IP Library › Granted Patent US 12693442
Granted Patent B2
US 12693442 · App. 18/800,986 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Marine seismic acquisition system

Inventor: Nicolae Moldoveanu (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
G01V1/189G01V1/20G01V1/38G01V1/3826G01V1/3835G01V2001/207G01V2210/144
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693442
App. No.
18/800,986
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A marine seismic acquisition system includes a frame that includes a central longitudinal axis and members that define orthogonal planes that intersect along the central longitudinal axis; a data interface operatively coupled to the frame; hydrophones operatively coupled to the frame; a buoyancy engine operatively coupled to the frame where the buoyancy engine includes at least one mechanism that controls buoyancy of at least the frame, the hydrophones and the buoyancy engine; and at least one inertial motion sensor operatively coupled to the frame that generates frame orientation data, where the hydrophones, the buoyancy engine and the at least one inertial motion sensor are operatively coupled to the data interface.

Claims (40)

1 . A system, comprising:

a sensor array configured to couple to a vessel, wherein the sensor array comprises:

at least three members arranged parallel to each other and configured to form a triangular prism shape, wherein the at least three members are configured to be positioned in a vertical position while underwater; and

a plurality of seismic sensors mounted to each of the at least three members; and

at least two components configured to maintain a buoyancy of the sensor array while underwater at a depth, wherein the at least two components comprise:

a first collar configured to couple to each of the at least three members at a first position, wherein the first collar forms a circular shape, and wherein the triangular prism shape is positioned within the first collar; and

a second collar configured to couple to each of the at least three members at a second position opposite the first position, wherein the second collar forms the circular shape, and wherein the triangular prism shape is positioned within the second collar.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensors comprises a plurality of hydrophones.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensors comprises a plurality of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers configured to measure water particle acceleration.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensors is positioned in a plurality of locations disposed on each of the at least three members.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein each location of the plurality of locations is spaced apart by a distance determined as a function of signal-to-noise (SNR) threshold associated with separating an upgoing seismic wavefield from a downgoing seismic wavefield of seismic data acquired by the plurality of seismic sensors.

6 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

an orientation device configured to couple to the second collar;

a steering device configured to couple to the second collar; and

an engine thruster configured to couple to the steering device.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the orientation device is configured to assist with controlling an orientation of the sensor array while underwater.

8 . A seismic acquisition system, comprising:

a vessel;

a sensor array configured to be coupled to the vessel via a cord, wherein the sensor array comprises:

at least three members arranged parallel to each other and configured to form a triangular prism shape, wherein the at least three members are configured to be positioned in a vertical position while underwater;

a plurality of seismic sensors mounted to each of the at least three members; and

at least two components configured to maintain a buoyancy of the sensor array while underwater at a depth, wherein the at least two components comprise:

a first collar configured to couple to each of the at least three members at a first position, wherein the first collar forms a circular shape, and wherein the triangular prism shape is positioned within the first collar; and

a second collar configured to couple to each of the at least three members at a second position opposite the first position, wherein the second collar forms the circular shape, and wherein the triangular prism shape is positioned within the second collar.

9 . The seismic acquisition system of claim 8 , wherein the vessel is unmanned.

10 . The seismic acquisition system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensors comprises a plurality of hydrophones, a plurality of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers, or both.

11 . The seismic acquisition system of claim 8 , comprising a processor configured to determine an orientation of the sensor array based on one or more measurements acquired from a plurality of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers.

12 . The seismic acquisition system of claim 8 , comprising:

an orientation device configured to couple to the second collar;

a steering device configured to couple to the second collar; and

an engine thruster configured to couple to the steering device.

13 . The seismic acquisition system of claim 8 , wherein a number of the at least two components is based on the depth of the sensor array while underwater.

14 . A sensor system, comprising:

a sensor array configured to couple to a vessel, wherein the sensor array comprises:

a first member, a second member, and a third member arranged parallel to each other and configured to form a triangular prism shape, wherein the first member, the second member, and the third member are configured to be positioned in a vertical position while underwater; and

a plurality of seismic sensors mounted to each of the first member, the second member, and the third member; and

a first component and a second component coupled to the sensor array and configured to maintain a buoyancy of the sensor array while underwater at a depth, wherein the first component is configured to couple to the first member, the second member, and the third member at a first position, wherein the first component forms a circular shape, wherein the triangular prism shape is positioned within the first component, wherein the second component is configured to couple to the first member, the second member, and the third member at a second position opposite the first position, wherein the second component forms the circular shape, and wherein the triangular prism shape is positioned within the second component.

15 . The sensor system of claim 14 , wherein a positioning system is coupled to the sensor array comprising an orientation device, an engine thruster, and a steering device, wherein the positioning system is configured to orient and move the sensor array to an orientation and a location.

16 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the steering device is configured to position the sensor array such that the at least three members are arranged in the vertical position while underwater.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the engine thruster is configured to cause the sensor array to move while underwater.