Seismic acquisition and transmission system with functions decentralization

A decentralized system for controlling acquisition, transmission, and control operations of seismic equipment installed in an exploration zone comprising:

• at least one set of seismic receivers, distributed over the zone in a plurality of groups, for receiving seismic signals in response to elastic waves transmitted in a subsoil of the exploration zone from seismic source;
• a plurality of local units, each local unit including seismic equipment and a programmed control for acquisition of seismic signals from a different group of receivers of each group of receivers, monitoring the local seismic equipment and processing seismic data corresponding to received seismic signals and a transmitter for transmitting seismic data;
• local monitoring and concentration units, each local monitoring and concentration unit communicating with an associated plurality of local units in the plurality of the plurality of local units with bidirectional transmission channels and managing transmissions to and from the plurality of local units;
• and
• a plurality of local central stations, each local central station including one of the local monitoring and concentration units and a control unit having a programmed control associated with a data base for storing selected parameters and seismic signals, for performing a set of functions divided into tasks allowing checking of execution of programs assigned to the programmed control of the associated plurality of local units, each task comprising computer-integrated programs in the local central station and each local unit dedicated to a specific process, and means for determining the tasks performed by the control.

A method for controlling acquisition, transmission and control of operation of seismic equipment installed in an exploration zone, including a set of seismic receivers distributed over the zone in a plurality of groups for receiving seismic signals in response to elastic waves transmitted in a subsoil of the exploration zone from a seismic source, a plurality of local units, each local unit being provided with equipment for acquiring seismic signals received from a different group of receivers, a transmitter, a control unit having a programmed control provided with programs for executing operations of acquisition of the seismic signals received by the different group of receivers, monitoring of the equipment, processing of the seismic signals and controlling selective transmission of data comprising:

• monitoring execution of the programs by the local units by connecting different subassemblies of the local units selectively, through first communication links having a shorter range, respectively to a local central station each including a local monitoring and concentration unit and a control unit having a programmed control provided with programs for synchronizing the selectively connected local units and controlling execution of tasks by the local units;
• and
• using another central station connected, through second communication links having a longer range, not coupled to the first communication links, for synchronizing and controlling of the local stations, the another central station comprising a control provided with programs for carrying out operations of initialization, synchronization, configuration and monitoring and for controlling seismic operations and selective delegation to different local units execution of tasks by the local units.

A decentralized system for controlling acquisition, transmission and control operations of seismic equipment installed in an exploration zone comprising:

• at least one set of seismic receivers, distributed over the zone in a plurality of groups, for receiving seismic signals in response to elastic waves transmitted in the subsoil of the exploration zone from a seismic source;
• a plurality of local units, each local unit including seismic equipment and a programmed control for acquisition of seismic signals from a different group of receivers of each group of receivers, monitoring the local seismic equipment and processing seismic data corresponding to the received seismic signals and transmitter for transmitting seismic data;
• a plurality of local monitoring and concentration units, each local monitoring and concentration unit communicating with an associated plurality of local units in the plurality of local units with bidirectional transmission channels and managing transmissions to and from the plurality of local units;
• and
• a plurality of local central stations, each local central station including one of the local monitoring and concentration units and a control unit for performing a set of functions divided into tasks, having a programmed microcomputer provided with programs for managing tasks relative to an acquisition of seismic data, exchanges of data at least with the associated plurality of local units, configuration, monitoring, synchronization and quality control of the seismic equipment, and for selectively delegating tasks to the associated plurality of local units and to a concentration unit for managing communications with the associated plurality of local units allowing checking of execution of programs associated with the programmed control of each local unit, and an associated local concentration unit.

A decentralized system for controlling acquisition, transmission and control operations of seismic equipment installed in an exploration zone comprising:

• at least one set of seismic receivers, distributed over the zone in a plurality of groups, for receiving seismic signals in response to elastic waves transmitted in the subsoil of the exploration zone from a seismic source;
• a plurality of local units, each local unit including seismic equipment and a programmed control for acquisition of seismic signals from a different group of receivers of each group of receivers, monitoring the local seismic equipment and processing seismic data corresponding to the received seismic signals and a transmitter for transmitting seismic data;
• local monitoring and concentration units, each local monitoring and concentration unit communicating with an associated plurality of local units in the plurality of local units with bidirectional transmission channels and for managing transmissions to and from the plurality of local units;
• and
• a plurality of local central stations, each local central station including one of the local monitoring and concentration units and a control unit have a programmed control for performing a set of functions divided into tasks, each defined at least by a function, data and control instructions necessary for execution thereof and interruption rules, allowing checking of execution of programs assigned to the programmed control of each local unit, and an associated local concentration unit.