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: A transducer probe includes a transducer array with rows of transducer elements that each extend in an elevation direction and is transverse to an azimuth direction, a matching layer disposed adjacent to the transducer array, and a focusing layer disposed adjacent to the matching layer. The focusing layer includes a first material with a first refractive index and a second material with a second refractive index, and the first refractive index is less than the second refractive index. The first and second materials are distributed in an alternating pattern with the first material at edges of the rows. First widths of the first material decrease from the edges towards a center of the rows, and second widths of the second material increase from the edges towards the center.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a base assembly and a pivot assembly coupled to the base assembly. The apparatus can include a carriage coupled to the pivot assembly. The carriage can be shaped to receive a compass streamer telemetry unit (CSTU). The carriage can be configured to secure the CSTU. The pivot assembly can be rotatably coupled to the base assembly to adjust a pitch of the carriage. The carriage can be rotatably coupled to the pivot assembly to adjust roll of the carriage.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measurement of pore pressure in rock formations through an open, or cemented and/or cased, borehole are described. Such measurements are achieved using the Dynamic Acoustic Elasticity (DAE) method for characterizing nonlinear parameters by perturbing a selected rock formation volume with a High Amplitude, Low Frequency (HALF) acoustic strain wave, and probing this volume using a Low Amplitude, High Frequency (LAHF) acoustic wave. Time reversal techniques may be employed for focusing acoustic energy Into the formation in the vicinity of the pipe or open hole.

Abstract: Disclosed are advantageous designs for highly-sparse seabed acquisition for imaging geological structure and/or monitoring reservoir production using sea surface reflections. The highly-sparse geometry designs may be adapted for imaging techniques using the primary and higher orders of sea surface reflection and may advantageously allow for the use of significantly fewer sensors than conventional seabed acquisition. The highly-sparse geometry designs may be relevant to 3D imaging, as well as 4D (“time-lapse”) imaging (where the fourth dimension is time). In accordance with embodiments of the invention, geophysical sensors may be arranged on a seabed to form an array of cells. Each cell in the array may have an interior region that contains no geophysical sensors and may be sufficiently large in area such that a 500 meter diameter circle may be inscribed therein.

Abstract: A method includes receiving desired locations of nodes for deployment on a seabed of a seismic survey where each of the nodes includes a sealed housing and, within the sealed housing, at least one battery and spaced seismic sensors electrically powered by the at least one battery; determining locations of the nodes as deployed on the seabed where at least some of the determined locations differ from their corresponding desired locations; acquiring seismic data sensed by the spaced seismic sensors of the nodes where the acquired seismic data corresponds to the determined locations; and, based at least in part on the acquired seismic data, a spacing of the spaced seismic sensors and the desired locations, generating seismic data for the desired locations.

Abstract: Parameters of a sweep signal that controls operation of a marine non-impulsive source can be set. Setting the parameters can include selecting a stop frequency of the sweep signal, defining a taper of the sweep signal, and adjusting an initial phase of the sweep signal. The parameters can be set such that a magnitude of an amplitude spectrum of a combined output of a marine impulsive source and the marine non-impulsive source is greater than or equal to a magnitude of an amplitude spectrum of a marine impulsive source output at frequencies below the stop frequency. A controller of the marine non-impulsive source can be programmed with the sweep signal having the parameters set to control the marine non-impulsive source.

Abstract: A passive array of acoustic sensors capture acoustic signals produced by sand movement. The array tool is deployed downhole where it passively listens for acoustic energy generated by sand movement in the well. Once acoustic signals are acquired, model-based frameworks are used to extract single and multiple sensor features from the acoustic signals. The extracted features are used as signatures to detect or classify the production of sand.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a microseismic monitoring system, which includes at least a microseismic sensor, a push rod set at both ends of the microseismic sensor through the first connecting mechanism for sending the microseismic sensor into a monitoring hole, a guide mechanism installed on the push rod for guiding the microseismic sensor into the monitoring hole, and a microseismic monitoring computer connecting with the microseismic sensor signal. The microseismic sensor is reusable. The first connecting mechanism can make the push rod swing relative to the microseismic sensor. The guide mechanism is a three-roller guide mechanism. The present invention can satisfy the need of monitoring different locations in monitoring holes with large depths for multiple microseismic sensors, and solve problems of effective contact coupling between the microseismic sensors and monitoring holes, which improves the accuracy of microseismic monitoring and reduces the cost of a microseismic monitoring system.

Abstract: A test system for a microseismic test of rock mass fractures provided by the present invention includes at least one microseismic sensor, a push rod provided at two ends of the microseismic sensor through a connecting mechanism for feeding the microseismic sensor into a monitoring hole , an introducing mechanism mounted on the push rod for introducing the microseismic sensor into the monitoring hole, a hydraulic system providing support hydraulic oil for the microseismic sensor, a microseismic monitoring computer connected with the signal of microseismic sensor through; the microseismic sensor includes a microseismic probe, a holding component holding the microseismic probe, a support plate and a hydraulic support mechanism; the connecting mechanism can make the push rod swing relative to the microseismic sensor, and the introducing mechanism is three-rollers introducing mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an acoustic sensor for rock crack detection including an acoustic emission probe, a probe installation mechanism and a transmission mechanism which transmits a combination of the probe installation mechanism and the acoustic emission probe to a setting position inside a borehole in the monitored rock mass. The acoustic emission probe installation mechanism essentially includes a sleeve component, a guide component, an end cap and springs. The guide component is in pluggable connection with the sleeve component or the end cap. The assembled probe installation mechanism locks the acoustic emission probe in a probe sleeve of the sleeve component. The springs inside the elastic sleeve of the sleeve component are in a compressed state.

Abstract: A method of optimizing acoustic transducer performance, and corresponding system, can include mechanically coupling a transducer to a fluid barrier, calibrating the acoustic transducer by measuring response as a function of drive frequency to determine one or more optimum drive frequencies, optimized for the transducer actually coupled to the fluid barrier, and storing the one or more optimum drive frequencies for use in operating the acoustic transducer. Shims may also be used between the transducer and fluid barrier, such as a boat hull, to optimize transducer performance. Embodiments can enable improved in-hull transducer depth sounding, as well as improved fluid level measurements in tanks.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to geophysical surveying. In some embodiments, a marine survey vessel tows multiple sensor streamers in addition to vibratory sources deployed relative to the sensor streamers. In some embodiments, the vessel tows vibratory sources emitting energy within different frequency bands in different deployment zones. In some embodiments, one or more sources are driven with different sweep functions, different activation patterns, and/or different sweep lengths. Various disclosed techniques for manufacturing a geophysical data product may potentially simplify equipment used for towing sources, reduce survey complexity without reducing resolution, increase resolution without increasing survey complexity, improve energy content recovered from deep reflections, and/or reduce the environmental impact of emitting seismic energy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a shear wave slowness may include emitting an emitted acoustic wave within a borehole from an acoustic tool. A return acoustic wave may be detected via one or more sensors. The return acoustic wave may be generated when the emitted acoustic wave interacts with a physical feature within the borehole. A signal may be generated that may be indicative of the return acoustic wave. The method may include evaluating the signal via a processor to determine a pseudo-Rayleigh mode slowness and calculating a shear wave slowness using an analytical relationship. The analytical relationship may include a mathematical correlation between the pseudo-Rayleigh mode slowness and the shear wave slowness. The analytical relationship may also include input parameters that are measured physical parameters of borehole properties.

Abstract: The invention discloses a rock damage acoustic monitoring system including an acoustic emission sensor installed in a borehole of a monitored rock mass and a ground workstation. The acoustic emission sensor is composed of an acoustic emission probe and a probe installation mechanism for installing the acoustic emission probe and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the probe installation mechanism. The probe installation mechanism includes a shell, a probe sleeve installed in the shell, an end cap fixed on the upper end surface of the probe sleeve, and a piston hydro-cylinder arranged between the top of the inner wall of the shell and the end cap. The present invention realizes the control of the moving direction of the shell and the probe sleeve by the piston hydro-cylinder component and the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: The system (10) of FIG. 1 uses fixedly-located master and slave smartphone devices (12, 14) to determine a player position of a player (20) within playing arena, such as a tennis court. The master device (12) makes a local determination of the speed of sound using an audible ping to the slave device displaced from the master device by a known distance. The slave device (14) also responds with a time stamp associated with the receipt of one or more pings. Correlation over successive RF-reported time stamps allows the master device (12) to assess, relative to its own internal reference clock, a time offset and drift for a local clock in the slave device (14). A RF connection to a communications circuit and sensor (18) arrangement located in a racket held by a player permits the master device (12) to assess a time offset and drift for a local clock associated with the sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for multicomponent noise attenuation of a seismic wavefield is provided. Embodiments may include receiving, at one or more computing devices, seismic data associated with a seismic wavefield over at least one channel of a plurality of channels from one or more seismic sensor stations. Embodiments may further include identifying a noise component on the at least one channel of the plurality of channels and attenuating the noise component on the at least one channel of the plurality of channels based upon, at least in part, the seismic data received from the one or more seismic sensor stations.

Abstract: A semi-passive acoustic transponder providing identity information related to the transponder when it is reflecting a received pulsed acoustic signal underwater. The transponder includes a memory unit holding ID-sequence data controlling operation of the switching device, and an electronic circuit includes frequency adjusting means for adjusting the frequency and duration of the switch such that the duration of the ID-sequence data is shorter than the duration of pulses of the received acoustic signal. Additionally, a method and system may provide position and identity information related to one or more of said semi-passive acoustic transponders.

Abstract: A method for seismic processing includes receiving seismic data representing a subsurface volume. The seismic data includes a first horizontal component and a second horizontal component. The first and second horizontal components are rotated such that the first horizontal component is substantially aligned with a source of a seismic wavefield and the second horizontal component is substantially transverse to the source of the seismic wavefield. A splitting intensity is determined at a boundary of the subsurface volume using the first and second horizontal components after the first and second horizontal components are rotated. An anisotropic parameter is determined for a portion of the subsurface volume as a function of time using the splitting intensity.

Abstract: Methods for seismic exploration of an underground formation including at least one anisotropic layer perform a joint velocity-variation-with-azimuth, VVAz, and amplitude-variation-with-azimuth, AVAz, inversion using the azimuthal angle stacks to obtain a structural representation of the underground formation. The structural representation is used to generate scenarios for exploiting resources in at least one layer of the underground formation.