Abstract: Method for locating fault lines or surfaces in 2-D or 3-D seismic data based on the fact that fault discontinuities in the space domain span a wide range in a local slowness (slope) domain, whereas other dipping events in the space domain data, such as noise, tend to be coherent, and hence will appear focused in the slowness dimension. Therefore, the method comprises decomposing the seismic data (102) by a transformation to the local slowness domain, preferably using Gaussian slowness period packets as the local slowness or slope decomposition technique, thereby avoiding problems with the data stationary assumption. In the local slowness domain, faults may be identified (104) using the principle mentioned above, i.e. that faults are represented as a truncation in the space domain data, hence they will appear broadband in the slowness dimension.

Abstract: An array of seismic energy receivers is deployed at fixed locations across the length and width of a land surface area of interest. A land fleet composed of a number of vibratory swept frequency or vibroseis seismic energy sources is deployed at predetermined initial locations within the receiver array. The sources are arranged in groups which at their initial locations are spaced from other groups of the source fleet by an intergroup spacing distance representing a segment of the receiver array. Each of the vibratory sources in a source group is assigned within that group a designated specific length for its energy emissions and a frequency sweep band different from the other sources in the group. The sources in all groups concurrently emit energy at a succession of spaced, assigned locations as they are moved incrementally over their respective intergroup spacings.

Abstract: Ultrasound signal processing circuitry and related apparatus and methods are described. Signal samples received from an ultrasound transducer array in an ultrasound transducer based imaging system may be processed, or conditioned, by application of one or more weighting functions. In some embodiments, one or more weighting functions may be applied to the signal samples in the time domain. In other embodiments, the signal samples may be converted to the frequency domain and one or more weighting functions may be applied in the frequency domain. In further embodiments, one or more weighting functions may be applied in the time domain and one or more weighting functions may be applied in the frequency domain. The weighting functions may be channel dependent and/or channel independent. The processed data can be provided to an image formation processor.

Abstract: An obstacle detection apparatus includes: a transceiver transmitting a transmission wave and receiving an ultrasonic wave; a transmission controller; a receiver circuit detecting a signal level of a receiving wave; a distance calculator sequentially calculating a distance to an object reflecting the transmission wave; a memory storing the distance to the object; an obstacle determination device determining whether the object is an obstacle; and a reception level monitoring device monitoring the signal level of the receiving wave before the transmission wave being transmitted. When the signal level exceeds a predetermined threshold, the obstacle determination device sets a first number of determination data elements to an increased number of determinations for a predetermined period to be used for determining whether the object is the obstacle, as being larger than a second number of determination data elements used when the signal level does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for calculating a tension (T) in a towed antenna. The method includes towing the antenna in water, wherein the antenna includes plural particle motion sensors distributed along the antenna; measuring with the plural particle motion sensors vibrations that propagate along the antenna; calculating a value of a phase velocity (vp) of the vibrations that propagate along the antenna based on (1) an offset between two particle motion sensors and (2) a time delay of the vibrations that propagate from one of the two particle motion sensors to another one of the two particle motion sensors; selecting a relation that links the phase velocity (vp) to the tension (T); and using the value of the phase velocity and the relation to determine the tension (T) at various locations of the plural particle motion sensors along the antenna.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a borehole using an acoustic logging system. By transmitting a high frequency acoustic signal essentially perpendicular to the major axis of a borehole casing using a transducer, the high frequency acoustic signal may produce one or more acoustic echoes. By receiving and analyzing a first acoustic echo from an inner wall of the borehole casing and at least one second acoustic echo from a back wall of the borehole casing, borehole parameters such as the impedance of the casing cement and the thickness of thicker borehole casings, up to and greater than 1 inch, may be determined.

Abstract: Computational systems and methods for randomizing the order in which multiple sources are fired in simultaneous source acquisition are described. In one aspect, pseudo-randomly shifted time delays are generated for each shot interval of a marine-survey-time line. Each shifted time delay is assigned to one or the sources. The sources within each shot interval are fired based on the shifted time delays.

Abstract: A system for detecting and locating submerged underwater objects having neutral buoyancy comprising mechanically steered sonar to image the water column comprises mechanically steered sonar with a single emission channel, to perform the insonification of a first individual sector in a first pointing direction by a single first acoustic pulse, the sonar forming a single reception channel suitable for acquiring a first acoustic signal resulting from insonification, the mechanically steered sonar being mounted on a carrier to advance in a main direction, the first pointing direction substantially lateral to the carrier and the first individual sector exhibits a wide relative bearing aperture and a narrow elevation aperture, the mechanically steered sonar comprising a mechanical pointing device to tilt the first pointing direction about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the main direction allowing the sonar to acquire first acoustic signals resulting from insonifications performed in different pointin

Abstract: The present method makes use of a second receiver-transmitter pair, which, together with a first pair, forms a quadrilateral figure, the horizontal sides of which are parallel to the level of a liquid. In addition, the values of the energy characteristics of Lamb waves propagated simultaneously both between each of the horizontal receiver-transmitter pairs and between a second vertical receiver-transmitter pair are calculated using values obtained from certain horizontal pairs to determine the initial and final values of the measuring scale of other pairs, by means of which the height of the liquid level is determined and/or measured.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the monitoring apparatus includes a probe comprising a sensor to detect a condition within a water body, the sensor produces sensor data indicative of the condition within the water body. The probe includes a sound generator to propagates sound waves within the water body that communicate the sensor data from the probe, in various aspects. The monitoring apparatus includes an interface that is submersible within the water body, and the interface includes a receiver to receive the sound waves from the sound generator, in various aspects. A sleeve forms a portion of the interface and defines a sleeve passage, and a line passes slideably through the sleeve passage and is secured to the probe, in various aspects. The line cooperates with the interface and with the probe to orient the receiver and the sound generator with respect to one another to direct the sound waves from the sound generator to the receiver, in various aspects.

Abstract: In one form, an acoustic signal is generated for an acoustic transducer, where the acoustic transducer is susceptible to reverberation that defines a close proximity indication zone. The start of a close proximity indication zone window is defined after the generation of the acoustic signal at a first time. During the close proximity indication zone window, a signal is received from the acoustic transducer. When the signal is received, an obstacle is detected in the close proximity indication zone if the magnitude of a first pulse received from the transducer at a second time is less than a first threshold but greater than a second threshold for a debounce time. Additionally, a magnitude of a second pulse received from the transducer outside the close proximity indication zone window at a third time should be less than the second threshold but greater than a third threshold for the debounce time.

Abstract: A method for improving a 4-dimensional (4D) repeatability by modifying a given path to be followed by a source during a seismic survey. The method includes receiving the given path at a control device associated with a vehicle that caries the source; following the given path during a first seismic survey that is a baseline survey for the 4D seismic survey; deviating from the given path to follow a new path when encountering an obstacle on the given path; and updating the given path, based on the new path, to obtain an updated given path when a deviation condition is met.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, may cause the computer to sense deployment of a transducer in water based on receiving sonar data from the transducer. The computer may automatically trigger at least one event upon receiving the sonar data. The at least one event may include recording the sonar data generated by the transducer.

Abstract: A mounting assembly may effectively mount a transducer and a marine electronic display via the same mounting assembly. In order to mount the mounting assembly, the mounting assembly may be configured to utilize a hole or a surface of a watercraft without needing any additional fastening elements (e.g., screw or bolts) being attached to or inserted into the hole or watercraft. Accordingly, no screw holes are required in order to mount either the marine electronic display or the transducer. Thereby, the user may put the mounting assembly through the hole or attach it to a surface of the watercraft, and then attach the marine electronic display and transducer to the appropriate components of the mounting assembly. Thereby, the mounting of a transducer and a marine electronic display will take less time and require less parts.

Abstract: A line-of-sight (LOS) speed calculator obtains a LOS speed of particles traveling with the atmosphere. A LOS direction corrector corrects a LOS direction using attitude angle information. A wind vector calculator calculates a wind vector expressed with a wind direction and wind speed of the atmosphere at a measurement point by using LOS data including a set of the corrected LOS direction corrected by the LOS direction corrector and the LOS speed obtained by the LOS speed calculator. A shift detection range changer changes a shift detection range that is a divided range of the received signal in the time-domain used for obtaining the Doppler frequency shift to correspond to a range of the received signal reflected by particles at altitudes within a predetermined range including an altitude of the measurement point, on the basis of the attitude angle information.

Abstract: During transmission, a speed of sound pulses gradually reduces due to acoustic impedance. Regulating a length or a density or a sound speed of the sound pulses affects their average speed in the transmitting medium, sound intensity and detecting depth. Time of flight (TOF) and TOF shift can be used to calculate the depth and moving speed of detecting objects. Calculating a speed of moving objects by simultaneously detecting TOF shift at same site from two separated piezoelectric (PZT) elements improves the testing results with accuracy, simplification and reproducibility. Coding sound pulses to obtained the TOF and the TOF shift will simultaneously calculate the depth and the moving speed of sampling points, which can be used to construct 2D and 3D images for these motionless and/or moving sampling points. Coded sound pulses also improves the quality of the imaging.

Abstract: A proximity sensing function is implemented using a collection of core independent peripherals (CIPs) in a microcontroller without software overhead to the central processor during operation thereof. A pulse width modulation (PWM) peripheral generates a high frequency drive signal that is on for a short duration to an ultrasonic transmitting transducer. An ultrasonic receiving transducer receives reflected ultrasonic pulses during an integration time window. The received pulses are detected and integrated into a voltage value. The integrated voltage value is compared to a prior voltage value average, and if different, generates a proximity sense signal of an object. Direction, distance and speed of the object may also be determined from the voltage values.

Abstract: A floating vessel based system generates a multidimensional seismic data set for a target area. The floating vessel based system includes a seismic source proximate to a floating vessel, providing a plurality of seismic energy pulses through water to the target area forming a plurality of reflected seismic energy pulses, a non-stationary seismic node configured for being towed from the floating vessel using at least one rope through the water, a non-stationary seismic node, and a second processor with second data storage on the floating vessel. The second data storage instructs the second processor to receive, each digital data series, combines the digital data series for all non-stationary seismic nodes utilized, and automatically generates multidimensional seismic data set for the target area.

Abstract: Apparatus, computer instructions and method for separating up-going and down-going wave fields (U, D) from seismic data recorded within or beneath a body of water, or in general below the surface of the earth. The method includes a step of receiving seismic data (Po, Zo) recorded in the time-space domain with seismic recorders distributed on a first datum, wherein the first datum is non-flat; a step of establishing a mathematical relation between transformed seismic data (P, Z) and the up-going and down-going wave fields (U, D) on a second planar datum; and a step of solving with an inversion procedure, run on a processor, the mathematical relation to obtain the up-going and down-going wave fields (U, D) for the second datum. The second datum is different from the first datum.

Abstract: A spring member for marine vibrators. At least some illustrative embodiments are bow-shaped spring members including an outer surface, an inner surface; the outer and inner surfaces defining a thickness of the bow-shaped spring member. The bow-shaped spring member further includes first and second hinge members disposed on opposite ends of the bow-shaped spring member; a length defined between the first hinge member and the second hinge member; and a width defined along the first hinge member, the width in a range of from 50% to 150% of the length.