Seismic surveys with optical communication links

A method of performing a seismic survey, comprising:

• providing a seismic data acquisition unit having a transmitter window disposed in a first aperture of a lid, and having a receiver window disposed in a second aperture of the lid;
• providing a first gasket positioned between the transmitter window and the first aperture to provide a clearance greater than a threshold to allow the transmitter window to move under pressure to reduce impingement and cracking of the transmitter window;
• providing a second gasket positioned between the receiver window and the second aperture to seal the receiver window and provide clearance greater than the threshold to allow the receiver window to move under pressure to reduce impingement and cracking of the receiver window;
• and
• passing, via at least one of the transmitter window and the receiver window of the seismic data acquisition unit, optical or electromagnetic communications to or from an extraction vehicle via at least one of a transmitter window and a receiver window of the extraction vehicle.