Disclosed is a geophysical or seismic exploration system. The system comprises a set of explosive device magazines configured for carrying a plurality of explosive device components, wherein the explosive device components are configurable to form individual explosive devices, and wherein each explosive device carries a set of explosive compositions and is configured for collimating an explosive shock wave produced thereby into a quasi-planar shock wave output from a distal end of the explosive device to produce a geophysical or seismic exploration wave. The system also includes a set of unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicles, wherein each unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicle comprises an aerial or land-based unmanned vehicle configured for carrying an explosive device magazine and delivering the explosive device magazine to a first in-field location at which each explosive device is deployable for carrying out a geophysical or seismic exploration operation.

Disclosed is a geophysical or seismic exploration system. The system comprises a set of explosive device magazines configured for carrying a plurality of explosive device components, wherein the explosive device components are configurable to form individual explosive devices, and wherein each explosive device carries a set of explosive compositions and is configured for collimating an explosive shock wave produced thereby into a quasi-planar shock wave output from a distal end of the explosive device to produce a geophysical or seismic exploration wave. The system also includes a set of unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicles, wherein each unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicle comprises an aerial or land-based unmanned vehicle configured for carrying an explosive device magazine and delivering the explosive device magazine to a first in-field location at which each explosive device is deployable for carrying out a geophysical or seismic exploration operation.

Techniques for imaging a subterranean formation include activating an acoustic energy source that is at least partially submerged in a volume of liquid on or under a terranean surface; based on the activating, producing acoustic wave energy that travels through the volume of liquid and to a subterranean zone below the terranean surface; receiving, at one or more acoustic receivers, reflected acoustic wave energy from the subterranean zone; and generating, with a control system, data associated with the subterranean zone based on the reflected acoustic wave energy.

Techniques for imaging a subterranean formation include activating an acoustic energy source that is at least partially submerged in a volume of liquid on or under a terranean surface; based on the activating, producing acoustic wave energy that travels through the volume of liquid and to a subterranean zone below the terranean surface; receiving, at one or more acoustic receivers, reflected acoustic wave energy from the subterranean zone; and generating, with a control system, data associated with the subterranean zone based on the reflected acoustic wave energy.

Seismic blasting methods and apparatus are presented in which detonator confirmation time break (CTB) is accurately determined by maintaining an applied voltage across detonator leg wires following initiation of a firing command or signal and sensing one or more electrical parameters such as voltage and/or current, and selectively identifying a CTB representing a time at which the monitored electrical parameter indicates a successful detonation.

Seismic blasting methods and apparatus are presented in which detonator confirmation time break (CTB) is accurately determined by maintaining an applied voltage across detonator leg wires following initiation of a firing command or signal and sensing one or more electrical parameters such as voltage and/or current, and selectively identifying a CTB representing a time at which the monitored electrical parameter indicates a successful detonation.

Disclosed is a geophysical data acquisition system. The system comprises a frame assembly; a set of ground engaging members connected to the frame assembly, and adapted to move the frame assembly along the ground surface; and a carrier assembly carried by the frame assembly, the carrier assembly having one or more seismic source subsystems and a drive mechanism adapted to move each of the one or more seismic source subsystems through a plurality of positions between a lowered position and a raised position and forward and rearward positions with respect to the frame assembly. The movement of each of the one or more seismic source subsystems being in coordination with the movement of the frame assembly, such that each of the one or more seismic source subsystems move to the lowered position when the frame assembly approaches one or more data acquisition points on the ground surface.

Disclosed is a geophysical data acquisition system. The system comprises a frame assembly; a set of ground engaging members connected to the frame assembly, and adapted to move the frame assembly along the ground surface; and a carrier assembly carried by the frame assembly, the carrier assembly having one or more seismic source subsystems and a drive mechanism adapted to move each of the one or more seismic source subsystems through a plurality of positions between a lowered position and a raised position and forward and rearward positions with respect to the frame assembly. The movement of each of the one or more seismic source subsystems being in coordination with the movement of the frame assembly, such that each of the one or more seismic source subsystems move to the lowered position when the frame assembly approaches one or more data acquisition points on the ground surface.

The present invention pertains to a system and method for accelerating a mass using a pressure produced by a detonation, where the mass is accelerated over a movement range using a detonation of a pressure wave generator that produces a pressure within a coupling component that is applied to a piston having a surface area that produces a resultant force, where the acceleration of the mass determines the resulting force. The resulting force may be directed vertically and perpendicular to a target media to conduct an acoustic wave into the target media. The system may be configured to direct the resulting force horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a plane shear wave into the target media. Two systems may be configured to direct two resulting forces horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a spherical shear wave into a target media, where the two resulting forces are directed in opposite directions and separated by some distance.

The present invention pertains to a system and method for accelerating a mass using a pressure produced by a detonation, where the mass is accelerated over a movement range using a detonation of a pressure wave generator that produces a pressure within a coupling component that is applied to a piston having a surface area that produces a resultant force, where the acceleration of the mass determines the resulting force. The resulting force may be directed vertically and perpendicular to a target media to conduct an acoustic wave into the target media. The system may be configured to direct the resulting force horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a plane shear wave into the target media. Two systems may be configured to direct two resulting forces horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a spherical shear wave into a target media, where the two resulting forces are directed in opposite directions and separated by some distance.