Ocean-bottom Seismometer Recovery System with Guide Barrier
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for recovering ocean-bottom seismometers in scattered seismic campaigns are time-consuming and inefficient, particularly due to the increased number of sensors and distance between them, making existing recovery techniques unsuitable.
Innovation Solution
A recovery system equipped on a ship, comprising a receiving device with a partially rigid structure, a guide device, and a movement system that allows for the seismometers to be guided and raised from the water without stopping the ship, enabling rapid and safe recovery of multiple seismometers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual recovery methods are used for scattered seismic campaigns, then operators can recover seismometers one by one, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient due to increased number of sensors and distance between them
Solution Approach 1:
The recovery system divides the ocean bottom into multiple recovery zones using several receiving devices (first receiving device, second receiving device) that can independently capture and recover seismometers from different locations simultaneously, thereby increasing overall recovery efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple receiving devices, guide devices, and movement systems into an integrated recovery platform that operates collectively to recover multiple seismometers in parallel, transforming the sequential manual recovery process into a simultaneous multi-point recovery operation
2Productivity
If traditional recovery systems are used, then the ship must stop or slow down to recover seismometers, but this reduces productivity and increases recovery time
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving devices are designed to be movable and adaptable, capable of adjusting their positions and orientations dynamically to optimize capture of drifting seismometers while the ship maintains forward motion, rather than requiring the ship to stop or slow down
Solution Approach 2:
The recovery system enables continuous operation by allowing the ship to maintain steady forward motion while seismometers are continuously captured by the receiving devices and recovered, eliminating interruptions and maintaining constant productivity throughout the recovery operation
3Area of stationary object
If seismometers are distributed with large distance between them in scattered campaigns, then coverage area increases, but recovery becomes more complicated and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The recovery system is segmented into multiple independent receiving devices distributed across different locations, each capable of independently capturing and recovering seismometers from its local area, thereby managing the complexity of wide-area recovery through modular, distributed architecture
Solution Approach 2:
Guide devices serve as intermediaries between the drifting seismometers and the receiving devices, actively directing and channeling seismometers toward the appropriate receiving device to simplify the recovery process across large distances
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
The system allows for the efficient and safe recovery of ocean-bottom seismometers without slowing down the ship, even in challenging offshore conditions, and can operate under various weather conditions, including at night and in worsening meteorology.
Implementation Method 1
a guide device comprising a guide barrier that has an end adapted to be coupled to the ship, the guide barrier being adapted to define with the hull of the ship a zone guiding the ocean-bottom seismometer toward the receiving device
Implementation Method 2
a receiving device having an at least partially rigid structure adapted to receive said seismometer, said receiving device having at least one open face; a movement system configured to move the receiving device between a low position in which the receiving device is at least partially submerged and a high position enabling an operative or a device present on the ship to recover the ocean-bottom seismometer
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system (1) for recovering an ocean-bottom seismometer (2), intended to be provided on a ship. The system comprises a receiving device (11) having an at least partially rigid structure, a guide barrier (121) to define, with the hull of the ship (3), a zone for guiding the ocean-bottom seismometer (2) towards the receiving device (11). A movement system (13) makes it possible to move the receiving device (11) between a low position in which the receiving device (11) is at least partially submerged and a high position enabling an operator or an apparatus present on the ship (3) to recover the ocean-bottom seismometer (2) carried by the receiving device (11). The invention also relates to a ship provided with the system and to a corresponding recovery method.