in radio communication
Solution Approach 1:
The master shooter vessel computes and distributes theoretical shot times and timing windows to slave shooter vessels in advance. This preliminary distribution of scheduling information ensures that even if radio communication fails during shot execution, each vessel has the necessary timing data to proceed independently, maintaining system reliability while keeping complexity low.
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 2D~3A
AI summary
Method for managing shots in a multi-vessel seismic system, comprising for each slave shooter vessel: a) computing a series of first theoretical shot times, as a function of a speed value of a scheduler shooter vessel and shot points associated to the scheduler shooter vessel, each first theoretical shot time being associated to one of the next shots of the scheduler shooter vessel; b) computing, as a function of a speed value of the slave shooter vessel and shot points associated to the slave shooter vessel, a series of second theoretical shot times each associated to one of the next shots of the slave shooter vessel; c) computing, as a function of the series of first theoretical shot times, a series of interpolated virtual shot times comprising at least the interpolated virtual shot times associated to the shots immediately before and after the next shots of the slave shooter vessel; d) computing, as a function of the series of first theoretical shot times, the series of interpolated virtual shot times and a minimum shot time interval, shooting time windows each associated to one of the next shots of the slave shooter vessel; e) for each next shot of the slave shooter vessel: if the associated second theoretical shot time is in the associated shooting time window, selecting as predicted shot time the associated second theoretical shot time; otherwise, selecting as predicted shot time the border of the associated shooting time window which is the closest from the associated second theoretical shot time.