# US 10,502,853 B2 · Method and system for deployment of ocean bottom seismometers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,853 B2 - Document ID: US10502853B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/481,149 - Filed: 2017-04-06 - Published: 2017-07-27 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2005-01-17 - Assignees: Magseis FF LLC - Applicants: Fairfield Industries Incorporated - Inventors: James N. Thompson; Clifford H. Ray; Glenn D. Fisseler; Roger L. Fyffe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502853B2 ## CPC - G01V 1/3852: {to the seabed} - B63B 22/00: Buoys ({floating decoys, e.g. for waterfowl A01M31/06;} means for indicating the location of underwater objects B63C7/26; life-buoys, e.g. rings B63C9/08; {mountings of acoustic transducer in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys G10K11/006; electric cables supported on or from floats H02G9/12}) - B63B 22/18: having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether - B63C 11/00: Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects (composition of chemical substances for use in breathing apparatus A62D9/00; swimming aids or equipment A63B31/00 - A63B35/00; submarines B63G8/00) - B63G 8/00: Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; {Equipment specially adapted therefor}(submarine hulls B63B3/13; diving chambers with mechanical link, e.g. cable, to a base B63C11/34; divers' sleds B63C11/46; torpedoes F42B19/00) - B63G 8/001: {Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations (self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42)} - G01V 1/3861: {control of source arrays, e.g. for far field control} - B63B 2211/02: Oceanography - B63G 2008/004: {autonomously operating} - B63G 2008/005: {remotely controlled} - B63G 2008/007: {by means of a physical link to a base, e.g. wire, cable or umbilical} - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52) - B63G: OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS (means of attack or defence in general, e.g. turrets F41H) ## Abstract Systems and methods for deployment and retrieval of ocean bottom seismic receivers. In some embodiments, the system includes a carrier containing receivers. The carrier can include a frame having a mounted structure (e.g., a movable carousel, movable conveyor, fixed parallel rails, or a barrel) for seating and releasing the receivers (e.g., axially stacked). The structure can facilitate delivering receivers to a discharge port on the frame. The system can include a discharge mechanism for removing receivers from the carrier. In some embodiments, the method includes loading a carrier with receivers, transporting the carrier from a surface vessel to a position adjacent the seabed, and using an ROV to remove receivers from the carrier and place the receivers on the seabed. In some embodiments, an ROV adjacent the seabed engages a deployment line that guides receivers from the vessel down to the ROV for “on-time” delivery and placement on the seabed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system to facilitate deployment of ocean bottom seismic (OBS) units secured to a deployment line at spaced intervals, comprising: a vehicle configured to travel through an aqueous medium, wherein the vehicle is configured to engage the deployment line; a guide, coupled to a side of the vehicle, configured to travel through the aqueous medium and control the deployment line, the guide comprising: a first member coupled to the side of the vehicle; a second member coupled to the side of the vehicle and opposite the first member, wherein the first member and the second member are configured to control the deployment line threaded between the first member and the second member; and a plate, coupled to the side of the vehicle, positioned between the first member and the second member to contact an OBS unit to direct the OBS unit to contact a seabed as the deployment line passes through the guide. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is configured to engage the deployment line via the guide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member form opposing chute members, and the deployment line passes between the opposing chute members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first member and second member are traction members configured to engage the deployment line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first member and second member are traction members configured to propel the deployment line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is configured to move the deployment line in a direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is configured to cause the OBS unit on the deployment line to be drawn underneath the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is configured to cause the OBS unit on the deployment line to pass through the guide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising the deployment line, wherein the deployment line is a non-rigid line. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising: the OBS units; and the deployment line, wherein the OBS units are secured to the deployment line at the spaced intervals, wherein the spaced intervals are regularly spaced intervals or correspond to a placement spacing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is positioned above the seabed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising the deployment line, wherein a first portion of the deployment line is coupled to a vessel above a surface of a body of water, and a second portion of the deployment line is directed by the guide. ### Claim 13 A method of deploying ocean bottom seismic (OBS) units secured to a deployment line at spaced intervals, comprising: traveling, by a vehicle, through an aqueous medium; engaging, by the vehicle, the deployment line; controlling, by a guide coupled to a side of the vehicle, the deployment line, the guide comprising a first member coupled to the side of the vehicle, and a second member coupled to the side of the vehicle and opposite the first member; controlling, by the first member and the second member, the deployment line threaded between the first member and the second member; and contacting, by a plate coupled to the side of the vehicle and positioned between the first member and the second member, an OBS unit to direct the OBS unit to contact a seabed as the deployment line passes through the guide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, comprising: engaging, by the vehicle, the deployment line via the guide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first member and the second member form opposing chute members, and the deployment line passes between the opposing chute members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the guide includes a traction member, the method comprising: engaging, by the traction member, the deployment line. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the guide includes a traction member, the method comprising: propelling, by the traction member, the deployment line. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, comprising: moving, by the vehicle, the deployment line in a direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, comprising: drawing, by the vehicle, the OBS unit on the deployment line underneath the vehicle.