The method comprises providing at least one seismic source in a seismic source area and providing a plurality of seismic receivers in said seismic source area, said method comprising measuring a first type of ground vibrations induced in a subsurface of the area of interest by the at least one seismic source with the plurality of seismic receivers. The method further comprises measuring with the plurality of seismic receivers at least one second type of ground vibrations induced by a mechanical source different from the or from each seismic source and analyzing the second type of ground vibrations to determine at least one information among: a physical parameter of the subsurface and/or, a presence of human and/or an animal and/or a vehicle.

A system for searching for underground entities in ground of an area, including a search probe configured to generate and deliver an acoustic signal into the ground of the area, wherein the acoustic signal uses a low frequency signal so that wavelengths of the acoustic signal are between 0.01-500 times the depth to the sought underground entity, two or more sensors positioned on the ground at about an equal distance from the search probe at different angles, an analysis device that receives measurements from the two or more sensors in the form of a measured echo signal responsive to the delivered acoustic signal, wherein said analysis device designates pairs of sensors and subtracts their echo signals to identify a difference indicating the existence of an underground entity.

The present disclosure provides methods of data acquisition and processing of seismic data that combines nodal survey design, especially sparse nodal surveys, with the hybrid gather processing methodologies.

Apparatus and methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An apparatus includes an acoustic sensor installed in a drilling fluid circulation system of a drilling rig, the acoustic sensor coupled to one of the following: (i) a bell nipple, (ii) a gooseneck, or (iii) a standpipe. Raw acoustic sensor data generated real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with rock during drilling is received, and a plurality of acoustic characteristics are derived from the raw acoustic sensor data. The lithology type of rock undergoing drilling may be determined from the acoustic characteristics. Petrophysical properties of the rock undergoing drilling may be determined using a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm employable to predict the petrophysical properties of rock undergoing drilling from the raw acoustic sensor data.

One or more wavegates are located on a seismic surface vessel to substantially prevent or limit waves from crashing onto a back deck of the vessel. The wavegate may comprise one or more steel gates or doors located at or near the aft portion of the vessel, such as on or near the rear end of the back deck, that may be moveable between a closed position and an open position. Each door may be fixed in position and/or be rotated and/or moveable in a horizontal and/or vertical direction between different positions. The wavegate allows the surface vessel to travel backwards and/or in the face of incoming waves while substantially preventing and/or limiting waves from crashing onto the back deck of the marine vessel. The seismic surface vessel may be a deployment vessel or a hybrid seismic shooting and deployment vessel or another marine surface vessel.

The high sensitivity provided by an enhanced DAS system comprising a DAS interrogator and a high reflectivity fiber allows for the deployment of such a high reflectivity fiber as part of a wireline intervention cable which can be temporarily lowered into a well, thus avoiding the need to permanently cement such a high reflectivity optical fiber cable into the well. Instead, such a wireline cable incorporating the high reflectivity optical fiber has been found to be sensitive enough to detect micro-seismic activity and low frequency strain with many more measurement points and channels than conventional wireline deployed geophones and tiltmeters. Additionally, the cable requires no clamping and can be easily and quickly removed from one well and placed in another well.

A downhole seismic array is disclosed. The array comprises a load-bearing cable for carrying a series of seismic sensor units arranged along its length. Each seismic sensor unit is attached to the load-bearing cable via a vibration-absorbing material and has a magnet to attach the seismic sensor unit to the well casing.

A system for searching for underground entities in ground of an area, including a search probe configured to generate and deliver an acoustic signal into the ground of the area, wherein the acoustic signal uses a low frequency signal so that wavelengths of the acoustic signal are between 0.01-500 times the depth to the sought underground entity, two or more sensors positioned on the ground at about an equal distance from the search probe at different angles, an analysis device that receives measurements from the two or more sensors in the form of a measured echo signal responsive to the delivered acoustic signal, wherein said analysis device designates pairs of sensors and subtracts their echo signals to identify a difference indicating the existence of an underground entity.

Apparatus and methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An apparatus includes an acoustic sensor installed in a drilling fluid circulation system of a drilling rig, the acoustic sensor coupled to one of the following: (i) a bell nipple, (ii) a gooseneck, or (iii) a standpipe. Raw acoustic sensor data generated real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with rock during drilling is received, and a plurality of acoustic characteristics are derived from the raw acoustic sensor data. The lithology type of rock undergoing drilling may be determined from the acoustic characteristics. Petrophysical properties of the rock undergoing drilling may be determined using a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm employable to predict the petrophysical properties of rock undergoing drilling from the raw acoustic sensor data.

Embodiments herein describe a reconfigurable UAV to allow for the deployment of a subsurface sensor. The UAV includes a rotor assembly that is slidably coupled to a landing base. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotors and a ring circumscribing the rotors. Upon landing, the rotor assembly rotates in a first direction with respect to the landing base, which reduces a spacing between the rotor assembly and the ground and drives a sensor coupled to the rotor assembly into the ground. To remove the sensor from the ground, the rotor assembly rotates in a second direction to increase the spacing between the rotor assembly and the ground. The ring and/or the landing base may include interlocking features such as helical threads that are utilized to translate a rotational motion of the rotor assembly into a linear translation of the rotor assembly along the length of the landing base.