Abstract: A rope having an outer jacket made of braided fibers surrounding a PTFE core and a method for making the rope. The rope is useful in high-tension, high-friction applications, such as serving as a stress member in an isolation section of an instrumented ocean-bottom cable. The PTFE core, which may consist of one or more strings of PTFE valve packing material, squeezes through the braided jacket as the rope is deformed in high-stress regions such as around a bollard. The PTFE material squeezed through the outer jacket lubricates the outside of the rope in the high-stress region to lower the friction.

Abstract: A network distributed seismic data acquisition system comprises seismic receivers connected to remote acquisition modules, receiver lines, line tap units, base lines, a central recording system and a seismic source event generation unit synchronized to a master clock. One or more high precision clocks is added to the network to correct for timing uncertainty associated with propagation of commands through the network. Seismic receivers and seismic sources are thereby synchronized with greater accuracy than otherwise possible. Timing errors that interfere with the processing of the seismic recordings are greatly reduced, thus enabling an improvement in subsurface geologic imaging.

Abstract: A seismic ocean bottom cable array is provided for use in subsurface exploration. The array includes receiver stations for measuring seismic signals, and a cable including conductors for data transmission and an externally attached stress member. The array is assembled during deployment by attaching the data transmission cables and receiver stations to the stress member as it is lowered into the water.

Abstract: A connection system for connecting external devices to specified locations on a marine seismic streamer. Inner collars are clamped to the cable at specified locations along its length. Each inner collar forms a circular race encircling the cable. An outer collar attached to an external device rotatably receives the inner collar and the encircled streamer in its bore to allow the streamer to rotate freely within the outer collar relative to the external device. The outer collar has an inner face bounding and defining the shape of the bore. The inner face is tapered from an intermediate position outward toward front and rear edges of the outer collar to form a bore that is wider at the front and rear edges than at the intermediate position. This flaring out of the bore provides the streamer three degrees of angular freedom to position itself within the bore.

Abstract: The disclosure herein provides a method of acquiring seismic data that includes receiving seismic signals at one or more sensors; sampling the received seismic signals into a plurality of samples, each sample having a same bit length; arranging the samples into a plurality of packets; compressing the plurality of packets by varying a time interval between transmissions of at least some of the packets; and transmitting the compressed packets.

Abstract: A seismic data acquisition method is provided that includes receiving seismic signals at a sensor; sampling the received seismic signals into a plurality of samples, each sample having a selected number of bits (“bit length”); arranging the samples in packets, wherein some of the packets include one or more compressed samples; and transmitting the packet to a remote unit.

Abstract: An exemplary system for managing the deployment of a seismic data acquisition system uses a module configured to execute a plurality of task in the field by receiving one or more seismic devices. The module may include a power source that provides electrical power to the seismic devices. The module may also include a processor programmed to retrieve data stored in the seismic devices, perform diagnostics, facilitate inventory and logistics control, configure seismic devices and update data or pre-programmed instructions in the seismic device. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A system and methods for acquiring seismic data is provided. In one aspect, the system and methods utilize a plurality of field service units placed over a region of interest, a repeater unit that wirelessly communicates with the field service units and a remote unit for controlling and processing the seismic data acquired by the field service units. In one aspect, the system and methods determine a condition associated with each of a plurality of attributes relating to acquisition of the seismic data at each field service unit, generate messages at each field service unit when the condition of a particular attribute meets a selected criterion, transmit the generated messages, receive the messages transmitted by at least a group of field service units at a repeater unit placed in the region of interest, analyze the messages received from the group of field service units at the repeater unit and then transmit information relating to the received messages to the remote unit for further processing.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data between a remote unit and a plurality of field service units placed over a region of interest, each field service unit acquiring seismic data from at least one seismic receiver in a plurality of seismic receivers placed in the region of interest is provided that, in one aspect, may include: specifying a data transmission time period having a fixed continuous time length for transmission of data between the remote unit and each field service unit; dividing the data transmission time period into a plurality of time slots, each time slot having a fixed time length; and transmitting data from the remote unit to each field service unit during at least one of the time slots and from each field service unit to the remote unit during at least one another time slot. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for seismic data acquisition is provided, which, in one aspect, define a plurality of attributes relating to acquisition of seismic data by the apparatus, determine a value of each attribute when the apparatus is deployed for acquiring seismic data, generate a message for each attribute whose determined value meets a selected criterion, and transmit wirelessly each generated message to a remote unit without solicitation of such a message by the remote unit. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: An apparatus for in-field configuration of a seismic device such as a seismic sensor may include a memory module having data for configuring the seismic device, a location sensor determining a location parameter for the seismic sensor, an alignment member aligning the location sensor with the seismic sensor, and a communication device transmitting the determined location parameter to a selected external device. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A system and method for acquiring seismic data is provided that utilizes a plurality of field station (data acquisition) units placed over a region of interest and a remote central unit. The system and method, in one aspect, determine a condition associated with each of a plurality of preselected attributes relating to the acquisition of the seismic data at each of the field station units, generate messages at each field station when the condition of any particular attribute meets a selected criterion, and transmit the generated messages to a remote unit wirelessly. The system and methods provide efficient use of the available bandwidth and avoid collisions among messages transmitted simultaneously by several field station units. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A seismic data acquisition apparatus having a recorder co-located with a sensor unit in a seismic spread and a communication device for direct communication with a central recorder. A memory located in the recorder and/or in the central controller holds location parameters associated with the sensor unit, and the parameters can be updated. Methods of seismic data acquisition including sensing seismic energy and recording the sensed energy at the sensor location. Delivering the recorded information to a central recorder by manually retrieving removable memory from each recorder, by wireless transmission of the information, or by removing the information from each recorder by inductive or cable connectors and a transfer device. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.