Seismic source for on the move seismic surveying
AssigneesElbit Systems Cai and Cyber Ltd, Soreq Nuclear Research Center
InventorsAner Lev, Barak Alfassi, Alon Refael Heimer, Shai Mordechai Butzin
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Abstract
A seismic source apparatus, configured to be maneuvered by a vehicle over terrain.
Claims20
A seismic source apparatus, configured to be maneuvered by a vehicle over a terrain and operable while in motion, said seismic source apparatus comprising:
- a seismic source unit mounted on a source platform and configured to be maneuvered by the vehicle, the seismic source unit being configured to generate seismic waves while the vehicle is in on the move,
- said seismic source unit including at least one movable mass and an energy transfer element configured to maintain continuous and intimate contact with the terrain while the vehicle is in motion and the seismic waves are generated;
- at least one motion de-coupling assembly associating said energy transfer element with said source platform or vehicle, and provided to reduce or prevent vibrational energy generated by said seismic source unit to be transferred to the source platform or the vehicle,
- wherein motion of said seismic source unit while the vehicle is in motion is independent of the motion of said vehicle and/or said source platform, wherein the motion of said seismic source unit is along or about at least one selected axis, within a determined range.
A method for generating a seismic map of a terrain region, the method comprising:
- maneuvering a seismic source unit mounted on a source platform over the terrain by a moving platform or a vehicle;
- said seismic source unit including at least one movable mass and an energy transfer element configured to maintain continuous and intimate contact with the terrain while the moving platform or vehicle is in motion;
- generating seismic waves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the terrain while the moving platform or vehicle is in motion, vibrational energy generated by said seismic source unit when waves are generated are substantially prevented from being transferred to the moving platform or the vehicle by at least one motion de-coupling assembly positioned between said energy transfer element and said moving platform or vehicle;
- detecting and optionally recording seismic responses received from the terrain over a period of time;
- and
- determining underground structure of the terrain to provide the seismic map.
A motion decoupling assembly for use in a seismic source apparatus comprising a seismic source unit and a seismic detection unit, the motion decoupling assembly comprising one or more decoupling elements associating said seismic source unit to a moving platform or vehicle carrying said seismic detection unit, wherein the motion decoupling assembly is configured to isolate said seismic detection unit from vibrational energy generated by said seismic source unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.