Method and apparatus for gathering seismic data

A seismic receiver for detecting seismic energy and transmitting digital data relating to the detected seismic energy to a data recorder, the receiver comprising:

• a casing;
• a seismic energy detector that detects the seismic energy and converts the detected seismic energy into an analog electrical signal;
• an analog to digital converter, coupled to the seismic energy detector, that converts the analog electrical signal into digital data points, wherein the receiver is configured to store the digital data points;
• and
• a digital signal transmission circuitry, coupled to the analog to digital converter, that transmits a batch of the stored digital data points to the data recorder;
• wherein the seismic energy detector, the digital transmission circuitry, and the analog to digital converter are housed within the casing.

A method for obtaining seismic data, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a seismic event at a seismic receiver;
• converting the seismic event into an analog electrical signal;
• converting the analog electrical signal into digital data points within the receiver;
• storing the digital data points within the receiver;
• awaiting a control signal to transfer a batch of the digital data points;
• and
• transferring the batch of the stored digital data points from the receiver to a remote collection device upon receiving the control signal.

A method of collecting seismic data from a seismic receiver at a collection device, the seismic receiver collecting seismic energy, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a digital signal indicative of the seismic energy within the receiver;
• storing digital data points of the digital signal in the receiver;
• and
• transmitting a batch of the stored digital data points of the digital signal from the receiver to the collection device,
• wherein the step of transmitting is performed in response to a signal from another receiver.

An apparatus to digitize a seismic signal collected by a seismic signal collector of a seismic receiver, the apparatus comprising:

• a casing;
• a board capable of conducting electrical signals;
• a digitizer, communicatively coupled to the seismic signal collector and contained on the board, that digitizes the seismic signal and stores a batch of digital data points of the digitized seismic signal without transmitting the digital data points from the receiver;
• and
• the board fitting inside the seismic receiver;
• wherein the seismic signal collector, the digitizer, and the board are housed within the casing.

A seismic streamer that collects seismic data and transmits digital data representative of collected seismic data to a collection device, the seismic streamer comprising:

• a plurality of seismic receivers communicatively coupled to one another through a transmission line, at least one of the seismic receivers comprising:
• a casing;
• a seismic energy detector that detects seismic energy and converts the detected seismic energy into an analog electrical signal;
• an analog to digital converter, coupled to the seismic energy detector, that converts the analog electrical signal into digital data points, wherein the receiver is configured to store the digital data points;
• and
• a digital signal transmission circuitry, coupled to the analog to digital converter, that transmits a batch of the stored digital data points to a data recorder;
• wherein the seismic energy detector, the digital transmission circuitry, and the analog to digital converter are housed within the casing.

A seismic exploration system for collecting digital data representative of collected seismic data, the system comprising:

• a data recorder that collects digital data representative of collected seismic data;
• and
• a plurality of seismic receivers communicatively coupled to one another through a transmission line, at least one of the seismic receivers comprising:
• a casing;
• a seismic energy detector that detects seismic energy and converts the detected seismic energy into an analog electrical signal;
• an analog to digital converter, coupled to the seismic energy detector, that converts the analog electrical signal into digital data points, wherein the receiver is configured to store the digital data points;
• and
• a digital signal transmission circuitry, coupled to the analog to digital converter, that transmits a batch of the stored digital data points to a data recorder;
• wherein the seismic energy detector, the digital transmission circuitry, and the analog to digital converter are housed within the casing.