Abstract: Methods for selecting a receiver line orientation for a seismic data acquisition array and methods for performing a seismic survey using the selected receiver line orientation are provided herein. A method of selecting a 3D seismic data acquisition array comprising: selecting a survey area, determining the location of a plurality of source lines in the survey area, pre-planning a plurality of receiver line grids with differing orientations, assigning a cell grid to each receiver line grid, generating a fold level for each cell in each receiver line grid, determining a fold variation for each receiver line grid, and selecting a receiver line grid from the plurality of receiver line grids with the lowest fold variation.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software that are configured to permit a seismic data acquisition module to switch between GNSS systems according to which system at a given time is determined to provide the best signal characteristics for acquiring accurate positional and timing data regarding the precise geographic location of the seismic data acquisition module when it is deployed in the field, and the corresponding times at which seismic data are acquired and recorded thereby.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software that are configured to permit a seismic data acquisition module to switch between a data acquisition operational mode and a USB data downloading mode according to the sensed polarity of an external power supply that is connected to the module.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software that are configured to illuminate or image the permeability field around or near a well that is to be fracked, both prior to fracking and after various fracking stages. The methods and corresponding hardware and software disclosed herein permit the progress of the fracking operation to be monitored at different stages.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software configured to permit the vicinity around and/or near a well to be imaged, where the well is being subjected to, or has been subjected to, fracking operations. The methods and corresponding hardware and software permit the generation of images of near-well fractures or faults resulting from the fracking.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of methods and systems for a 3D seismic data acquisition array, comprising: a first plurality of receiver positions, substantially equally spaced along a first plurality of substantially parallel and substantially equally spaced receiver lines; a second plurality of receiver positions, substantially equally spaced along a second plurality of substantially parallel and substantially equally spaced receiver lines, wherein the receiver lines in the second plurality of receiver lines are substantially orthogonal to the receiver lines in the first plurality of receiver lines; a plurality of source positions, the source positions being located along a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially equally spaced source lines that are substantially parallel to one of the diagonals of the rectangles formed by the first plurality of receiver lines and the second plurality of receiver lines.

Abstract: A method of deploying a seismic recorder array on a seafloor is disclosed. The seismic recorder array comprises a plurality of removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of forming the seismic recorder array by connecting a plurality of recorder housings in series, wherein adjacent recorder housings are connected by a connector cable. The recorder housings are configured to retain the removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of loading the plurality of removable seismic data recorders in the recorder housings, and lowering the seismic recorder array into water until the seismic recorder array is positioned on the seafloor underlying the water. The method comprises the step of operating the seismic data recorders to detect seismic signal reflections and to record seismic data representing the reflections.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides for an apparatus for detecting geophysical energy. The apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive geophysical energy and to convert the geophysical energy into a signal. The apparatus further includes a signal transport device configured to accept the signal and relay the signal to a remote location. The apparatus also includes a fluid conduit configured to contain a pressurized fluid, a production tubing, and an expansible section disposed inline in the fluid conduit. The expansible section is positioned between the production tubing and the receiver, and is configured to expand in response to an increase of fluid pressure within said conduit. When expanded, the expansible section presses against the production tubing and the receiver and thereby causes the receiver to be moved from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A clamped receiver array using tubing conveyed packer elements is disclosed and described. The receiver array can be used for borehole seismology as well as marine bottom surface seismology. The receiver array has a plurality of receivers connected together by a signal cable. The apparatus is further provided with a fluid conduit running essentially parallel to the signal cable. The fluid conduit has a plurality of receiver deployment sections which are located proximate to respective receivers. The receiver deployment sections are responsive to an increase in pressure within the fluid conduit, causing the receiver deployment sections to operate to press the receiver against the inside of a wellbore or to a marine bottom surface. In one example the receiver deployment section uses pistons disposed in openings in the fluid conduit to push the receivers away from the conduit as pressure in the conduit is increased.

Abstract: A clamped receiver array using coiled tubing conveyed packer elements is disclosed and described. The receiver array is adapted to be received within a borehole and is therefore particularly useful for borehole seismology. The receiver array has a plurality of receivers connected together by a signal cable. The receivers include sensors which can be 3-component geophones. The apparatus is further provided with a fluid conduit running essentially parallel to the signal cable, the fluid conduit having expansible sections located adjacent to the receivers. The expansible sections expand in response to an increase of fluid pressure within the fluid conduit, contacting the associated receiver and thereby pushing the receiver into a coupled or clamped contact with the casing in the wellbore.

Abstract: To eliminate undesirable energy recorded during seismic surveying, a trace that models the undesirable energy on the recorded data trace is prepared. The model trace is first estimated using a suitable technique, such as wavefield extrapolation. Then, the model trace is modified using a best estimate of the amplitude, phase and time delay differences between the model trace and the data trace. The estimated amplitude, phase and time delay differences may be used to design a cross-equalization filter, which is used to cross-equalize the model trace with the data trace. Alternatively, the best estimate determination may include using a weighted sum of the model trace, its imaginary component, and their derivatives. When weighted and summed together, these components form a cross-equalized model trace that closely approximates the undesirable energy on the recorded data trace. Lastly, the cross-equalized model trace is subtracted from the data trace to substantially eliminate the undesirable energy.

Abstract: A method for precisely adjusting the sensitivity of a polarized crystal hydrophone by applying a voltage signal to the hydrophone. Voltage pulses having selected characteristics are repeatedly applied to the crystal until it is determined that the sensitivity of the crystal has reached a desired level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling a jacketed signal conduit with a blocking material are provided. The blocking material is injected into the jacketed signal conduit such that the blocking material occupies space within the jacketed signal conduit not occupied by the signal conduit. The injected blocking material inhibits fluid intrusion and migration between the signal conduit jacket and the signal conduit.

Abstract: In dual-sensor, bottom-cable marine seismic exploration where hydrophone/geophone pairs are deployed on the marine bottom, coupling imperfections between the geophones and the marine bottom contribute to differences between the impulse response of the geophones and the impulse response of the hydrophones. To correct for the coupling imperfection, a filter is designed which compensates for the inherent impulse response differences as well as response differences caused by the imperfect coupling. Preferably, the filter is designed using a calibration procedure prior to production shooting. First, the response of a hydrophone and geophone to a seismic wave is recorded. Then, these recorded responses are transformed into the frequency domain. Once transformed, the response of the hydrophone is divided by the response of the geophone to produce a filtering function.

Abstract: The present apparatus describes a mechanism used with a lubricatior used for straightening tubing inserted into a well during service operations. The injector incorporates multiple drive chains which carry gripping blocks or mechanisms for engaging the tubing and which provide direct measurement of the travel of the tubing as it is inserted. As tubing is inserted, a sprocket is rotated on engagement with the drive chain and it in turn rotates a shaft supporting a smaller sprocket engaged by a link chain with another sprocket. The various sprockets have selected teeth ratios to provide the requisite proportionate scaling of the system. The last sprocket drives a pulse generator which forms pulses proportionate to tubing insertion into the well.

Abstract: The present invention provides method of interpolating spatially aliased seismic data. This method produces high resolution interpolated data based on a locally planar model of reflection events using a two dimensional power diversity slant stack process that transforms the data from the t-x-y domain to t-xslope-yslope domain. The present invention further provides an improved technique for the 3D interpolation of aliased events and is applicable to the interpolation of 2D seismic data.

Abstract: A shuttle air gun for generating an acoustic output for seismic testing having improved wear rings and seals is provided. The composition of the wear rings includes polytetrafluoroethylene. The composition of the seals includes polyester and Teflon oil. A vent assembly overlying a firing chamber vent check valve eclipsing an firing chamber vent is also provided. The vent assembly limits the movement of an O-ring check valve when compress air is vented from the firing chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating correction signals for use in forming low distortion analog signals. A digital representation of a desired analog waveform is encoded into a digital data signal which is outputted to memory. A digital correction signal is encoded, having an opposite phase and increased amplitude from the signal distortion which it is determined will occur when the digital data signal is repetitively read out of memory and decoded. This digital correction signal is outputted to memory. The digital data and correction signals are repetitively and synchronously read out of memory into a decoder. The decoder converts both digital signals into analog signals, so that the analog correction signal may superpose on the distortion in the analog data signal, resulting in a low distortion analog signal.

Abstract: In dual-sensor, bottom-cable marine seismic exploration where hydrophone/geophone pairs are deployed on the marine bottom, coupling imperfections between the geophones and the marine bottom contribute to differences between the impulse response of the geophones and the impulse response of the hydrophones. To correct for the coupling imperfection, a filter is designed which compensates for the inherent impulse response differences as well as response differences caused by the imperfect coupling. Preferably, the filter is designed using a calibration procedure prior to production shooting. First, the response of a hydrophone and geophone to a calibration wave is recorded. The calibration wave has a magnitude that is similar to the magnitude of a reflected wave that hydrophone and geophone would detect during normal production shooting. These recorded responses are transformed into the frequency domain.

Abstract: A neoprene plug boot is secured to an electrical connector and to portions of a polyurethane-jacketed conduit adjacent the electrical connector. The method of the present invention includes bonding neoprene to a polyurethane surface by etching the polyurethane surface, coating the etched surface with a bonding agent, applying to the coated surface a neoprene film and contacting the neoprene film with a quantity of neoprene under suitable temperature and pressure.