IP Library Granted Patent US 11,131,785
Granted Patent B2
US 11,131,785 · App. 16/782,180 · Granted Sep 28, 2021

Method and system for deployment of ocean bottom seismometers

Inventors: James N. Thompson (Sugar Land, TX); Clifford H. Ray (Fulshear, TX); Glenn D. Fisseler (Sugar Land, TX); Roger L. Fyffe (Sugar Land, TX)
Assignee: Magseis FF LLC
G01V1/3852B63B22/00B63B22/18B63C11/00B63G8/00B63G8/001G01V1/3861B63B2211/02B63G2008/004B63G2008/005B63G2008/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,131,785
App. No.
16/782,180
Granted
Sep 28, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for deployment of ocean bottom seismic receivers into a body of water having a surface and a seabed. The system can include a remote operated vehicle (ROV) comprising a first wireless communication device. The system can include a seismic data receiver deployed on the seabed comprising a second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device can be configured to communicate with the second wireless communication device. The ROV can move to a position adjacent to the seismic data receiver. The ROV can establish a wireless link with the seismic data receiver via the first communication device and second wireless communication device.

Claims (58)

1. A system for deployment of ocean bottom seismic data receivers into a body of water having a surface and a seabed, comprising:

a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) comprising a first wireless communication device;

a seismic data receiver deployed on the seabed comprising a second wireless communication device, the first wireless communication device configured to communicate with the second wireless communication device, wherein the first wireless communication device and second wireless communication device each include at least one of an electromagnetic modem, a radio frequency modem, an acoustic modem, or an optical modem;

the ROV further configured to:

move to a position adjacent to the seismic data receiver; and

establish a wireless link with the seismic data receiver via the first communication device and second wireless communication device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless communication device is attached to the ROV and the second wireless communication device is attached to the seismic data receiver, the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device each includes at least one of a wireless modem, an acoustic communication device, an electromagnetic communication device, an optical communication device, a radio frequency communication device, or an inductive communication device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless link includes at least one of an electromagnetic link, radio frequency link, optical link, acoustic link, and inductive link.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ROV is further configured to:

activate the seismic data receiver via at least one of the second wireless communication device or the wireless link;

operate the seismic data receiver via at least one of the second wireless communication device or the wireless link; and

perform quality control via the wireless link.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ROV is further configured to:

initiate an operation of the seismic data receiver prior to deployment;

instruct, via the wireless link, the seismic data receiver to record at or near a time the seismic data receiver is deployed; and

initiate, via the wireless link, recording of the seismic data receiver at or near the time the seismic data receiver is deployed.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ROV is further configured to:

monitor the seismic data receiver via at least one of the second wireless communication device or the wireless link; and

control a function of the seismic data receiver via the at least one of the second wireless communication device or the wireless link.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seismic data receiver is recording data, and wherein the ROV is further configured to:

stop recording of the seismic data receiver via the second wireless communication device;

change recording parameters of the seismic data receiver via the second wireless communication device; and

perform tests via the second wireless communication device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seismic data receiver is recording data, and wherein the ROV is further configured to:

retrieve the data from the seismic data receiver via the wireless communication device,

wherein the ROV and the seismic data receiver are within wireless communication range.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ROV is further configured to:

initiate an operation of the seismic data receiver via the wireless link; and

evaluate the operation of the seismic data receiver via the wireless link.

10. A method of deploying ocean bottom seismic data receivers into a body of water having a surface and a seabed, comprising:

providing a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with a first wireless communication device;

providing a seismic data receiver with a second wireless communication device;

configuring the first wireless communication device to communicate with the second wireless communication device;

deploying the seismic data receiver on the seabed;

guiding the ROV to a position adjacent the deployed seismic data receiver;

establishing a wireless link between the ROV and the seismic data receiver via the first and second wireless communication devices;

activating, by the ROV, the seismic data receiver via at least one of the second wireless communication device or the wireless link;

operating, by the ROV, the seismic data receiver via at least one of the second wireless communication device or the wireless link; and

performing, by the ROV, quality control via the wireless link.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first wireless communication device is attached to the ROV and the second wireless communication device is attached to the seismic data receiver, the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device each include at least one of a wireless modem, an acoustic communication device, an electromagnetic communication device, an optical communication device, a radio frequency communication device, or an inductive communication device.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless link includes at least one of an electromagnetic link, radio frequency link, optical link, acoustic link, and inductive link.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second wireless communication devices each include at least one of an electromagnetic modem, a radio frequency modem, an acoustic modem, and an optical modem.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

initiating, by the ROV, an operation of the seismic data receiver prior to deployment;

instructing, by the ROV, via the wireless link, the seismic data receiver to record at or near a time the seismic data receiver is deployed; and

initiating, by the ROV, via the wireless link, recording of the seismic data receiver at or near the time the seismic data receiver is deployed.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

monitoring, by the ROV, the seismic data receiver via at least one of the second wireless communication device or the wireless link; and

controlling, by the ROV, a function of the seismic data receiver via the at least one of the second wireless communication device or the wireless link.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the seismic data receiver is recording data, the method further comprises:

stopping, by the ROV, recording of the seismic data receiver via the second wireless communication device;

changing, by the ROV, recording parameters of the seismic data receiver via the second wireless communication device; and

performing, by the ROV, tests via the second wireless communication device.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the seismic data receiver is recording data, and the method further comprises:

retrieving, by the ROV, the data from the seismic data receiver via the wireless communication device,

wherein the ROV and the seismic data receiver are within wireless communication range.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

initiating, by the ROV, an operation of the seismic data receiver via the wireless link; and evaluating, by the ROV, the operation of the seismic data receiver via the wireless link.

Assignments (5)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 9, 2024
From: MAGSEIS FF LLC
To: KROLL TRUSTEE SERVICES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 069547/0418 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2024
From: MAGSEIS FF LLC
To: DANSKE BANK A/S
Reel/Frame 067606/0766 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: THOMPSON, JAMES N.; RAY, CLIFFORD H.; FISSELER, GLENN D.; FYFFE, ROGER L.
To: FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 051722/0803 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
To: FAIRFIELD SEISMIC TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 051815/0792 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: FAIRFIELD SEISMIC TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: MAGSEIS FF LLC
Reel/Frame 051815/0877 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14158601 · Jan 17, 2014
Continuation 13195198 · Aug 1, 2011
Continuation 11711353 · Feb 27, 2007
Continuation 11037031 · Jan 17, 2005
Related Publication 20200174148A1 · Jun 4, 2020