Apparatus, systems and methods for seabed data acquisition

A seabed sensor unit comprising a base, the base supporting:

• at least one sensor able to detect signal data selected from seismic signal data, EM signal data, and both types of signal data;
• an electronics unit comprising one or more electronic components enabling the signal data to be communicated to memory modules in the sensor unit, the memory modules releasable from the sensor unit individually via a remote signal;
• an autonomous power source for powering the electronics unit;
• a receiver unit adapted to selectively trigger release of less than all of the memory modules as desired;
• and
• a clock for synchronizing operation of the seabed sensor unit.

A system comprising:

• one or more seabed sensor units stationed on a seabed floor, one or more of the sensor units comprising at least one sensor able to detect signal data selected from seismic signal data, EM signal data, and both types of signal data;
• an electronics unit comprising one or more electronic components enabling the signal data to be communicated to one or more memory modules in the sensor unit;
• an autonomous power source for powering the electronics unit;
• a local data transfer unit and a clock for synchronizing operation of the seabed sensor unit;
• and
• a hub stationed on the seabed floor to communicate with the local data transfer unit to retrieve seismic data from the one or more memory modules.

A method comprising:

• a) initiating an acoustic signal through a water column and into a seabed from a seismic source;
• b) measuring reflected seismic signals at one or more seabed seismic sensor units positioned at original locations on the seabed, at least one of the sensor units comprising at least one sensor able to detect seismic signal data;
• an electronics unit comprising one or more electronic components enabling the seismic signal data to be communicated to one or more memory modules;
• an autonomous power source for powering the electronics unit;
• a local data transfer unit allowing communication of at least some of the signal data from the one or more memory modules to a hub;
• and a clock for synchronizing operation of the seabed sensor unit;
• c) retrieving the seismic signal data from one or more of the seabed seismic sensor units while leaving the sensor units intact on the seabed in their original locations, the retrieving comprising using one of the seabed seismic sensor units as the hub and transmitting the data through a wire connection to a buoy, which in turn transmits the data to a surface vessel;
• and
• d) optionally, repeating steps (a) through (c).