초록 ▼

A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-r

A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A working deck configuration for a marine vessel for deployment and retrieval of seismic data recorder units, said deck is elongated and characterized by a deck edge, said configuration comprising: a. at least one storage structure on which a plurality of seismic data r

The invention claimed is: 1. A working deck configuration for a marine vessel for deployment and retrieval of seismic data recorder units, said deck is elongated and characterized by a deck edge, said configuration comprising: a. at least one storage structure on which a plurality of seismic data recorder units are arranged; b. a cable containment structure; c. a cable held by said cable containment structure, wherein said cable extends from said cable containment structure to said deck edge; d. at least one elongated conveyor mounted on the deployment deck having a first end adjacent said storage structure and a second end extending along said deck toward said deck edge; and e. a cable engine engaging said cable and positioned to propel cable between said cable containment structure and said deck edge. 2. The working deck configuration of claim 1, a. wherein said storage structure is a rack, said rack having at least two slots defined therein, wherein each slot is disposed for receipt of a seismic data recorder unit; b. said deck configuration further comprising a robotic arm positioned adjacent said storage rack and said conveyor system, said robotic arm disposed for engaging said data recorder units and moving them between said storage rack slots and said conveyor system; c. wherein said cable containment mechanism and cable engine are arranged to permit the cable to extend along a path parallel to the conveyor belt. 3. The working deck configuration of claim 1, a. wherein said storage structure is a rack, said rack having at least two slots defined therein, wherein each slot is disposed for receipt of a seismic data recorder unit; b. said deck configuration further comprising a robotic arm positioned adjacent said storage rack and said conveyor system, said robotic arm disposed for engaging said data recorder units and moving them between said storage rack slots and said conveyor system; c. wherein said cable containment mechanism and cable engine are arranged to permit the cable to extend along a path that intersects with said conveyor system. 4. The configuration of claim 3, wherein said conveyor system has a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of said conveyor system is disposed adjacent said storage rack and robotic arm and the second end of said system is disposed adjacent said cable. 5. The configuration of claim 4, wherein said cable extends along a path perpendicular to at least a portion of the conveyor system. 6. The configuration of claim 3, further comprising a cable grabber for constraining said cable. 7. The configuration of claim 6, wherein said cable grabber is positioned downstream of said intersection of the conveyor system and cable and wherein said cable engine is positioned upstream of said intersection of the conveyor system and cable. 8. The configuration of claim 6, further comprising a cable release system to release cable constrained by said cable grabber. 9. The configuration of claim 7, wherein said cable release system comprises at least two actuators spaced apart from one another, wherein said cable release system will release said cable only when both actuators are simultaneously operated. 10. The working deck configuration of claim 1, a. wherein said storage structure is a rack, said rack having at least two rows defined thereon, wherein each row is disposed for receipt of a multiplicity of seismic data recorder units; and b. wherein said cable containment structure is a cable containment mechanism deployed on said deck, said cable containment mechanism having a cable disposed thereon. 11. The configuration of claim 10, wherein said working deck is characterized by a deck edge and said cable engine is disposed between said deck edge and said cable containment mechanism. 12. The configuration of claim 11, wherein the second end of the conveyor is between the deck edge and the cable engine. 13. The configuration of claim 10, wherein said conveyor system further comprises a track and at least one shuttle movable along said track to transport recorder units along at least a portion of the length of said conveyor system. 14. The configuration of claim 10, wherein the cable containment mechanism is a cable spool. 15. The configuration of claim 10, wherein the cable containment mechanism is a cable bin. 16. The configuration of claim 10, wherein said configuration comprises at least two cable containment mechanisms each having a cable disposed thereon and at least two cable engines, each of said engines engaging a separate cable. 17. The working deck configuration of claim 10, wherein said conveyor system is a linear roller bed. 18. The working deck configuration of claim 13, wherein said conveyor system further comprises a linear roller bed and said track and at least one shuttle are positioned above said roller bed. 19. The working deck configuration of claim 13, wherein said conveyor system further comprises a linear roller bed extending from the first end to the second end of said conveyor system, wherein said track has a first end and a second end and said track is positioned such that the first end thereof is adjacent the first end of the conveyor system and said track extends along at least a portion of the length of said linear roller bed. 20. The working deck configuration of claim 1, a. wherein said conveyor system is deployed on said deck and has a length defined between the first end and the second end; b. said deck configuration further comprising a seismic data recorder unit acceleration mechanism positioned adjacent said conveyor system, said acceleration mechanism disposed for receipt of a recorder unit and capable of moving said recorder unit along an acceleration path from a first position to a second position; c. wherein said cable extends adjacent to at least a portion of said acceleration path and a portion of said conveyor system. 21. The working deck configuration of claim 20, wherein said conveyor system is a linear roller bed and said acceleration path is a linear path. 22. The working deck configuration of claim 20, wherein said acceleration mechanism is positioned above said conveyor system. 23. The working deck configuration of claim 20, wherein said acceleration mechanism is positioned such that the first position of the acceleration path of said mechanism is adjacent the first end of the conveyor system and said acceleration path extends along at least a portion of the length of said conveyor system. 24. The working deck configuration of claim 20, wherein said acceleration mechanism is positioned such that the second position of the acceleration path of said mechanism is adjacent the first end of the conveyor system. 25. The working deck configuration of claim 20, further comprising at least one storage structure disposed for receipt of a plurality of seismic data recorder units, said storage structure having at least two rows defined thereon, wherein said rows are arranged one above the other. 26. The working deck configuration of claim 20, wherein said acceleration mechanism is a carriage. 27. The working deck configuration of claim 1, wherein said storage structure is elongated. 28. The working deck configuration of claim 1, wherein said storage structure has at least two rows, arranged one above the other, and wherein a plurality of seismic data recorder units are stored on each row. 29. The working deck configuration of claim 1, further comprising at least two elongated storage structures parallel to one another along the length of the deck. 30. The working deck configuration of claim 1, wherein said cable engine comprises a first wheel and a second wheel and said cable is engaged by both wheels. 31. The working deck configuration of claim 1, further comprising a conveying system adjacent said conveyor first end and said storage structure and disposed to move seismic data recorder units therebetween. 32. The working deck configuration of claim 31, wherein said conveying system is a robotic arm. 33. The working deck configuration of claim 1, wherein said conveyor is elongated and a portion of said conveyor is perpendicular to said cable so as to intersect said cable at the conveyor second end. 34. The working deck configuration of claim 1, wherein said cable extends along a path perpendicular to at least a portion of the conveyor. 35. The working deck configuration of claim 1, wherein said storage structure has a data retrieval interface. 36. The working deck configuration of claim 35, wherein said data retrieval interface is a connector for engaging a seismic data recorder unit. 37. The working deck configuration of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said data retrieval interfaces. 38. The working deck configuration of claim 1, wherein said storage structure has a battery charging interface. 39. The working deck configuration of claim 38, wherein said battery charging interface is a connector for engaging a seismic data recorder unit. 40. The working deck configuration of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said battery charging interfaces. 41. The working deck configuration of claim 1, wherein said cable containment structure is a container into which cable is laid. 42. The working deck configuration of claim 1, wherein said cable containment structure is a spool on which cable is wrapped. 43. A working deck configuration for a marine vessel for deployment and retrieval of seismic data recorder units, said deck is elongated and characterized by a deck edge, said configuration comprising: a. at least one storage structure on which a plurality of seismic data recorder units are arranged; b. a cable containment structure; c. a cable held by said cable containment structure, wherein said cable extends from said cable containment structure to said deck edge; d. at least one elongated conveyor mounted on the deployment deck having a first end adjacent said storage structure and a second end extending along said deck toward said deck edge; and e. a cable engine engaging said cable and positioned to propel cable between said cable containment structure and said deck edge, f. wherein said seismic data recorder units arranged on said storage structure are stored apart from said cable held in the cable containment structure. 44. A working deck configuration for a marine vessel for deployment and retrieval of seismic data recorder units, said deck is elongated and characterized by a deck edge, said configuration comprising: a. at least one storage structure on which a plurality of seismic data recorder units are arranged; b. a cable containment structure; c. a cable held by said cable containment structure, wherein said cable extends from said cable containment structure to said deck edge; d. at least one conveyor having a first end adjacent said storage structure and a second end adjacent said cable; and e. a cable engine engaging said cable and positioned to propel cable between said cable containment structure and said deck edge, f. wherein said seismic data recorder units arranged on said storage structure are stored apart from said cable held in the cable containment structure.