Method for managing shots in a multi-vessel seismic system

A non-transitory computer-readable carrier medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer or a processor, causes the computer or the processor to carry out a method for managing shots in a multi-vessel seismic system comprising a scheduler shooter vessel and at least one slave shooter vessel, said method comprising, for each said slave shooter vessel:

• a) computing a series of first theoretical shot times, as a function of a speed value of the scheduler shooter vessel and shot points associated to the scheduler shooter vessel, each first theoretical shot time being associated to one of the next shots of the scheduler shooter vessel;
• b) computing, as a function of a speed value of the slave shooter vessel and shot points associated to the slave shooter vessel, a series of second theoretical shot times each associated to one of the next shots of the slave shooter vessel;
• c) computing, as a function of the series of first theoretical shot times, a series of interpolated virtual shot times comprising at least the interpolated virtual shot times associated to the shots immediately before and after the next shots of the slave shooter vessel;
• d) computing, as a function of the series of first theoretical shot times, the series of interpolated virtual shot times and a minimum shot time interval, shooting time windows each associated to one of the next shots of the slave shooter vessel;
• and
• e) for each next shot of the slave shooter vessel:
• if the associated second theoretical shot time is in the associated shooting time window, selecting as predicted shot time the associated second theoretical shot time;
• otherwise, selecting as predicted shot time the border of the associated shooting time window which is the closest from the associated second theoretical shot time.

A multi-vessel seismic system comprising:

• a scheduler shooter vessel;
• at least one slave shooter vessel;
• and
• the following means for managing shots, which are integrated in said scheduler shooter vessel and/or in said at least one slave shooter vessel:
• means for computing, for each said slave shooter vessel, a series of first theoretical shot times, as a function of a speed value of the scheduler shooter vessel and shot points associated to the scheduler shooter vessel, each first theoretical shot time being associated to one of the next shots of the scheduler shooter vessel;
• means for computing, as a function of a speed value of the slave shooter vessel and shot points associated to the slave shooter vessel, a series of second theoretical shot times each associated to one of the next shots of the slave shooter vessel;
• means for computing, as a function of the series of first theoretical shot times, a series of interpolated virtual shot times comprising at least the interpolated virtual shot times associated to the shots immediately before and after the next shots of the slave shooter vessel;
• means for computing, as a function of the series of first theoretical shot times, the series of interpolated virtual shot times and a minimum shot time interval, shooting time windows each associated to one of the next shots of the slave shooter vessel;
• and
• means for selecting, which operates as follows, for each next shot of the slave shooter vessel:
• if the associated second theoretical shot time is in the associated shooting time window, the means for selecting select as predicted shot time the associated second theoretical shot time;
• otherwise, the means for selecting select as predicted shot time the border of the associated shooting time window which is the closest from the associated second theoretical shot time.