Conveyance system and method for underwater seismic exploration

{
  "publication_number": "US10048397B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Conveyance system and method for underwater seismic exploration",
  "abstract": "The present disclosure is directed to a helical conveyor for underwater seismic exploration. The system can include a case having a cylindrical portion. A cap is positioned adjacent to a first end of the case. A conveyor having a helix structure is provided within the case. The conveyor can receive an ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) unit at a first end of the conveyer and transport the OBS unit via the helix structure to a second end of the conveyor to provide the OBS unit on the seabed to acquire the seismic data. The system can include a propulsion system to receive an instruction and, responsive to the instruction, facilitate movement of the case.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system to acquire seismic data from a seabed, comprising: a case; a cap positioned adjacent to a first end of the case; a first conveyor having a first helix structure and provided within the case to receive an ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) unit at a first end of the first conveyer and transport the OBS unit via the first helix structure to a second end of the first conveyor to provide the OBS unit on the seabed to acquire the seismic data, a first distance between the first end of the first conveyor and the cap less than a second distance between the second end of the first conveyor and the cap, the OBS unit comprising a geophone; a second conveyor having a second helix structure provided within the case, the second conveyor configured to support a second one or more OBS units; a support structure configured to extend through a central axis of the first helix structure of the first conveyor and the second helix structure of the second conveyor; and a propulsion system comprising a propeller, the propulsion system to receive an instruction and, responsive to the instruction, facilitate movement of the case.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, comprising: a control unit having one or more processors to provide the instruction to the propulsion system.",
    "3. The system of claim 2, wherein the propulsion system comprises the control unit.",
    "4. The system of claim 2, comprising: the control unit external to, and remote from, the case.",
    "5. The system of claim 4, comprising: the control unit to transmit a wired or wireless transmission comprising the instruction to the propulsion system.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to follow an object moving through an aqueous medium.",
    "7. The system of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to follow a vessel towing the case through an aqueous medium.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises: an energy source to provide energy; and an engine to convert the provided energy to mechanical energy to move the case in a chosen direction.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises: a means to generate force to push surrounding water away from the case in a direction opposite a direction of movement of the case.",
    "10. The system of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one of: a thruster; a paddle; an oar; a waterwheel; a screw propeller; a fixed pitch propeller; a variable pitch propeller; a ducted propeller; an azimuth propeller; a water jet; a fan; or a pump.",
    "11. The system of claim 1, comprising: a steering device to control a direction of the movement of the case.",
    "12. The system of claim 1, wherein the case has a cylindrical shape.",
    "13. The system of claim 1, comprising: a first fin extending from at least one of the cap or the case; and a second fin extending from at least one of the cap or the case, the first fin separated from the second fin by a predetermined angle to control rotation of the case through an aqueous medium.",
    "14. The system of claim 13, comprising: a control unit having one or more processors to adjust at least one of the first fin or the second fin to control a direction of the movement of the case.",
    "15. The system of claim 14, comprising: the control unit configured to adjust the predetermined angle separating the first fin from the second fin.",
    "16. The system of claim 13, comprising: a control unit having one or more processors to adjust at least one of the first fin or the second fin to reduce drag generated in the aqueous medium.",
    "17. A method for delivering a payload towards an ocean bottom, comprising: providing a case; providing a cap positioned adjacent to a first end of the case; providing a first conveyor having a first helix structure and provided within the case to receive an ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) unit at a first end of the first conveyer and transport the OBS unit via the first helix structure to a second end of the first conveyor to provide the OBS unit on the seabed to acquire the seismic data, a first distance between the first end of the first conveyor and the cap less than a second distance between the second end of the first conveyor and the cap, the OBS unit comprising a geophone; providing a second conveyor having a second helix structure within the case, the second conveyor to support a second one or more OBS units; providing a support structure that extends through a central axis of the first helix structure of the first conveyor and the second helix structure of the second conveyor; receiving, by a propulsion system of the case, an instruction to move the case, the propulsion system including a propeller; and moving, by the propulsion system responsive to the instruction, the case.",
    "18. The method of claim 17, comprising: providing, by a control unit having one or more processors, via a wired or wireless transmission, the instruction to the propulsion system.",
    "19. The method of claim 17, comprising: providing, by a control unit having one or more processors, the instruction to follow a position of an object through an aqueous medium.",
    "20. The method of claim 17, wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one of: a thruster; a paddle; an oar; a waterwheel; a screw propeller; a fixed pitch propeller; a variable pitch propeller; a ducted propeller; an azimuth propeller; a water jet; a fan; or a centrifugal pump.",
    "21. The method of claim 17, comprising: adjusting a fin of the case to control a direction of the movement of the case."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Seismic data may be evaluated to obtain information about subsurface features. The information can indicate geological profiles of a subsurface portion of earth, such as salt domes, bedrock, or stratigraphic traps, and can be interpreted to indicate a possible presence or absence of minerals, hydrocarbons, metals, or other elements or deposits.\n\nAt least one aspect is directed to a system to acquire seismic data from a seabed. The system can include a case. The system can include a cap positioned adjacent to a first end of the case. The system can include a conveyor having a helix structure. The conveyor can be provided within the case. The conveyor can have a first end and a second end. The conveyor can receive an ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) unit at the first end of the conveyer. The conveyor can transport the OBS unit from the first end of the conveyor to the second end of the conveyor via the helix structure. The conveyor can provide the OBS unit on the seabed to acquire the seismic data. A first distance between the first end of the conveyor and the cap can be less than a second distance between the second end of the conveyor and the cap. For example, the first end of the conveyor can be closer to the cap than the second end of the conveyor. The system can include a propulsion system. The propulsion system can receive an instruction. Responsive to the instruction, the propulsion system can facilitate movement of the case.\n\nThe system can include a control unit. The control unit can provide the instruction to the propulsion system. In some embodiments, the propulsion system can include the control unit.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01V 1/3852",
    "B63G 2008/002",
    "B63G 2008/005",
    "B63G 2008/008",
    "B63G 8/001",
    "B63G 8/08",
    "B65G 33/04",
    "B65G 67/603",
    "G01V 1/3826",
    "G01V 2210/1427"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B63G 8/00",
    "B63G 8/08",
    "B65G 33/04",
    "B65G 67/60",
    "G01V 1/38"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "FAIRFIELD IND INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "FYFFE ROGER L",
    "MARC ETIENNE"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-07-21",
  "publication_date": "2018-08-14",
  "grant_date": "2018-08-14",
  "priority_date": "2016-03-31",
  "application_number": "US-201615216085-A",
  "family_id": "59960890",
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