Adaptive seismometer group recorder having enhanced operating capabilities

A method of seismic exploration for acquiring, processing and storing seismic signals with an adaptive seismometer group recorder deployed in a region of exploration interest comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting a first coded signal from a remote unit to the seismometer group recorder to select a first set of recorder operating parameters from a first menu of recorder operating parameters provided by first operating programs resident therein;
• (b) acquiring and processing seismic signals generated by at least one geophone electrically coupled to each seismometer group recorder in accordance with the selected first set of recorder operating parameters;
• (c) electronically downloading into the seismometer group recorder second operating programs providing a second menu of seismic recorder operating parameters;
• (d) transmitting a second coded signal to the seismometer group recorder to select a second set of recorder operating parameters from the second menu of seismic recorder operating parameters provided by the second operating programs resident therein;
• and
• (e) acquiring and processing the seismic signals in the seismometer group recorder in accordance with the selected second set of seismic recorder operating parameters.

In a seismic exploration system, an adaptive seismometer group recorder having enhanced operating capabilities for acquiring, processing and storing seismic signals generated from at least one geophone electrically coupled thereto in response to seismic energy imparted into the earth, comprising:

• (a) control means for transmitting coded signals to the seismometer group recorder to select a set of recorder operating parameters for acquiring, processing and storing seismic signals therein;
• (b) processing means with the seismometer group recorder responsive to the transmitted coded signals for configuring the seismometer group recorder to acquire, process and store seismic signals in accordance with selected recorder operating parameters by selecting the recorder operating parameters from a menu of recorder operating parameters resident in the seismometer group recorder;
• and
• (c) means for electronically downloading additional operating programs, providing additional menus of recorder operating parameters, into the seismometer group recorder, such that the processing means responsive to code signals transmitted by the control means can reconfigure the seismometer group recorder to acquire, process and store seismic signals in accordance with the recorder operating parameters selected from additional menus of recorder operating parameters provided by the additional operating programs electronically downloaded into the seismometer group recorder.

A method of seismic exploration for acquiring, processing and storing seismic signals with an adaptive seismometer group recorder comprising the steps of:

• (a) electronically downloading operating programs providing menus of recorder operating parameters into the adaptive seismometer group recorder;
• (b) transmitting first coded signals to the seismometer group recorder to select a first set of recorder operating parameters from the first menu of recorder operating parameters to acquire, process and store seismic signals generated by at least one geophone electrically coupled to the seismometer group recorder;
• and
• (c) transmitting second coded signals to select a second set of recorder operating parameters from the first menu of recorder operating parameters to acquire, process and store seismic signals generated by at least one geophone electrically coupled to the seismometer group recorder.

A method of seismic exploration with an adaptive seismometer group recorder and a remote control unit comprising the steps of:

• (a) electronically downloading operating programs providing means of recorder operating parameters into the seismometer group recorder;
• (b) programming each seismometer group recorder to respond only to coded signals transmitted from the remote control unit containing its unique individual serial indentification code;
• (c) transmitting a program call to the seismometer group recorder to assign a field location identifier and to select an initial set of recorder operating parameters from the menu of recorder operating parameters;
• (d) transmitting a test call from the remote control unit to the seismometer group recorder to verify the field location identifier assignment and initiate diagnostic tests of the seismometer group recorder;
• and
• (e) transmitting an acqusition call from the remote control unit to the seismomemter group recorder to activate the seismometer group recorder to acquire, process and store seismic data in accordance with the selected recorder operating parameters.