Torus Marine Node Thruster Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional marine seismic surveys are expensive and prone to inaccuracies due to high costs of streamers and interference from water surface noise, while existing ocean bottom station technologies are inflexible and environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
A torus-shaped marine node with thrusters and jet pumps for precise positioning and data recording, equipped with seismic sensors, allowing for autonomous deployment and retrieval, reducing costs and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional streamers are used for seismic data acquisition, then the system can be deployed and operated, but the cost is high and water surface noise interferes with recording accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by placing receivers on the ocean bottom instead of towing them through water. This inversion eliminates water surface noise interference entirely, as the hydrophones are coupled to the seabed where they can detect seismic waves without the harmful influence of surface waves and bubbles that plague traditional streamer systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the receivers from the water column and places them directly on the ocean bottom. This separation removes the receivers from the harmful water surface environment, allowing them to operate in a cleaner acoustic environment that provides superior seismic data quality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ocean bottom stations are deployed permanently on the seabed, then wide-azimuth coverage is achieved, but the system lacks flexibility and causes environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ocean bottom station dynamic by equipping it with thrusters and buoyancy control systems. This allows the station to move from a fixed permanent installation to a mobile platform that can be deployed, positioned, and retrieved as needed. The station can achieve wide-azimuth coverage during operation while being environmentally friendly when not in use, as it can be removed from the ocean bottom.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the ocean bottom station by introducing buoyancy control and propulsion capabilities. These parameter changes enable the station to transition between different states (deployed on bottom, suspended in water, retrieved to surface) without permanent environmental impact, resolving the contradiction between achieving wide-azimuth coverage and avoiding pollution.
3Measurement precision
If ocean bottom stations are used for repeat surveys, then positioning repeatability improves, but deployment and retrieval become complex operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the ocean bottom station to perform self-service operations through autonomous navigation and positioning capabilities. The station can independently navigate to its deployment location, position itself accurately on the ocean bottom using onboard sensors and thrusters, and even retrieve itself. This self-service capability reduces the complexity of manual deployment and retrieval operations while maintaining high positioning repeatability for repeat surveys.
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 solution provides accurate, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly seismic data acquisition with improved positioning repeatability and multi-component data recording, enhancing imaging capabilities beneath complex overburdens.
Implementation Method 1
a first thruster provided in the main body and configured to propel the main body along a central axis (Z) of the main body
Implementation Method 2
a seismic sensor configured to record the seismic waves underwater
Data Source
AI summary
A marine node for recording seismic waves underwater. The node includes a main body having a torus shape; a central body provided inside a space defined by the main body and connected to the main body through at least a link; a first thruster provided in the main body and configured to propel the main body along a central axis (Z) of the main body; and a seismic sensor configured to record the seismic waves underwater.