Methods and underwater bases for using autonomous underwater vehicles for marine seismic surveys
A method for cycling autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that record seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The method includes deploying plural current AUVs on the ocean bottom; recording the seismic signals during the marine seismic survey with plural current AUVs; releasing from an underwater base a new AUV to replace a corresponding current AUV from the plural current AUVs; recovering the current AUV; and continuing to record the seismic signals with the new AUV.
1. A system for the deployment or retrieval of seismic nodes on or near the seabed, comprising
an underwater base coupled to a surface vessel, wherein the underwater base stores a plurality of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), wherein each of the AUVs comprises one or more seismic sensors and a propulsion system,
wherein the underwater base is configured to be lowered and raised from the surface vessel to a subsea position with the plurality of AUVs; and
wherein the underwater base comprises a control system for launching one or more of the plurality of AUVs from the underwater base.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the underwater base acts both as a launching base and a recovery base.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the underwater base comprises an inlet part for receiving the plurality of AUVs and a storing part for storing the plurality of AUVs.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the inlet part is configured to detect and identify an AUV during entrance into the underwater base.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the storing part comprises a chamber.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of AUVs are stacked in the storing part.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the underwater base comprises one or more stacks for storing the plurality of AUVs.
8. A method for the deployment of a plurality of seismic nodes on or near the seabed, comprising
storing a first plurality of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in an underwater base, wherein each AUV comprises one or more seismic sensors and a propulsion system;
lowering the underwater base from a surface vessel to a subsea location;
launching the first plurality of AUVs from the underwater base while the underwater base is coupled to the surface vessel; and
deploying each of the first plurality of AUVs at a position on the seabed.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the launching step is based on communications from the underwater base.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising guiding the first plurality of AUVs to one or more seabed locations based on communications provided by the underwater base.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising unlocking the first plurality of AUVs prior to launching them from the underwater base.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising maintaining with a heave compensated crane the underwater base during deployment of the first plurality of AUVs.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the launching step is performed sequentially for each of the first plurality of AUVs.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
lifting the underwater base to the surface vessel;
storing a second plurality of AUVs in the underwater base;
lowering the underwater base to a subsea position; and
launching the second plurality of AUVs from the underwater base.
15. A method for the retrieval of a plurality of seismic nodes on or near the seabed, comprising
deploying an underwater base from a surface vessel to a subsea location;
recovering a plurality of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) into the underwater base while the underwater base is coupled to the surface vessel, wherein each AUV comprises one or more seismic sensors and a propulsion system; and
lifting the underwater base from the subsea location to the surface vessel with the plurality of AUVs.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising guiding the plurality of AUVs to the underwater base based on communications provided by the underwater base.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising storing the plurality of AUVs in one or more stacks in the underwater base.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising detecting and identifying each of the plurality of AUVs as the AUV enters the underwater base.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising instructing each of the plurality of AUVs to turn off its propulsion system as the AUV enters the underwater base.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the recovery step is performed sequentially for each of the plurality of AUVs.