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.

Apparatus and methods to operationally deploy land-based seismic nodes. An autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle includes apparatus for placing, monitoring, testing, servicing, and collecting nodes in a harsh environment such as, e.g., tundra or desert. Associated methods of node deployment and retrieval are disclosed including a rollover deployment.

An attachment system for securing an object, such as a seismic node or other external device, to a rope or cable includes a latch block and a latch member movably connected to the latch block for selective engagement with a coupling feature on the rope or cable. The latch block may be attached to or integrated with the object and can include opposing side members defining a channel extending through the latch block, the channel sized for selective receipt of the rope or cable therein. The latch member may selectively engage the coupling feature as the rope or cable is received in sliding engagement within the channel.

A seismic receiver array has a plurality of seismic receiver channels, each coupled to a local surrounding in an earth formation. A formation-material-dependent response of each seismic receiver channel is determined, and associated with an assumed depth for the corresponding seismic receiver channel. The formation-material-dependent responses as function of the assumed depth are compared to an independent depth log of at least one petrophysical parameter of the earth formation as a function of depth along the borehole. Based on the comparison, a set of lags between said assumed depth and depth in the independent depth log is determined, that provides the best correlation between the formation-material-dependent response and the independent depth log of the at least one petrophysical parameter of the earth formation. The assumed depth of each seismic receiver channel can thus be aligned with corresponding depths in the independent depth log.

The method comprises flying at least a probe carrier flying vehicle above a dropping area on the ground, the probe carrier flying vehicle carrying probes and a launcher, configured to separate each probe from the probe carrier flying vehicle; activating the launcher to separate at least one of the probes from the probe carrier flying vehicle above the dropping area; falling of the probe from the flying vehicle in the ground of the dropping area; at least partial insertion of the probe in the ground of the dropping area. When the probe carrier flying vehicle is located above a target dropping area, before activating the launcher, the method comprises determining a vegetation information at the target dropping area using a flying vegetation detector.

The method comprises triggering at least an event of the preparation and/or of the carrying out of the ground survey in a predetermined area of the region of interest; flying at least a presence detector able to detect the presence of a human and/or of an animal and/or of civil facilities in the predetermined area of the region of interest; before triggering the event, detecting presence of a human and/or of an animal and/or of civil facilities in the predetermined area with the presence detector; controlling the triggering of the event based on the results of the detection of a human and/or of an animal and/or of civil facilities made with the presence detector.

An unmanned seismic vessel system can include a hull system configured to provide buoyancy and a storage apparatus configured for storing one or more seismic nodes, each seismic node having at least one seismic sensor configured to acquire seismic data. A deployment system can be configured for deploying the seismic nodes from the storage apparatus to the water column, where the seismic data are responsive to a seismic wavefield, with a controller configured to operate the deployment system so that the seismic nodes are automatically deployed in a seismic array.

A marine seismic sensor system includes a seismic node having at least one seismic sensor. The sensor is configured for sampling seismic energy when towed through a water column on a rope. The coupling can be adapted to modulate transmission of acceleration from the rope to the seismic node.

A seismic data acquisition system includes a recording unit to record acquired seismic data and ground equipment containing surface units and wireless field digitizer units. Each surface unit is in communication with the recording unit and contains a first wireless communication module and a power supply mechanism transmitter coil. Each wireless field digitizing unit includes a seismic sensor unit, a second wireless communication module in communication with the seismic sensor unit and one of the first wireless communication modules to exchange digital data between the first and second wireless communication modules and a power supply mechanism receiver coil. The power supply mechanism receiver coil is magnetically coupled to the power supply mechanism transmitter coil in one of the surface units to transmit electrical energy wirelessly from the surface unit to the wireless field digitizer.

The present invention relates to a sensor device for geophysical measurement intended to be disposed on a surface of a ground, comprising: a sealed enclosure deformable into at least one stable configuration in which a surface of the enclosure is deformed by a surface of the ground against which the surface of the enclosure is in contact, the enclosure being partially filled with a material configured to be deformed by said surface, at least one geophysical sensor arranged inside the enclosure , and fully surrounded by the material or being fixed or printed on the surface of the enclosure intended to be in contact with the surface of the ground.