Seismic Source Synchronization via GPS Timing Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic data acquisition systems face challenges in synchronizing seismic sources and recorders, leading to potential time gaps and inefficiencies in data collection, which can affect the accuracy of subsurface structure mapping and hydrocarbon reservoir estimation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves synchronizing the sampling rate of seismic data acquisition nodes with a GPS timing signal and delaying the start signal to seismic sources using a second GPS device, ensuring that both the source and recorder operations align with specific time boundaries, thereby eliminating time gaps and enhancing data synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional seismic data acquisition systems are used without GPS synchronization, then the system complexity is lower, but time synchronization accuracy between seismic sources and recorders deteriorates, leading to time gaps in data collection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces GPS timing signals as an intermediary reference to synchronize both seismic sources and recorders to a common time standard. The GPS receiver provides precise time stamps that mediate between the source firing time and the recorder sampling time, eliminating time gaps without requiring complex direct synchronization mechanisms between source and recorder
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a single GPS timing signal to serve multiple functions: synchronizing the recorder's sampling rate, triggering the seismic source firing, and providing time stamps for data correlation. This multi-functional use of GPS timing simplifies the overall system architecture compared to using separate synchronization mechanisms for each component
2Reliability
If the sampling rate of seismic nodes is not synchronized with the seismic source timing, then the data acquisition process is simpler, but time gaps occur in the collected seismic data, reducing data quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses GPS time stamps as feedback to correlate the firing time of the seismic source with the sampling time of the recorder. By comparing the source time stamp with the recorder time stamps, the system ensures that the recorder is sampling at the correct rate and can identify any time gaps or misalignments in the data acquisition process
Solution Approach 2:
The recorder is pre-configured with the sampling rate that will be used during data acquisition, and this sampling rate is selected to be synchronized with the expected seismic source firing rate. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the seismic source fires, the recorder is already positioned to capture the data without time gaps, eliminating the need for complex real-time adjustments
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling seismic data acquisition includes synchronizing a sampling rate of at least one node configured to acquire seismic data with a GPS timing signal from a first GPS seismic device; and delaying sending a start signal to one or more seismic sources, the delay being with reference to a GPS timing signal from a second GPS device.