초록 ▼

The transmission method utilizes multiple seismic acquisition units within an array as intermediate short range radio receivers/transmitters to pass collected seismic data in relay fashion back to a control station. Any one seismic unit in the array is capable of transmitting radio signals to severa

The transmission method utilizes multiple seismic acquisition units within an array as intermediate short range radio receivers/transmitters to pass collected seismic data in relay fashion back to a control station. Any one seismic unit in the array is capable of transmitting radio signals to several other seismic units positioned within radio range of the transmitting unit, thus allowing the system to select an optimal transmission path. Utilizing an array of seismic units permits transmission routes back to a control station to be varied as needed. In transmissions from the most remote seismic unit to the control station, each unit within a string receives seismic data from other units and transmits the received seismic data along with the receiving unit's locally stored seismic data. Preferably, as a transmission is passed along a chain, it is bounced between seismic units so as to be relayed by each unit in the array.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A seismic data transmission system, comprising: a plurality of seismic data acquisition units that acquire and transmit seismic data from an acoustic signal that propagates into earth and is reflected by subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth, each of the plurality of seism

1. A seismic data transmission system, comprising: a plurality of seismic data acquisition units that acquire and transmit seismic data from an acoustic signal that propagates into earth and is reflected by subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth, each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units comprising: a transmitter;a receiver;a local clock;a local memory; anda processor; the system further comprising: a geophone associated with each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;a plurality of concentrators, each of the plurality of concentrators comprising a transmitter, a receiver, mass memory, a local clock, and a processor;each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units in wireless transmission and reception communication with at least two other of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;each of the plurality of concentrators in a transmission range of at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units; andwherein one of the plurality of concentrators acquires at least a portion of the seismic data from one of the at least two of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via short range wireless communication via: a first short range wireless transmission, in a time period, with a first transmission parameter, of at least a first portion of the seismic data between a first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and a second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;a second short range wireless transmission, in the time period, with a second transmission parameter, of at least a second portion of the seismic data between a third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and a fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units, wherein the third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units are different data acquisition units than the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units; andthe first transmission parameter and the second transmission parameter substantially prevent communication interference between the first short range wireless transmission and the second short range wireless transmission in the time period. 2. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: a control station;a first of the plurality of concentrators connected to the control station by a data communications cable;wherein the control station acquires at least a portion of the seismic data from the first of the plurality of concentrators via the data communication cable; andwherein the control station provides command data to at least some of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via wired communication from the control station to the first of the plurality of concentrators, and via wireless communication between the first of the plurality of concentrators and one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 3. The seismic data transmission system of claim 2, comprising: the control station disposed within a wireless transmission range of at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 4. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: a first of the plurality of concentrators communicating with a control station via at least one of a telemetry cable and an optic cable to transmit the seismic data from the first of the plurality of concentrators to the control station and to transmit control data from the first of the plurality of concentrators to any of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 5. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of concentrators relaying obtained short range transmissions of the seismic data from the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to a control station; andthe at least one of the plurality of concentrators relaying obtained command data from the control station to the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via short range transmission with at least the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 6. The seismic data transmission system of claim 5, wherein: the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units relays the command data to the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via short range transmission between the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 7. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of concentrators including a local control station for a string of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 8. The seismic data transmission system of claim 7, wherein: the mass memory of the at least one of the plurality of concentrators stores the seismic data for long term storage. 9. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units including an antenna attached to the at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via an external connector. 10. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units including a directional antenna. 11. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units having radio frequency identification capability. 12. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units having a bar code. 13. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units having an external projection that couples the least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to the earth. 14. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units having an external projection comprising an electrically conductive conduit to charge a battery of the at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 15. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units having an external projection comprising an electrically conductive conduit to charge a battery of the at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and that couples the at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to the earth. 16. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units having a plurality of external projections that couple the at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to the earth. 17. The seismic data transmission system of claim 16, wherein: a first external projection of the plurality of external projections connects to a power source of the one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via a relay and a second external projection of the plurality of external projections controls the relay. 18. The seismic data transmission system of claim 17, comprising: the relay in a closed position during charging of the power source and in an open position after charging of the power source. 19. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: a first spike, a second spike and a third spike that each couple at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to earth;wherein the first spike and the second spike connect to a power source via a relay; andthe third spike operates to control the relay. 20. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: the geophone of at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units externally attached to the least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 21. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, wherein: the receiver of at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units operates to receive long range radio transmissions from at least one of the plurality of concentrators. 22. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: a battery coupled to each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 23. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, wherein: the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units operates to communicate wirelessly with the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via short range transmission in the absence of external cabling of the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and in the absence of external unit control of the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units. 24. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, wherein: the mass memory of one of the plurality of concentrators operates to store at least a portion of the seismic data received from at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units for long term storage. 25. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, comprising: a control station; andwherein at least one of the plurality of concentrators communicates with the control station via one of a telemetry cable and an optic cable. 26. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the plurality of concentrators relays control signals from a control station to at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via a telemetry cable between the at least one of the plurality of concentrators and the control station. 27. The seismic data transmission system of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the plurality of concentrators relays control signals from a control station to at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via an optic cable between the at least one of the plurality of concentrators and the control station. 28. A seismic data transmission system, comprising: a plurality of seismic data acquisition units that acquire and transmit seismic data from an acoustic signal that propagates into earth and is reflected by subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth, the plurality of seismic data acquisition units in an array on the earth, the array formed by a plurality of lines of seismic data acquisition units, each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units comprising: a transmitter;a receiver;a local clock;a local memory; anda processor; the system further comprising: a geophone associated with each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;a plurality of concentrators, each of the plurality of concentrators comprising a transmitter, a receiver, mass memory, a local clock, and a processor;each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units in wireless transmission and reception communication with at least two other of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to transmit quality control data via a short range wireless communication to one of the plurality of concentrators;each of the plurality of concentrators in a transmission range of at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units; andone of the plurality of concentrators acquires at least a portion of the seismic data from one of the at least two of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via short range wireless communication, the seismic data including information related to the subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth, the one of the plurality of concentrators acquires the portion of the seismic data via: a first short range wireless transmission, in a time period, with a first transmission parameter, of at least a first portion of the seismic data between a first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and a second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;a second short range wireless transmission, in the time period, with a second transmission parameter, of at least a second portion of the seismic data between a third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and a fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units, wherein the third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units are different data acquisition units than the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units; andthe first transmission parameter and the second transmission parameter substantially prevent communication interference between the first short range wireless transmission and the second short range wireless transmission in the time period. 29. A seismic data transmission system, comprising: a plurality of seismic data acquisition units that obtain seismic data from an acoustic signal that propagates into earth and is reflected by subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth, each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units comprising: a transmitter;a receiver;a local clock;a local memory; anda processor; the system further comprising: a geophone associated with each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;the plurality of seismic data acquisition units in an array having multiple lines of sub-sets of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;a plurality of concentrators that are different types of devices than each of the plurality seismic data acquisition units, each of the plurality of concentrators comprising a transmitter, a receiver, mass memory, a local clock, and a processor;a control station;each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units in wireless transmission and reception communication with at least one other of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;each of the plurality of concentrators in a transmission range of at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;wherein one of the plurality of concentrators acquires at least a portion of the seismic data from at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via short range wireless communication; andthe plurality of seismic data acquisition units include a first string of seismic data acquisition units and a second string of different seismic data acquisition units, the first string and the second string define a respective transmission path to the control station preset prior to operation of the seismic data transmission system, wherein the plurality of seismic data acquisition units transmit at least some of the seismic data to the control station via: a first short range wireless transmission through the first string that defines a first transmission path, in a time period, with a first transmission parameter, of at least a first portion of the seismic data between a first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and a second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;a second short range wireless transmission through the second string that defines a second transmission path, in the time period, with a second transmission parameter, of at least a second portion of the seismic data between a third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and a fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units, wherein the third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units are different data acquisition units than the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;the first transmission parameter and the second transmission parameter substantially prevent communication interference between the first short range wireless transmission and the second short range wireless transmission during the time period;a third short range wireless transmission of at least the first portion of the seismic data between the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and a first of the plurality of concentrators; andthe first of the plurality of concentrators transmits at least the first portion of the seismic data to the control station via a data communications cable. 30. A seismic data transmission system, comprising: a plurality of seismic data acquisition units that acquire and transmit seismic data from an acoustic signal that propagates into earth and is reflected by subsurface lithologic formations or fluid layers of the earth, each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units comprising: a transmitter;a receiver;a local clock;a local memory; anda processor; the system further comprising: a geophone associated with each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;a plurality of concentrators, each of the plurality of concentrators comprising a transmitter, a receiver, mass memory, a local clock, and a processor;each of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units in wireless transmission and reception communication with at least two other of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;each of the plurality of concentrators in a transmission range of at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;wherein at least one of the plurality of concentrators relays control signals from a control station to at least one of the at plurality of seismic data acquisition units via a data communications cable between the at least one of the plurality of concentrators and the control station; and relays the seismic data from at least one of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to the control station via the data communications cable; anda first of the plurality of concentrators acquires at least a portion of the seismic data from one of the at least two of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units via short range wireless communication; andwherein the plurality of seismic data acquisition units transmit the seismic data to the control station via at least two transmission paths preset prior to operation of the seismic data transmission system, the plurality of seismic data acquisition units transmit at least some of the seismic data to the control station via: a first short range wireless transmission through a first transmission path, in a time period, with a first transmission parameter, of at least a first portion of the seismic data between a first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and a second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;a second short range wireless transmission through a second transmission path, in the time period, with a second transmission parameter, of at least a second portion of the seismic data between a third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and a fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units, wherein the third of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the fourth of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units are different data acquisition units than the first of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units and the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units;wherein the first transmission parameter and the second transmission parameter substantially prevent communication interference between the first short range wireless transmission and the second short range wireless transmission during the time period; anda third short range wireless transmission of at least the first portion of the seismic data from the second of the plurality of seismic data acquisition units to the first of the plurality of concentrators; andthe first of the plurality of concentrators transmits at least the first portion of the seismic data to the control station via the data communications cable.