Continuous data seismic system

A seismic data system comprising:

• at least one seismic data acquisition subsystem for continuously acquiring seismic data generated by a seismic source having a GPS start time controlled by a seismic navigation system, the seismic data comprising reflected precursor data;
• GPS apparatus for providing current GPS time tags for seismic data acquired by the at least one seismic data acquisition subsystem;
• and
• an interface for continuously transmitting acquired seismic data and associated GPS information to a recording system wherein the at least one seismic data acquisition subsystem is operable for acquiring seismic precursor data and transmitting data to a data server, independently of the GPS event start time.

A seismic data acquisition system comprising:

• a seismic navigation system for controlling a GPS start time for at least one seismic energy source;
• a plurality of seismic data acquisition subsystems for acquiring seismic data, GPS apparatus for associating a GPS time tag to seismic data acquired by at least one of the seismic data acquisition systems;
• at least one of the seismic data acquisition subsystems operable independently of the start time of the seismic source;
• a data server subsystem for intermediate storage and retrieval of seismic data acquired by the seismic data acquisition subsystems, the data server subsystem able to use the GPS time tags as an identifying parameter for the acquired seismic data for storage and retrieval;
• an event processor for non-real-time association of GPS time tagged acquired seismic data with corresponding GPS time tagged cycling event times;
• an operator console for configuration, control, and real time monitoring of seismic data acquisition subsystems;
• and
• the seismic data acquisition subsystems further comprising acquisition apparatus for continuously acquiring seismic data without associated dead time related to seismic energy source events initiated by the at least one seismic energy source.

A data reduction method comprising the steps of:

• continuously recording geophysical seismic data independent of a GPS start time for a seismic event;
• continuously recording the current GPS time along with the continuously recorded geophysical seismic data as GPS time stamp information;
• and
• selecting a portion of the continuously recorded geophysical data recorded between a first earlier GPS time and a second later GPS time wherein the data record selected comprises a reconstruction of data recorded before and after the seismic event.

A method for acquiring seismic data comprising:

• generating seismic data with a seismic energy system having a seismic energy source;
• controlling a seismic energy source GPS start time with a seismic navigation system;
• navigating the seismic energy system with a seismic navigation system;
• continuously acquiring seismic data generated by the seismic energy system with a data acquisition system;
• receiving current GPS time with a data system reception apparatus in the data acquisition system;
• and
• selectively recording seismic data independently of the seismic navigation system GPS start time.

A seismic data system comprising:

• at least one seismic energy source, having a GPS start time controlled by a seismic navigation system;
• at least one seismic data acquisition subsystem for acquiring seismic precursor data, the seismic precursor data comprising seismic reflections generated by at least one seismic source;
• GPS apparatus for providing current GPS time;
• the at least one seismic data acquisition subsystem for continuously acquiring seismic data and current GPS time, independent of the GPS start time of the seismic energy source;
• and
• an interface for continuously transmitting acquired seismic data and GPS time from the data acquisition subsystem to a data server.