Apparatus and method for geophone sensor string placement

In a method of collecting a geophone sensor string, of the type wherein individual sensors are spaced at a predetermined distance along a cable for placement on the ground to sense seismic events, each sensor having a ring secured thereto, the improvement comprising the steps of:

• securing a line to a ring adjacent one end of the geophone sensor string;
• passing the line through selected rings along the length of the geophone sensor string and through a ring adjacent the opposite end of the geophone sensor string, the line being substantially unrestricted in its motion through said selected ring;
• and
• drawing the line and lifting the sensors off the ground to fold the cable and collapse the geophone sensor string for storage.

An apparatus for use in seismic research comprising:

• a plurality of sensors adapted for placement at spaced apart positions on a surface;
• a cable for interconnecting said sensors and transmitting signals from said sensors;
• a plurality of ring members, each ring member being secured to a sensor;
• a line secured to a ring member adjacent a first end of the cable and passing through the remaining ring members, said line being substantially unrestricted in its motion through said remaining ring members;
• and
• means to draw said line to remove the sensors from the surface, gather the sensors and fold the interconnecting cable for storage.

A method of collecting and storing a seismic cable for use with a geophone sensor string comprising the steps of:

• mounting ring members along the length of the seismic cable;
• securing a line to a ring member adjacent one end of the seismic cable and passing said line through selected ring members to extend from a ring member adjacent the opposite end of the seismic cable, said line having substantially unrestricted motion through said selected ring members;
• drawing said line through said selected ring members;
• and
• resisting movement of said seismic cable in the direction the line is drawn so that the seismic cable is gathered for storage.