# US 2017/0285202 A1 · Skid structure for underwater seismic exploration

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- Number: US 2017/0285202 A1
- Document ID: US20170285202A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/088,058
- Filed: 2016-03-31
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31
- Assignees: Fairfield Industries Incorporated
- Applicants: Fairfield Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: Roger L. Fyffe; Etienne Marc
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285202A1

## CPC

- G01V 1/3852: {to the seabed}
- 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 1/3817: {Positioning of seismic devices}
- B63G 2008/004: {autonomously operating}
- B63G 2008/005: {remotely controlled}
- G01V 1/3808: {Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design}
- G01V 2210/1427: Sea bed
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)
- 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

The present disclosure is directed to a skid structure for underwater seismic exploration. The system can include an underwater vehicle comprising a skid structure. A conveyor is provided in the skid structure. The conveyor includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A capture appliance is provided at the first end of the conveyor. The capture appliance includes an arm to close to hold a case storing one or more ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) units, and to open to release the case. The capture appliance includes an alignment mechanism to align an opening of the case with the first end of the conveyor. A deployment appliance can be at the second end of the conveyor. The deployment appliance can place an OBS unit of the one or more OBS units onto the seabed to acquire seismic data from the seabed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system to acquire seismic data from a seabed, comprising:
an underwater vehicle comprising a skid structure;
a conveyor provided in the skid structure, the conveyor comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a capture appliance provided at the first end of the conveyor, the capture appliance including an arm to close to hold a case storing one or more ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) units, and to open to release the case;
the capture appliance comprising an alignment mechanism to align an opening of the case with the first end of the conveyor; and
a deployment appliance at the second end of the conveyor to place an OBS unit of the one or more OBS units onto the seabed to acquire seismic data from the seabed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises a belt or a plurality of rollers to move an OBS unit of the one or more OBS units from the first end of the conveyor to the second end of the conveyor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises:
a first arm coupled to a first portion of the conveyor;
a second arm opposite the first arm and coupled to a second portion of the conveyor;
the first arm and the second arm operational to move from an open position to a closed position to capture the case, and to move from the closed position to the open position to release the case.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the first arm and the second arm form a clamp.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises:
a notch configured to hold the case in a predetermined orientation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, comprising;
the notch configured to receive a protrusion extending along the case to hold the case in the predetermined orientation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the notch comprises a tapered notch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises a protrusion configured to hold the case in a predetermined orientation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the protrusion is further configured to insert at least in part into a notch on the case to hold the case in the predetermined orientation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, comprising:
a sensor configured to detect a signal received from the case.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the signal comprises at least one of an acoustic signal or a light signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the ping indicates a position of the underwater vehicle in an aqueous medium.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the ping indicates a depth of the underwater vehicle in the aqueous medium relative to the case.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the underwater vehicle comprises a remotely operated vehicle or an autonomously operated vehicle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, comprising:
a gate adjacent to the deployment appliance, the gate configured to open from a closed position to deploy the OBS unit of the one or more OBS units onto the seabed.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the underwater vehicle comprises a retrieval mechanism to retrieve the OBS unit of the one or more OBS units from the seabed, the OBS unit of the one or more OBS units storing, in memory, the seismic data acquired from the seabed.

### Claim 17

A system to acquire seismic data from a seabed, comprising:
an underwater vehicle comprising a skid structure;
a conveyor provided in the skid structure, the conveyor comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a capture appliance provided at the first end of the conveyor, the capture appliance including an arm to close to hold a case having one or more ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) units on a helix structure in the case, and to open to release the case;
the capture appliance comprising an alignment mechanism to align an opening of the case with the first end of the conveyor;
the conveyor to receive, via the opening of the case and from an end of the helix structure in the case, an OBS unit of the one or more OBS units;
a deployment appliance at the second end of the conveyor, the deployment appliance comprising a ramp that places the OBS unit of the one or more OBS units onto the seabed to acquire seismic data from the seabed via the OBS unit of the one or more OBS units.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the conveyor comprises a belt or a plurality of rollers to move the OBS unit of the one or more OBS units from a first end of the conveyor to a second end of the conveyor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein a portion of the ramp contacts the seabed.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the underwater vehicle comprises a retrieval mechanism to retrieve the OBS unit of the one or more OBS units from the seabed, the OBS unit of the one or more OBS units storing, in memory, the seismic data acquired from the seabed.