Method and apparatus for seismic exploration
AssigneeProvidence technologies, Inc.
InventorsThomas R. Morgan, James C. Manatt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure identifies method and apparatus for seismic exploration which may be used to provide improved positioning of land-based seismic sources in an array. Also described are methods which make use of the improved positioning to allow, in some examples, improved direction or distribution of the energy beam resulting from actuation of the sources. Some methods make use of the described techniques to steer the energy beam; and in some cases at each source or a distribution location, multiple shots will be taken to distribute the beam in multiple orientations relative to the central source point.
Claims18
A method of land-based seismic exploration, comprising the acts of:
- positioning a plurality of vibratory seismic sources in a source array at the earth surface, the plurality of vibratory seismic sources including first and second vibratory seismic sources;
- establishing the relative locations of said first and second vibratory seismic sources in reference to a desired energy beam propagation axis;
- positioning a plurality of seismic receivers in a receiver array proximate the earth surface;
- determining first and second initiation times for said plurality of seismic sources in reference to the established positioning of said first and second seismic sources, wherein a first seismic source is initiated at a first initiation time, and a second seismic source is initiated at a second initiation time;
- initiating said plurality of vibratory seismic sources, where the initiation of said first and second seismic sources results in the creation of an energy beam propagating along an axis, and wherein the difference between said first and second initiation times is determined in a reference to the desired angular offset of said energy propagation axis relative to an axis extending generally perpendicular to the earth's surface supporting said first and second seismic sources;
- and
- receiving seismic data at the receivers, such data generated in response to the initiation of the plurality of seismic sources.
A method of operating vibratory seismic sources in a land-based system, comprising the acts of:
- placing at least first and second vibratory seismic sources generally in accordance with a predetermined configuration;
- determining the relative positions of the first and second vibratory seismic sources at a control system through use of a positioning system in communication with the control system through a wireless communication link;
- based on the determined positions of said sources, determining an actuation interval between actuation of said first and second sources;
- sending signals from said control system through a wireless communication link to initiate said sources in accordance with said determined actuation interval.
A system for use in a land-based seismic exploration system having a plurality of vibratory sources and a plurality of receivers, comprising:
- a trigger unit in at least selective communication with each source in said plurality of sources, and configured to transmit an initiation signal to each source;
- a control unit in at least periodic communication with the trigger unit, the control unit configured to receive data related to the positions of each source of the plurality of sources, the control unit comprising one or more processors;
- a machine-readable medium in operative communication with the one or more processors, the machine readable medium including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,
- determining an initiation time for each source, in response to the surface positions of each source and further in response to a planned axis of propagation of the main energy beam pointing resulting from actuation of said sources;
- communicating initiation signals to sources in accordance with said determined initiation times.
A method of land-based seismic exploration, comprising the acts of:
- providing a plurality of seismic sources, each seismic source having an associated positioning device and a wireless communication device;
- providing a control system, wherein said control system is in at least selective wireless communication with said seismic sources;
- receiving wireless communications at said control system, said communications identifying the position of each seismic source;
- determining at least one operating parameter for said seismic sources, said first operating parameter comprising at least one of a source trigger offset between actuation of at least first and second sources of said plurality of sources and a positioning change of at least first and second sources;
- implementing said operating parameter to actuate said seismic sources.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.