Unmanned Vehicle Hydrocarbon Seep Sampling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for locating and sampling hydrocarbon seeps in marine environments are inefficient and costly, as they rely on manned vessels that are time-consuming and prone to errors due to environmental conditions and the episodic nature of seeps, making it difficult to accurately identify and collect waterborne liquid hydrocarbons.
Innovation Solution
The use of unmanned vehicles (UVs) equipped with remote sensing technology, such as synthetic aperture radar, and sampling modules that can autonomously or remotely operate to identify and collect waterborne liquid hydrocarbon samples, integrating with satellite data for near-real-time guidance and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manned vessels are deployed to locate and sample hydrocarbon seeps, then sampling capability is achieved, but deployment time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned vehicle autonomously navigates to satellite-identified hydrocarbon locations and performs sampling operations without human intervention, eliminating the need for manned vessel deployment while maintaining sampling capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manned vessel deployment with an autonomous unmanned vehicle system guided by satellite data, substituting human-operated mechanical processes with automated systems that reduce deployment time
2Measurement precision
If remote sensing technology is used to identify hydrocarbon locations, then identification accuracy improves, but sampling capability is lost without physical deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges remote sensing identification capability with autonomous sampling capability into a single integrated unmanned vehicle system, allowing both functions to coexist and operate sequentially without requiring separate systems
Solution Approach 2:
Satellite remote sensing performs preliminary identification of hydrocarbon locations before the unmanned vehicle is deployed for sampling, allowing the vehicle to navigate directly to confirmed targets and perform sampling operations
3Reliability
If conventional sampling methods are used, then samples can be collected, but the episodic nature of seeps causes locations to change, reducing detection reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses satellite data to provide continuous feedback on hydrocarbon locations, allowing the unmanned vehicle to navigate to current, accurate positions and sample hydrocarbons at their actual locations rather than outdated coordinates
Solution Approach 2:
The satellite performs preliminary identification and location confirmation of hydrocarbon seeps before the unmanned vehicle arrives, ensuring that the vehicle navigates to the most current and accurate location rather than relying on outdated information
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 approach enables accurate and cost-effective identification and sampling of hydrocarbon seeps over large areas, reducing exploration risks and enhancing basin assessment by providing more comprehensive characterization and mapping of hydrocarbon systems.
Implementation Method 1
The use of unmanned vehicles (UVs) equipped with remote sensing technology, such as synthetic aperture radar
Implementation Method 2
contacting sampling material from one of the one or more sample containers with the waterborne liquid hydrocarbons
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Method and system is described to exploration and development hydrocarbon resources. The method involves operations for exploring and developing hydrocarbons with one or more unmanned vehicles. The unmanned vehicles are used to obtain one or more samples that may be used to identify hydrocarbon systems, such as hydrocarbon seeps.