Abstract: Natural-phenomenological information is personalized to the unique requirements of a subscriber and distributed to the subscriber. Natural-phenomenological data is gathered from a variety of sources, such as current ground observations, forecast conditions, satellite images, and radar data. Personal preferences of the subscribers are also gathered and stored, such as activities of the subscriber, geographic locations of the activities, sensitivities of the subscriber to natural-phenomenological conditions, calendar information of the subscriber, and modes of delivery. The personal preferences of the subscriber are used as a filter to identify the natural-phenomenological data that is particularly useful to the subscriber, and the resulting information is delivered to the subscriber. The subscriber identifies the destination device that the information is delivered to. The invention is extensible to support new sources of natural-phenomenological information and new output devices.

Abstract: A seismic sensor unit (10) comprises a case (12) containing electronic circuits (18, 20) that serve to digitise and digitally process the output signals of a seismic sensor element (16) inside the case (12). A first digital filtering of acquired signals can be provided at sensor unit level before the data are further fed into a seismic network and further processed.

Abstract: A seismic cable (1) including a plurality of electrical/optical elements (5) which are arranged to be interconnected with a number of seismic sensor devices (24) arranged at intervals along the cable and installed in a housing (15) integrated in the cable (1). The sensor housing (15) is centrally arranged in the cable (1) and interconnected with a central strength element (2). The electrical/optical elements (5) are arranged over and around the central element (2) and over the housing (15).

Abstract: A seismic cable (1) and a method of manufacturing such a cable. The cable includes a plurality of elongated electrical/optical elements which are arranged to be interconnected with a number of seismic sensor devices arranged at intervals along the cable. A polymeric sheath and a protective outer armoring surround the elements to provide protection against radial stress of said cable. The sensor devices are installed outside of the elements and the armoring.

Abstract: This invention relates to the general subject of seismic exploration and, in particular, to seismic processing and methods for attenuating ground roll in land and ocean bottom seismic surveys. According to a first aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a method of attenuating non-primary reflection events such as ground roll in an unstacked gather. In the preferred embodiment, the collected seismic data will be analyzed to determine the approximate velocity at which the ground roll appears to travel through the section. As a next step, a single-velocity migration is performed on the seismic data at the selected velocity. Those seismic events that are moved by the migration past an “attenuation line” on the section are intentionally discarded or attenuated. Finally, a reverse single velocity migration is performed which places the reflectors—minus those events such as ground roll that have been attenuated—back at their original unmigrated times.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique of prospecting for deep massive sulfide ore bodies, comprising the steps of selecting a geologic region which is substantially acoustically transparent; directing seismic waves at the region and collecting reflected or diffracted waves therefrom; and analyzing the collected waves for the presence of the massive sulfide ore bodies.

Abstract: A subsurface formation may be evaluated through use of data obtained from Stoneley wave propagation in the fluid column within the borehole. Either wave amplitude or phase velocity may be utilized to determine composite lithology parameters. These composite lithology parameters reflect fluid and/or formation characteristics, and functionally relate such characteristics in a manner as to facilitate the determination of formation permeability in a well logging environment.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing of dual sensor OBC data that corrects for angular incidence angle, corrects for estimated reflectivity, and combines the corrected sensor traces using an optimal diversity scaling technique. In one embodiment, the disclosed method takes seismic traces from a geophone and a hydrophone, corrects the geophone trace for the incidence angle, determines diversity filters for optimally combining the geophone and hydrophone traces, applies the diversity filters, estimates a reflectivity coefficient for the ocean bottom (potentially for different angles of reflection), scales the geophone data according to the reflectivity, and re-applies the diversity filters to obtain a combined trace. The combined trace is expected to have various artifacts eliminated, including ghosting and reverberation, and is expected to have an optimally determined signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A method and system of preventing soil liquefaction beneath a structure during an earthquake event, by monitoring local seismic precursor events, such as early arrival ground motion using an accelerometer, predicting the onset of a major earthquake tremor, and energizing conductors in the ground by a d-c power source for moving the ground water by electro-osmosis away from the foundation of the structure or to a series of pressure relief wells, whereby lowering the soil pore water pressure and preventing liquefaction of the soil beneath the structure.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are provided for improving a coupling to a substrate and orientation of seismic receivers such as a geophone to a substrate for the analysis and gathering of seismic data.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive optical fiber is enclosed within a pressure chamber. A mass is positioned so as to vary the pressure in the pressure chamber in response to a seismic signal. Variations in the chamber pressure are directly detected by the pressure sensitive fiber.

Abstract: A floatation device for marine seismic energy sources. The floatation device includes one or more tubular members and a plurality of couplings for sealing and coupling the tubular members to one another. The couplings include an air valve for filling the tubular members with air. One or more marine seismic energy sources are preferably coupled to and supported by the floatation device.

Abstract: A cable termination for connecting cable armor strands to a cable housing end. Individual wire strands are inserted through apertures in an inner hub and are engaged with the inner hub. An outer hub is connected to the inner hub and the housing for selectively tensioning the wire strands. The outer hub can have apertures for engagement with a second set of wire strands, and can be moved relative to the inner hub to selectively balance the tension in the first and second sets of wire strands. The wire strand ends are connected to the hubs at a selected radial distance from the cable center to strengthen the connection, and different structural combinations between the wire strands and the inner and outer hubs can be constructed.

Abstract: An internal device for use in an underwater cable may comprise a body having an outer periphery, body being mountable inside the cable with the cable surrounding the outer periphery of the body. The body may include a cutaway portion, a slot, or a dovetail joint. An underwater cable arrangement may comprise an underwater cable and an internal device disposed in the cable with the cable surrounding the device. The underwater cable may include a stress member connected to the internal device by an interference fit or the internal device may include a slot for receiving the stress member. A method of connecting a stress member of an under water cable to an internal device includes forming an interference fit between a region of increased diameter of the stress member and the internal device.

Abstract: A marine seismic housing having cleats for anchoring geophone sensors to the seafloor, and a method for placing the geophone sensor on the seafloor. The housing is attached to the bottom cable and is lowered into contact with the seafloor. The cleats puncture the seafloor upper surface to improve the coupling between the sensor and the seafloor. The cleats can have different shapes and lengths, and can be integrated within the housing or can be detachable. The housing exterior surface can comprise multiple flat surfaces for enhancing the housing coupling to the seafloor and for increasing the housing stability relative to the seafloor.

Abstract: A method for modeling geological zones having anomalous density includes determining the top of the anomalous zone from non-potential fields data. Potential fields data is then used to derive the lower boundary of the geologic anomalous zone. A lower boundary to a anomalous zone is formulated by predicting parameters representing the lower boundary within predetermined limits. This is done by using an inversion process on the potential fields data, such as measurements of gravity data, magnetic data. These may be in both vector and tensor form. The potential fields data is compared to the predicted fields from the results of the inversion process to obtain a difference between the two. If the difference exceeds a predetermined value, the parameters representing the anomalous zone are adjusted to improve the fit. When the lower boundary limits are reached or the difference between the model and the data is less than the predetermined value or convergence is attained, the anomalous zone has been determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to detect areas of acquired seismic data that contain ground roll. The method according to the invention allows the detection of ground roll cone on the basis of an estimate of the local ground roll velocity or even without any knowledge of the ground roll velocity. The method according to the invention is further more very useful for an automatic process of ground roll detection.

Abstract: A seismic coupling device for geophones firmly couples seismic sensors to the sea floor. The structure is open for the free flow of sea water and mud through the structure so that it moves freely through the sea water and solidly embeds itself in the ocean bottom. It is preferably made of a corrosion resistant metal, such as stainless steel, which also resists bending forces on the cable take-up reel, and provides further mechanical protection for sensor components enclosed within. A segmented ring at each end clamps around the protective enclosure which encloses the sensor package, and a further pair of segmented rings inside the ends clamps around the enclosure. A plurality of axially oriented longitudinal bars couple to the rings to form a squirrel cage around the enclosure.

Abstract: A method of creating a seismic wave in a subterranean environment wherein solid propellant material is positioned in a subterranean well and ignited thereby generating a seismic wave. The seismic wave is recorded at distance from where the propellant material is ignited by means of geophones or similar recording devices. The propellant material is geometrically configured with the assistance of computer modeling. The pressure generated by the ignition is recorded in the well and used to validate the computer model for configuring subsequent propellant material employed as a seismic source.

Abstract: A method for land seismic data acquisition is provided, together with a seismic cable and a cable spool vehicle for use in the method. In performing the method, the cable spool vehicle mechanically deploys seismic cable with attached sensors according to a desired geophysical spread and at a rate dependent upon the speed of movement of the vehicle substantially without tension in the cable. The cable spool vehicle also allows mechanical pick-up of the seismic cable together with the sensors after the seismic data acquisition.