Discrete electric seismic source
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorsPeter M. Eick, Joel D. Brewer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. Preferably, a foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground in a rapid progression, acoustic energy is created and delivered into the ground for geophones to sense and record.
Claims8
A vibratory seismic source for delivering acoustic energy into the ground for seismic prospecting, the source comprising:
- a) a vehicle chassis;
- b) a generator for creating electric power;
- c) a plurality of linear motors arranged in a grid and each including a rod that is arranged to move generally vertically to contact the ground with a lower end of the rod;
- d) a control system for controlling movement of the rods such that the rods vibrate the ground and deliver acoustic energy into the ground;
- and
- e) a plurality of wheels on which to convey the source from location to location;
- and
- f) at least one electrically powered motor electrically connected to the generator to drive the one or more of the plurality of wheels and power the source from location to location.
A process for delivering acoustic energy into the earth for seismic prospecting, the process comprising:
- a) creating electric power on a mobile seismic source;
- b) using the electric power on the mobile seismic to move the seismic source to a selected location;
- c) using the electric power to move a rod of a plurality of linear electric motors arranged in a grid, wherein the movement of the rod is generally vertically to contact the ground with a lower end of the rod at the selected location;
- d) controlling the movement of the rods such that the rods vibrate the ground and deliver acoustic energy into the earth;
- and
- e) using the electric power on the mobile seismic to move the seismic source to another selected location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.