Submarine deployed ocean bottom seismic system
AssigneeWesternGeco L.L.C.
InventorsLoran D. Ambs, Duncan Riley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and vehicle to deploy and retrieve seismic apparatus to and from the ocean bottom and to acquire data from the seismic apparatus. Submersible robotic vessels deploy and retrieve the seismic apparatus to the ocean bottom to depths of up to 5,000 meters. The vessel can separate from the seismic apparatus and return to resume seismic operations. A robotic arm manipulates the seismic apparatus and attaches them to the ocean bottom utilizing fasteners to actively couple the seismic apparatus to the ocean bottom.
Claims18
A autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) comprising:
- an assembly comprising a cable section and a sensor, the assembly separably stored in the AUV;
- a storage reel in the AUV for deploying the assembly from the AUV to an ocean floor and for retrieving the assembly from the ocean floor;
- a controller/processor for performing a diagnostic on the sensor before deployment of the assembly;
- and
- a robot arm for replacing inoperable sensors before manipulating the assembly for at least one of deployment and retrieval.
A method for deploying an assembly of cable and seonsors on an ocean bottom using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) comprising the steps of:
- deploying a first assembly comprising a cable section and sensor separable stored in the AUV;
- retrieving the assembly from the ocean floor;
- performing a diagnostic to determine if the sensor is inoperable before deploying the sensor;
- and
- operating a robot arm for placing the sensor before deployment if the sensor is inoperable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.