Telemetry Patents (Class 367/76)
  • Patent number: 11714449
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments for operating a high-speed deserializer. Embodiments can include receiving a clock slip signal to enable operation of the slip pulse generation circuit, and generating a slip pulse signal using the slip pulse-controlled clock generation circuit, wherein the slip pulse signal is programmable to slip one or more bits of a serial input data. Embodiments can also include generating a plurality of deserialization clocks for sampling the serial input data using the slip pulse-controlled clock generation circuit, wherein the plurality of deserialization clocks are generated simultaneously with each other, and providing the plurality of deserialization clocks to the deserializer to selectively sample the serial input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ze Zhang, Dereje Yilma, Chad Andrew Marquart, Glen A. Wiedemeier
  • Patent number: 11454732
    Abstract: A seismic sensor stake, system and method configured to orientate three seismic 1C sensors orthogonally in the X, Y, and Z directions. The present technology stake is configured to efficiently and effectively convert three independent seismic sensors into a single three seismic sensor unit. Multiple stakes can be inserted into the ground of a geographical area to provide highly accurate seismic survey of subterranean hydrocarbon formations. Each seismic sensor can include a slot that slidable receives a threaded member of a mounting sides of the stake. A retaining nut can secure the seismic sensor in place upon rotation of the sensor. A stake bit can be utilized with an impact hammer to form holes in hard or frozen ground for quick insertion of the stake into the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Explor Geophysical Ltd.
    Inventors: Allan Robert Châtenay, Joshua Gilbert Barnet Abbott, Selina Ashley Samodien, John Gerard Bouska, Cameron Rankin
  • Patent number: 11402526
    Abstract: Embodiments included herein are directed towards a seismic spread system that may use a MEMS oscillator as a timing reference. The system may include a plurality of nodal seismic sensor units. The system may also include a plurality of MEMS oscillator clock devices, wherein each of the plurality of MEMS oscillator clock devices is associated with a respective one of the plurality of nodal seismic sensor units, the plurality of MEMS oscillator clock devices being configured to input time synchronization to the seismic system. Each MEMS oscillator clock device may include a MEMS resonator in communication with an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Vidar Husom
  • Patent number: 11187071
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating reservoir productivity as a function of position in a subsurface volume of interest are disclosed. The systems and methods may: obtain subsurface data and well data corresponding to a subsurface volume of interest; obtain a parameter model; use the subsurface data and the well data to generate multiple production parameter maps; apply the parameter model to the multiple production parameter maps to generate refined production parameter values; generate multiple refined production parameter graphs; display the multiple refined production parameter graphs; generate one or more user input options; receive a defined well design and the one or more user input options selected by a user to generate limited production parameter values; generate a representation of estimated reservoir productivity as a function of position in the subsurface volume of interest using the defined well design and visual effects; and display the representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Yang Luo, Leonard Lin Zhang, Chaoshun Hu, Chunling Wu
  • Patent number: 11088782
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include using a cyclic redundancy code (CRC) multiple-input signature register (MISR) for early warning and fail detection. Received bits are monitored at a receiver for transmission errors. The monitoring includes receiving frames of bits that are a subset of frames of bits used by the transmitter to generate a multi-frame CRC. At least one of the received frames of bits includes payload bits and a source single check bit not included in the multi-frame CRC. It is determined whether a transmission error has occurred in the received frames of bits. The determining includes generating a calculated single check bit based at least in part on bits in the received frames of bits, and comparing the received source single check bit to the calculated single check bit. An error indication is transmitted to the transmitter if they don't match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven R. Carlough, Patrick J. Meaney, Gary Van Huben
  • Patent number: 10839630
    Abstract: Solid-state miniature atomic clock (SMAC) within the form factor of an integrated circuit chip (aka microchip) or flexible device. The present invention includes architectures and methods of manufacture of SMACs. SMACs may include one or more vias, with some or all of the vias containing or other material suitable for an antenna. In addition, the SMAC may include a heating device for temperature stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: LOCATORX, INC.
    Inventors: William D. Meadow, Michael T. Khbeis
  • Patent number: 10378336
    Abstract: A pumping system for use in a subterranean wellbore below a surface includes a motor assembly, a pump driven by the motor assembly, and one or more sensors configured to measure an operating parameter within the pumping system and output a signal representative of the measured parameter. The pumping system further includes a wireless telemetry system that is configured to transmit data representative of the measured parameter from the pumping system to the surface. The one or more sensors may include acoustically active sensors that operate according to surface acoustic wave principles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas Esp, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Marvel, Tyler Walker, Samved Bhatnagar
  • Patent number: 10306339
    Abstract: It is necessary to increase the scale of a sensor network to achieve high resource exploration efficiency. On the other hand, since there are increasing needs to extend the area of an exploration region and to detect deeper geological stratum and crust structures more accurately, the large-scale sensor network needs to be operated for a long period of several weeks or longer. In order to solve the problem, a sensor unit needs to be turned on always to perform measurement always. However, an auxiliary measurement unit is activated intermittently since the auxiliary measurement unit needs to acquire data at necessary timings only. On the other hand, during collection and transmission of data and charging of a battery, a sensor terminal detects whether power is supplied from a data collection and charging device and automatically turns off the sensor unit and the auxiliary measurement unit to activate a data transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Serizawa, Ryosuke Fujiwara, Masayuki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 10167716
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium. In some embodiments, the methods include methods of communicating when the acoustic wireless network is spectrum-constrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Scott William Clawson, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Patent number: 10126447
    Abstract: Oilfield and wellbore data may include geophone data (seismic) and airborne surveys such as microseep data, as well as fiber optic measurements collected utilizing a distributed sensing system. Continuous monitoring of various oilfield and wellbore properties, such as temperature, pressure, Bragg gradient, acoustic, and strain, and the like, may generate a large volume of data, possibly spanning into several terabytes. Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for visualizing a large volume of such measurements taken in an oilfield or wellbore without down-sampling measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: PETRABYTES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sashi B. Gunturu, Daniel H. Morgan
  • Patent number: 10094941
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a system for seismic sample data acquisition and processing. The system includes an acquisition system configured to acquire seismic sample data using compressive sensing. The acquisition system includes a plurality of receivers each configured to randomly sample a seismic signal to generate seismic sample data, and a data collection system configured to control sampling operations of the plurality of receivers, and receive and store the generated seismic sample data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Wail A. Mousa, Arbab Latif, Abdullatif Al-Shuhail
  • Patent number: 9810799
    Abstract: It is proposed a method for automatically assigning wireless seismic acquisition units to topographic positions, each wireless seismic acquisition unit includes a satellite navigation system receiver. The method has the following steps, carried out by an assigning device: obtaining topographic locations at which the wireless seismic acquisition units are expected to be laid; obtaining measured positions of the wireless seismic acquisition units, corresponding to or derived from position information provided by the satellite navigation system receivers when the wireless seismic acquisition units are installed on the ground, each near one of the topographic locations; and computing associations, each between one of the wireless seismic acquisition units and one of the topographic positions, as a function of a comparison between the measured positions and the topographic locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SERCEL
    Inventors: Eric Broquet, Nicolas Goloubenko, Jean-Charles Bremaud, Jean-Luc Dronet
  • Patent number: 9710768
    Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include detecting an occurrence of an event, acquiring one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices, the subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring information related to the event, facilitating transmission of the one or more subtasks to the two or more discrete interface devices, and receiving data corresponding to a result of the one or more subtasks executed by two or more of the two or more discrete interface devices. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9523783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system mapping geological formations related to seismic studies comprising interrogation means for sampling information from geological features in a mapped area, e.g. through seismic sampling methods, the sampled information being stored in association with a position related to the sampled information providing a mapping of the area, wherein the system also comprises analyzing means for obtaining attribute information related to the sampled information in each position and storing said attribute information associated to said positions so as to provide an ensemble of attribute values related to the mapped area subject to the seismic studies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Roxar Software Solutions AS
    Inventor: Garrett Leahy
  • Patent number: 9437238
    Abstract: A system and method for processing seismic data on one or more co-processor devices that are operatively coupled to a host computing system via a communications channel. The compression of input data transmitted to the co-processor device and/or the size of the storage provided on the co-processor device may enhance the efficiency of the processing of the data on the peripheral device by obviating a bottleneck caused by the relatively slow transfer of data between the host computing system and the co-processor device or by the relatively slow transfer of data within the co-processor device between the co-processor information storage and the co-processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver Pell, Tamas Nemeth, Raymond Ergas
  • Patent number: 9366770
    Abstract: An earthquake determination system which includes a plurality of observation terminal devices are connected by a communication network. When estimated P-wave detection information is received from the plurality of the observation terminal devices, a distance D between the observation terminal devices and a time interval ? between detection times are acquired and when transmission limit distance of local vibration energy is DSL, the minimum propagation speed of the earthquake P waves is SP, and the maximum detection error between detection times by the pair of observation terminal devices is ?t, the seismic analysis processor determines occurrence of an earthquake, if the both of the two pairs of the observation terminal devices satisfy the relationships of 2DSL<D and ?<D/SP+?t.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: A2 CO., LTD
    Inventor: Masaaki Kachi
  • Patent number: 9269063
    Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include detecting an occurrence of an event, acquiring one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices, the subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring information related to the event, facilitating transmission of the one or more subtasks to the two or more discrete interface devices, and receiving data corresponding to a result of the one or more subtasks executed by two or more of the two or more discrete interface devices. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150124563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for seismic data acquisition employing a dynamic multiplexing technique. The dynamic multiplexing technique may include advancing one or more modules in a seismic array through a multiplexing signature sequence in successive transmission periods. The multiplexing signature sequence may be random or pseudo-random. A shared multiplexing signature sequence may be used at all the modules in the seismic array. As such, modules belonging to a common collision domain may operate out of phase with respect to the shared multiplexing signature sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Keith Elder, Steven Kooper, Kevin Rose, Calvin Day, David Elam, Kip Ingram, Douglas B. Crice
  • Publication number: 20150078127
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are disclosed for multi-station sensor strings. One example apparatus includes a sensor string. The sensor string includes a connector and a common data transmission channel configured to be in communication with a data acquisition unit through the connector. The sensor string also includes a first seismic sensor configured to provide sensed seismic data to the common data transmission channel, and a second seismic sensor also configured to provide sensed seismic data to the common data transmission channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Wilfred Bertrand, Arjun Selvakumar
  • Patent number: 8923095
    Abstract: A technique for providing short circuit protection in electrical systems used in hydrocarbon exploration and production and, more particularly, for such electrical systems comprising serially connected nodes, includes an apparatus and method. The apparatus, includes a power supply and a plurality of electrically serially connected application sensors downstream from the power supply. Each application sensor includes a sensing element; and a plurality of electronics associated with the sensing element. The electronics shut off upstream power to the downstream application sensors in the presence of a short circuit. The method includes serially supplying power to a downhole apparatus comprising a plurality of electrically serially connected downhole sensors; sensing, in series and upon receiving power from upstream, at each downhole sensor whether a downstream short circuit exists; and shutting off upstream power to the downstream downhole sensors in the presence of a short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jostein Fonneland Pettersen, Alain Rhelimi
  • Publication number: 20140369167
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for conducting a seismic survey. The system includes a seismic sensor supplying a seismic signal; sampling circuitry configured to convert the signal to a sequence of samples, each sample represented by a bit string; a data communication device configured to transmit compressed seismic data; a recording computer configured to receive compressed seismic data; at least one processor with a computer memory accessible thereto, the at least one processor configured to: create a sample block by storing at least a portion of the sequence of samples in memory units in the computer memory, wherein each sample is stored in a corresponding memory unit; and compress data contained in the sample block by encoding all bits of a particular bit number from the memory units of the sample block in sequence to produce compressed seismic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: INOVA, LTD.
    Inventor: William T. McDavid
  • Publication number: 20140340988
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for acquiring seismic data using a wireless network and a number of individual data acquisition modules that are configured to collect seismic data and forward data to a central recording and control system. In one implementation, a number of remote modules (301) are arranged in lines. Base station modules (302) receive information from the lines and relay the information to a central control and recording system (303). Radio links operating on multiple frequencies (F1-F12) are used by the modules (301). For improved data transfer rate, radio links from a remote module (301) leap past the nearest remote module to the next module closer to the base station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: WIRELESS SEISMIC, INC.
    Inventors: DOUGLAS CRICE, MIHAI BEFFA
  • Publication number: 20140340986
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting geophysical information may include a geophysical information station disposed along a seismic communication cable. A bypass circuit responsive to a command signal is in communication with a switching circuit that is operable to route electrical power, commands, data or a combination to bypass the geophysical information station in response to the command signal. An exemplary method for bypassing a geophysical information station in a geophysical information collection system includes sending a command signal to a bypass circuit and activating one or more switching circuits using the bypass circuit to route electrical power, commands, data or a combination to bypass the geophysical information station in response to the command signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Allen J. Bishop, Leon Lovheim, Magne Oldervoll, Samuel K. Ingram, Stephen Tom D. Gray
  • Publication number: 20140340989
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to allocation of multiplexing signatures to wireless data acquisition modules in a seismic array with real time wireless read out. The allocation may include selecting an index value offset from an adjacent index value to form serial data transfer paths wherein reuse of multiplexing signatures are spaced as far apart as possible in serial data path. In an embodiment the allocation of multiplexing signatures may be adaptive wherein a module may scan for the presence of signals utilizing a plurality of multiplexing signatures and in turn employ a multiplexing sequence that avoids any detected noise that could lead to interference. The detected noise may be attributable to sources within the survey area or from ambient noise present in the area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Wireless Seismic, Inc.
    Inventors: David Elam, Jerry Stair
  • Patent number: 8885441
    Abstract: The transmission method utilizes multiple seismic acquisition units within an array as intermediate short range radio receivers/transmitters to pass collected seismic data in relay fashion back to a control station. Any one seismic unit in the array is capable of transmitting radio signals to several other seismic units positioned within radio range of the transmitting unit, thus allowing the system to select an optimal transmission path. Utilizing an array of seismic units permits transmission routes back to a control station to be varied as needed. In transmissions from the most remote seismic unit to the control station, each unit within a string receives seismic data from other units and transmits the received seismic data along with the receiving unit's locally stored seismic data. Preferably, as a transmission is passed along a chain, it is bounced between seismic units so as to be relayed by each unit in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fairfield Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford H. Ray, Glenn D. Fisseler
  • Patent number: 8879356
    Abstract: The transmission method utilizes multiple seismic acquisition units within an array as intermediate short range radio receivers/transmitters to pass collected seismic data in relay fashion back to a control station. Any one seismic unit in the array is capable of transmitting radio signals to several other seismic units positioned within radio range of the transmitting unit, thus allowing the system to select an optimal transmission path. Utilizing an array of seismic units permits transmission routes back to a control station to be varied as needed. In transmissions from the most remote seismic unit to the control station, each unit within a string receives seismic data from other units and transmits the received seismic data along with the receiving unit's locally stored seismic data. Preferably, as a transmission is passed along a chain, it is bounced between seismic units so as to be relayed by each unit in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fairfield Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford H. Ray, Glenn D. Fisseler
  • Publication number: 20140307526
    Abstract: A multimode seismic survey system is disclosed where seismic information for a given seismic survey is read out by different seismic units using different modes. Such multimode systems encompass hybrid arrays where information is read out via different output modes for a single seismic event, and other multimode arrays where seismic information is read out via different modes for different seismic events. The modes utilized in such arrays may include wireless, nodal and/or cable modes. The multimode arrays can be implemented using multimode seismic units or single mode seismic units. In any event, the multimode arrays can be utilized to achieve a combination of advantages associated with the different readout modes or to address any of various multimode mode contexts in relation to seismic surveys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Wireless Seismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Crice, Roy Kligfield, Keith Elder
  • Patent number: 8837256
    Abstract: A technique includes acquiring data, which is indicative of operations that are being conducted in connection with a subterranean survey. The technique includes communicating the data in real time over a long range communication network to allow at least one remote user to remotely observe the operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Brian David Smith
  • Patent number: 8830790
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting geophysical information may include a geophysical information station disposed along a seismic communication cable. A bypass circuit responsive to a command signal is in communication with a switching circuit that is operable to route electrical power, commands, data or a combination to bypass the geophysical information station in response to the command signal. An exemplary method for bypassing a geophysical information station in a geophysical information collection system includes sending a command signal to a bypass circuit and activating one or more switching circuits using the bypass circuit to route electrical power, commands, data or a combination to bypass the geophysical information station in response to the command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Octio Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Allen J. Bishop, Leon Lovheim, Magne Oldervoll, Samuel K. Ingram, Stephen Tom D. Gray
  • Patent number: 8811117
    Abstract: Systems and methods for seismic data acquisition employing a dynamic multiplexing technique. The dynamic multiplexing technique may include advancing one or more modules in a seismic array through a multiplexing signature sequence in successive transmission periods. The multiplexing signature sequence may be random or pseudo-random. A shared multiplexing signature sequence may be used at all the modules in the seismic array. As such, modules belonging to a common collision domain may operate out of phase with respect to the shared multiplexing signature sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Wireless Seismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Elder, Steven Kooper, Kevin Rose, Calvin Day, David Elam, Kip Ingram, Douglas B. Crice
  • Publication number: 20140198615
    Abstract: The transmission system combines a self-contained, wireless seismic acquisition unit and a wireless, line of site, communications unit to form a plurality of individual short-range transmission networks and also a mid-range, line of sight transmission network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Fairfield Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: Clifford H. Ray
  • Publication number: 20140126329
    Abstract: In one aspect, a seismic data acquisition unit is disclosed including a closed housing containing: a seismic sensor; a processor operatively coupled to the seismic sensor; a memory operatively coupled to the processor to record seismic data from the sensor; and a power source configured to power the sensor, processor and memory. The sensor, processor, memory and power source are configured to be assemble as an operable unit in the absence of the closed housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William GUYTON, John C. DOWNEY, Geoff RICE, Christopher T. NIKIRK
  • Patent number: 8682303
    Abstract: A digital processing device capable of receiving an additional service is disclosed. In one aspect, a digital processing device includes i) an input unit, inputting a signal, ii) a subscriber identity unit, storing an identity code of a communication operator and generating a communication network access request message, iii) an additional service identity unit, storing an identity code of an additional service operator and generating an additional service request message and v) a control unit, generating a control signal allowing one of the subscriber identity unit and the additional service identity unit to be selectively driven. In accordance with at least one inventive embodiment, a user of the digital processing device can receive an additional service without his or her subscription to a specific communication operator and use various additional services in addition to the additional services provided by the subscribed communication operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: KT Corporation
    Inventors: Young-Sung Kim, Tae-Hyo Ahn, Yeon-Dae Kim, Hae-Young Song, Won-Taik Hwang, Sang-Youn Lee, Yoon-Kyoo Jung, Sun-Jung Lee, Tae-Kyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20140078865
    Abstract: A system includes a seismic acquisition system that includes a plurality of nodes and further includes an unmanned airborne vehicle. The unmanned airborne vehicle is to be used with the seismic acquisition system to conduct a seismic survey.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: EMMANUEL COSTE, KENNETH E. WELKER, GUILLAUME DANIEL TAMBOISE
  • Publication number: 20140056103
    Abstract: Systems and methods for seismic survey communications. In one implementation, the method may include receiving a first network address to a sensor node. The first network address may correspond to a primary logical path between the sensor node and a recording server. The primary logical path may also include a first router dedicated to the primary logical path. The method may also include receiving a second network address to the sensor node. The second network address may correspond to a secondary logical path between the sensor node and the recording server. The secondary logical path may also include a second router dedicated to the secondary logical path. The method may further include sending seismic data to the recording server using the first network address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: BRIAN LEE VIRGIN, GUILLAUME DANIEL TAMBOISE
  • Publication number: 20140010047
    Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronously acquiring seismic data are described, one system comprising one or more seismic sources, a plurality of sensor modules each comprising a seismic sensor, an A/D converter for generating digitized seismic data, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a sensor module clock; a seismic data recording station; and a seismic data transmission sub-system comprising a high precision clock, the sub-system allowing transmission of at least some of the digitized seismic data to the recording station, wherein each sensor module is configured to periodically receive from the sub-system an amount of the drift of its clock relative to the high precision clock. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract to ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: SIMON BARAKAT, KAMBIZ IRANPOUR, DANIEL GOLPARIAN
  • Patent number: 8626132
    Abstract: A digital processing device capable of receiving an additional service is disclosed. In one aspect, a digital processing device includes i) an input unit, inputting a signal, ii) a subscriber identity unit, storing an identity code of a communication operator and generating a communication network access request message, iii) an additional service identity unit, storing an identity code of an additional service operator and generating an additional service request message and v) a control unit, generating a control signal allowing one of the subscriber identity unit and the additional service identity unit to be selectively driven. In accordance with at least one inventive embodiment, a user of the digital processing device can receive an additional service without his or her subscription to a specific communication operator and use various additional services in addition to the additional services provided by the subscribed communication operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: KT Corporation
    Inventors: Young-Sung Kim, Tae-Hyo Ahn, Yeon-Dae Kim, Hae-Young Song, Won-Taik Hwang, Sang-Youn Lee, Yoon-Kyoo Jung, Sun-Jung Lee, Tae-Kyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20130336092
    Abstract: A digital seismic sensor adapted to be connected, via a two-conductor line, to an acquisition device. The digital seismic sensor includes: a digital sensor; a local sampling clock providing a sampling frequency; a receiver for receiving command data coming from the acquisition device and synchronization information providing accurate timing information to enable seismic sensor synchronization; a compensator for compensating, as a function of the synchronization information, a drift of the local sampling clock; a transmitter for transmitting seismic data towards the acquisition device; a driver for driving the receiver and the transmitter, according to a half-duplex transmission protocol over the two-conductor line and using a transmission clock extracted from the received command data; a power receiver for receiving electrical power; and a coupler for coupling the command and synchronization information receiver, the transmitter and the power receiver to the two-conductor line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel Pennec, Jerome Laine, Jacques Hamon
  • Patent number: 8605545
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for acquiring seismic data using a wireless network and a number of individual data acquisition modules that are configured to collect seismic data and forward data to a central recording and control system. In one implementation, a number of remote modules (301) are arranged in lines. Base station modules (302) receive information from the lines and relay the information to a central control and recording system (303). Radio links operating on multiple frequencies (F1-F12) are used by the modules (301). For improved data transfer rate, radio links from a remote module (301) leap past the nearest remote module to the next module closer to the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Wireless Seismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Crice, Mihai Beffa
  • Patent number: 8570187
    Abstract: A telemetric system includes a telemetric implant, a reader unit adapted to read signals from the telemetric implant, and an antenna adapted for connection to the reader unit and to receive signals from the telemetric implant. The antenna has a first coil, a second coil, and a connector. The first coil is electrically connected to the second coil, and the connector allows for movement of the first and second coils relative to each other. The antenna may be used to send radio-frequency power to the telemetric implant and receives data from the telemetric implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Sied W. Janna, Darren James Wilson, Martin S. Goodchild, Peter A. Brady
  • Publication number: 20130272091
    Abstract: A seismic sensor unit includes a sensor housing including an inner chamber and a receiver extension for ground coupling, a suspension fluid disposed in the inner chamber, and a hydrophone suspended in the suspension fluid. The seismic sensor unit may include a sensor housing including a steel spike coupled to the ground, a fluid chamber in the sensor housing, a fluid in the fluid chamber, and a hydrophone disposed in the fluid chamber and contacting the fluid such as to detect a pressure wavefield in the fluid caused by ground motion acting on the steel spike. A method includes receiving ground motion at a seismic sensor unit coupled to the ground, transmitting the ground motion to a fluid chamber, creating a pressure wavefield in a fluid in the fluid chamber in response to the ground motion, and detecting the pressure wavefield in the fluid using a hydrophone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Oz YILMAZ
  • Patent number: 8559271
    Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronously acquiring seismic data are described, one system comprising one or more seismic sources, a plurality of sensor modules each comprising a seismic sensor, an A/D converter for generating digitized seismic data, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a sensor module clock; a seismic data recording station; and a seismic data transmission sub-system comprising a high precision clock, the sub-system allowing transmission of at least some of the digitized seismic data to the recording station, wherein each sensor module is configured to periodically receive from the sub-system an amount of the drift of its clock relative to the high precision clock. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract to ascertain the subject matter of the 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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Simon Barakat, Kambiz Iranpour, Daniel H. Golparian
  • Publication number: 20130250727
    Abstract: A method of controlling communications relating to seismic data acquisition may include synchronizing the start of one or more seismic energy sources via a communication protocol. The protocol may be generated at a seismic recording system, source control software running on a processor, or generated from a seismic energy source encoder. The protocol may consist of an encoder message that includes start information and that is combined with a request for information contained at the seismic energy source. The requested information may be sent in a decoder message that is returned in synchronized manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: INOVA LTD.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Phillips, Keith Radcliffe, Bernard Maechler
  • Publication number: 20130188454
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates methods and apparatus conducting a seismic survey while supplying power and data over multiple conductor pairs. In aspects, the disclosure also relates to maintaining power distribution during a failure of at least one conductor pair. The method includes superimposing data and power on each of a plurality of conductor pairs. The apparatus may include a power supply with power supplied by the plurality of conductor pairs carrying power and data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: INOVA, LTD.
    Inventor: INOVA, LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130188455
    Abstract: A million channel-class digital seismometer based on a computer network, the hardware thereof consisting of seven major units: a central control operating system (CCOS), a root unit (RU), a network unit (NU), a power unit (PU), an acquisition link (AS), a fiber line (FL), and a network line (NL); wherein the CCOS is a control center and a data retrieving center for the entire instrument, the RU is a connection interface between the COOS and a field device; a plurality of NUs are serially connected via the FL to form a network unit link NUS, and the RU is connected to one or more NUS; the PU and the AS are randomly and serially connected to form an acquisition line (AL), and any PU on the AL is connected to the NU via a 100-Mbit/s NL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Jian Guo, Guangding Liu, Shanhui Xu, Ning Liu
  • Publication number: 20130188453
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates methods and apparatus for conducting a seismic survey using a fiber optic network. The method may include synchronizing a plurality of seismic devices over a fiber optic network where at least one of the seismic devices is separated from a master clock by at least one other seismic device. The method may also include encoding the master clock signal, transmitting the encoded master clock signal, and recovering the master clock signal. The apparatus may include a fiber optic network with seismic devices. The seismic devices may be arranged in a linear or tree topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: INOVA, LTD.
    Inventor: INOVA, LTD.
  • Patent number: 8483010
    Abstract: A subterranean survey system includes a sensor string having a communications link and a plurality of survey sensors connected to the communications link. The sensor string has a loop connection to provide communications redundancy, and the survey sensors are used to detect signals affected by a subterranean structure. A first router is connected to the sensor string, and a transport network is connected to the first router. The first router communicates data from the survey sensors over the transport network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian Lee Virgin, Jostein Fonneland, Stuart Papworth
  • Publication number: 20130148470
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for acquiring seismic data using a wireless network and a number of individual data acquisition modules that are configured to collect seismic data and forward data to a central recording and control system. In one implementation, a number of remote modules (301) are arranged in lines. Base station modules (302) receive information from the lines and relay the information to a central control and recording system (303). Radio links operating on multiple frequencies (F1-F12) are used by the modules (301). For improved data transfer rate, radio links from a remote module (301) leap past the nearest remote module to the next module closer to the base station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: WIRELESS SEISMIC, INC.
    Inventors: DOUGLAS CRICE, MIHAI BEFFA
  • Patent number: 8339899
    Abstract: Described herein is a land seismic data acquisition system comprising a central processing unit; a cabled network connected to the central processing unit comprising a plurality of acquisition lines each comprising: electronic units assembled in series along a telemetry cable and each associated with at least one seismic sensor, the units processing signals transmitted by the sensor(s); intermediate modules assembled in series along the telemetry cable and each associated with at least one of the electronic units, each intermediate module providing power supply and synchronization of the electronic unit(s) wherewith it is associated; wherein each electronic unit is associated with at least two intermediate modules including at least one upstream and at least one downstream from the electronic unit along the telemetry cable, and comprises synchronization means independent from the cabled network, bidirectional and autonomous power supply means, bidirectional storage means of the signals processed by the electr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sercel
    Inventor: Daniel Boucard
  • Patent number: RE45268
    Abstract: A seismic exploration method and unit comprised of continuous recording, self-contained wireless seismometer units or pods. The self-contained unit may include a tilt meter, a compass and a mechanically gimbaled clock platform. Upon retrieval, seismic data recorded by the unit can be extracted and the unit can be charged, tested, re-synchronized, and operation can be re-initiated without the need to open the unit's case. The unit may include an additional geophone to mechanically vibrate the unit to gauge the degree of coupling between the unit and the earth. The unit may correct seismic data for the effects of crystal aging arising from the clock. Deployment location of the unit may be determined tracking linear and angular acceleration from an initial position. The unit may utilize multiple geophones angularly oriented to one another in order to redundantly measure seismic activity in a particular plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fairfield Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford H. Ray, Glenn D. Fisseler, Hal B. Haygood