Abstract: A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.

Abstract: A seismic data acquisition positioning apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a seismic data acquisition unit. The unit can include a case having an internal compartment. The unit can include a power source, a clock, a seismic data recorder, a control unit, and at least one sensor disposed within the case. The apparatus can include a hanging unit including a beacon unit. The apparatus can include a connector having a first end coupled with the seismic data acquisition unit and having a second end coupled with the hanging unit. The connector can pivot about the first end of the connector.

Abstract: Systems and methods of near surface imaging and hazard detection with increased receiver spacing are provided. The system includes: a first string of one or more acoustic sources, a second string of one or more acoustic sources opposite the first string, a first one or more hydrophones mounted within a predetermined distance of the first string, and a second one or more hydrophones mounted within the predetermined distance of the second string. The first one or more hydrophones records an acoustic shot generated from the first string. The second one or more hydrophones records the acoustic shot and acoustic reflections corresponding to the acoustic shot. The system generates an image from the recorded acoustic shot and the acoustic reflections.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of facilitating a seismic survey and locating seismic data acquisition units in a marine environment. The system can include a first seismic data acquisition unit. The first seismic data can include a cleat ring to couple the first seismic data acquisition with a second seismic data acquisition unit. The system can include a rope having a first end coupled to a first portion of the first seismic data acquisition unit and a second end coupled to a second portion of the first seismic data acquisition unit. The system can include a cavity formed by the cleat ring. The system can include a telltale component coupled to a portion of the rope. The rope and the telltale component can be stored in the cavity of the first seismic data acquisition unit.

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.

Abstract: A seabed object detection system can include a source array and a data processing system. The source array can include a first source and a second source. The data processing system can include one or more processors. The data processing system can determine a first position of the first source and can identify a first firing time of the second source. The data processing system can initiate a first source shot of the first source at the first position and the second source at the first firing time. The data processing system can determine a target position and estimated position for the first source. The data processing system can determine a second position of the first source based on a difference between the target position and the estimated position. The data processing system can initiate a second source shot of the first source at the second position.

Abstract: Systems and methods of near surface imaging and hazard detection with increased receiver spacing are provided. The system includes: a first string of one or more acoustic sources, a second string of one or more acoustic sources opposite the first string, a first one or more hydrophones mounted within a predetermined distance of the first string, and a second one or more hydrophones mounted within the predetermined distance of the second string. The first one or more hydrophones records an acoustic shot generated from the first string. The second one or more hydrophones records the acoustic shot and acoustic reflections corresponding to the acoustic shot. The system generates an image from the recorded acoustic shot and the acoustic reflections.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides optical link management in a marine seismic environment. A first device can transmit, to a second device, a first optical transmission at a first output level. The first optical transmission can include a first packet corresponding to a network protocol. The first device can determine that the second device failed to receive the first packet via the first optical transmission. The first device can transmit, responsive to failure of the first optical transmission, a second optical transmission at a second output level different than the first output level. The second optical transmission can include a second packet corresponding to the network protocol. The first device can identify that the second packet was successfully received by the second link manager agent. The first device can establish, responsive to the identification that the second packet was successfully received, the second output level as a transmission output level for the first device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of facilitating a seismic survey and locating seismic data acquisition units in a marine environment. The system can include a first seismic data acquisition unit. The first seismic data can include a cleat ring to couple the first seismic data acquisition with a second seismic data acquisition unit. The system can include a rope having a first end coupled to a first portion of the first seismic data acquisition unit and a second end coupled to a second portion of the first seismic data acquisition unit. The system can include a cavity formed by the cleat ring. The system can include a telltale component coupled to a portion of the rope. The rope and the telltale component can be stored in the cavity of the first seismic data acquisition unit.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which uses directly modulated InGaN Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) or InGaN lasers as the transmitters for an underwater data-communication device. The receiver uses automatic gain control to facilitate performance of the apparatus over a wide-range of distances and water turbidities.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method of transferring seismic equipment to and from a marine vessel and subsurface location. In one embodiment, a marine vessel is provided. The marine vessel includes a deck having a plurality of seismic sensor devices stored thereon, two remotely operated vehicles, each comprising a seismic sensor storage compartment, and a seismic sensor transfer device comprising a container for transfer of one or more of the seismic sensor devices from the vessel to the sensor storage compartment of at least one of the two remotely operated vehicles.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a skid structure for underwater seismic exploration. The system can include an underwater vehicle comprising a skid structure. A conveyor is provided in the skid structure. The conveyor includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A capture appliance is provided at the first end of the conveyor. The capture appliance includes an arm to close to hold a case storing one or more ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) units, and to open to release the case. The capture appliance includes an alignment mechanism to align an opening of the case with the first end of the conveyor. A deployment appliance can be at the second end of the conveyor. The deployment appliance can place an OBS unit of the one or more OBS units onto the seabed to acquire seismic data from the seabed.

Abstract: A method of performing a seismic survey including: deploying nodal seismic sensors at positions in a survey region; activating a plurality of seismic sources; and using the nodal seismic sensors to record seismic signals generated in response to the activation of the plurality of signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering seismic data acquisition units to an ocean bottom are provided. A system includes an underwater vehicle including with sensors to determine environmental information. A control unit obtains, based on the environmental information and a policy, an indication to perform a fly-by deployment. The control unit sets an angle of a ramp with respect to a base of the underwater vehicle. The control unit identifies a launch event for a seismic data acquisition unit of a plurality of seismic data acquisition units stored in the underwater vehicle, and deploys the seismic data acquisition unit from the ramp towards the ocean bottom based on the identification of the launch event and the environmental information.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to underwater seismic exploration with a helical conveyor and skid structure. The system can include an underwater vehicle comprising a sensor to identify a case having a hydrodynamic shape, wherein the case stores one or more ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) units. The underwater vehicle includes an arm. The underwater vehicle includes an actuator to position the arm in an open state above a cap of the case, or to close the arm. The underwater vehicle can move the arm to a bottom portion of the case opposite the cap. An opening of the case can be aligned with the conveyor of the underwater vehicle. The conveyor can receive, via the opening of the case, a first OBS unit of the one or more OBS units. The conveyor can move the first OBS unit to the seabed to acquire seismic data from the seabed.

Abstract: A seabed object detection system is provided. The system can include a receiver array. The receiver array can include a plurality of receivers disposed on a plurality of streamers. The plurality of streamers can include a central port side streamer, a central starboard side streamer, an auxiliary port side streamer and an auxiliary starboard side streamer. The system can include a source array. The source array can include a plurality of sources. The plurality of sources can include a central port side source, a central starboard side source, an auxiliary port side source, and an auxiliary port side streamer.

Abstract: A seabed object detection system is provided. The system can include a receiver array. The receiver array can include a plurality of receivers disposed on a plurality of streamers. The plurality of streamers can include a central port side streamer, a central starboard side streamer, an auxiliary port side streamer and an auxiliary starboard side streamer. The system can include a source array. The source array can include a plurality of sources. The plurality of sources can include a central port side source, a central starboard side source, an auxiliary port side source, and an auxiliary port side streamer. The source array towed during a first pass can define a first path. The source array towed during a second pass can define a second path. The first path can be interleaved with the second path such that the first path overlaps the second path.

Abstract: Systems and methods of performing a seismic survey are described. The system can receive seismic data in a first domain, and transform the seismic data into a tau-p domain. The system can identify a value on an envelope in the tau-p domain, select several values on the tau-p envelope using a threshold, and then generate a masking function. The system can combine the masking function with the tau-p transformed seismic data, and then perform an inverse tau-p transform on the combined seismic data. The system can adjust amplitudes in the inverse tau-p transformed combined seismic data, and identify one or more coherent events corresponding to subsea lithologic formations or hydrocarbon deposits.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and apparatus for delivering seismic data acquisition units to, and retrieving from, an underwater vehicle. A sensor storage container can be tethered to a surface vessel, which can move on the surface with a non-zero velocity. The underwater vehicle can include a storage compartment to store seismic data acquisition units and a propulsion system to aid the movement of the underwater vehicle. The underwater vehicle also can include passive and active protrusions for coupling with corresponding receptacles on the sensor storage container. The sensor storage container also can include a propulsion system to aid movement of the sensor storage container. The propulsion systems of both the underwater vehicle and the sensor storage container can be controlled to allow the underwater vehicle and the sensor storage container to couple and allow transfer of seismic data acquisition units.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a helical conveyor for underwater seismic exploration. The system can include a case having a cylindrical portion. A cap is positioned adjacent to a first end of the case. A conveyor having a helix structure is provided within the case. The conveyor can receive an ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) unit at a first end of the conveyer and transport the OBS unit via the helix structure to a second end of the conveyor to provide the OBS unit on the seabed to acquire the seismic data. The system can include a propulsion system to receive an instruction and, responsive to the instruction, facilitate movement of the case.