An autonomous seismic node is configured for free-fall from a water surface to the seabed and is capable of rising from the seabed on its own. The seismic node is positively buoyant in water and is substantially tubular in shape, with a length to a diameter ratio of 4:1 or greater. The node comprises a lower section and an upper section, each of which is inserted into an end of a tubular housing. The lower section has a lower end cap assembly with a release mechanism and the upper section has an upper end cap assembly with a plurality of electronic components and a detachable lifting cage. The seismic node may be coupled to a detachable anchor weight or seabed coupling device to assist in free fall to the seabed, and when detached after seismic recording is performed, allows the seismic node to rise to the water surface.

An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The AUV includes a body extending along an axis X and having a head portion, a middle portion, and a tail portion, wherein the middle portion is sandwiched between the head portion and the tail portion along the X axis; a cross-section of the middle portion, substantially perpendicular on the X axis, having a triangular-like shape; the head portion including a base portion having the triangular-like shape and configured to match the middle portion; the head portion having a tip that, when projected along the X axis on the base portion, substantially coincides with a centroid of the base portion having the triangular-like shape; and a seismic payload located within the body and configured to record seismic signals.

A method for processing seismic data may include receiving, via a processor, the seismic data acquired via a seismic survey. The seismic survey may include seismic sources that emit seismic wavefields at different locations. Each of the seismic sources may change a directivity pattern of a respective seismic wavefield based on a respective location of the respective seismic source. The seismic survey may also include seismic receivers that may receive the seismic data. The method may also include generating one or more basis functions that correspond to measurements of the seismic data, modelling a signal component of the seismic data as a sum of the one or more basis functions, and storing the signal component in a storage component. The signal component may be used to acquire an image of a subsurface region of the earth for identifying a feature in the subsurface region of the earth.

A method for cycling autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that record seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The method includes deploying plural current AUVs on the ocean bottom; recording the seismic signals during the marine seismic survey with plural current AUVs; releasing from an underwater base a new AUV to replace a corresponding current AUV from the plural current AUVs; recovering the current AUV; and continuing to record the seismic signals with the new AUV.

Seismic node systems can be configured for acquiring seismic sensor data with an array of seismic receivers or nodes deployable in a survey area, each receiver or node having a seismic sensor for acquiring the seismic sensor data, a clock, a controller and local memory. The seismic sensor can data characterize a seismic wavefield proximate the seismic receivers in the survey area. Quality control data can be generated based on the seismic sensor data and associated timing information provided by the respective clock, and incorporated into a seismic data flow for recording in the local memory.

A seismic deployment system having a deployment apparatus, a tow line, and a carrier line having a plurality of seismic sensor coupled therealong. The deployment apparatus has a hydrodynamic body. The tow line is configured for towing the hydrodynamic body through a water column. The carrier line is engaged with the deployment apparatus. The deployment apparatus is configured to control tension in the carrier line for deployment of the seismic sensors while the hydrodynamic body is towed through the water column by the tow line.

Embodiments of systems and methods for storing and handling a plurality of autonomous seismic nodes are presented. The node handling and storage system may be coupled to a node deployment system that deploys and/or retrieves nodes from water from the back deck of a marine vessel. One embodiment of the node handling and storage system includes a plurality of portable containers that may be assembled in a variety of configurations based on the vessel and survey requirements. The containers are coupled to an autonomous or semi-autonomous node conveyor and/or transport system that moves the nodes between and within the containers for node cleaning, downloading, charging, servicing, and storage. The conveyor system may include a plurality of different transport devices and/or systems, such as rotatable conveyors, lateral conveyors, lift mechanisms, and elevators.

It is proposed a seismic data acquisition device (400) intended to be placed on an ocean bottom floor, comprising a polymeric casing (412) defining a chamber that houses at least art of a data acquisition system (440, 444, 445); and a metallic device (414) in which the polymeric casing (412) is trapped, the metallic device (414) comprising two metallic beams (4141, 4142) that extend on opposite sides of the polymeric casing (412).

It is also proposed a method for assembling such a device and a corresponding method for seabed seismic data acquisition.

A packed sensor line array system includes sensors mounted outboard of cable packs wrapped around a central mandrel. The system may have multiple rows (layers) of the sensors and cable packs, surrounded by a cannister. Cable retainers may be used to retain cable ends near sensors, to keep the cable ends out of the way of subsequent winding operations. The winding may be done in situ, with the mandrel mounted to a rotatable chuck that is rotated to wind the individual cable packs sequentially around the mandrel, with positioning of the sensors outboard of the windings occurring between the winding operations. A positionable indexing tool may be coupled to and moved along the mandrel, to define a space along the mandrel for each cable pack winding.

An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The AUV includes a body having a flush shape; an intake water element located on the body and configured to take in water; at least one propulsion nozzle located on the body and configured to eject the water from the intake water element for actuating the AUV; at least one guidance nozzle located on the body and configured to eject water to change a traveling direction of the AUV; and a seismic payload located on the body of the AUV and configured to record seismic signals.