A marine seismic acquisition system includes a frame that includes a central longitudinal axis and members that define orthogonal planes that intersect along the central longitudinal axis; a data interface operatively coupled to the frame; hydrophones operatively coupled to the frame; a buoyancy engine operatively coupled to the frame where the buoyancy engine includes at least one mechanism that controls buoyancy of at least the frame, the hydrophones and the buoyancy engine; and at least one inertial motion sensor operatively coupled to the frame that generates frame orientation data, where the hydrophones, the buoyancy engine and the at least one inertial motion sensor are operatively coupled to the data interface.

A seismic node for collecting seismic data, the seismic node including a base configured to define a chamber having an open face; a main electronic board having a processor, the main electronic board being placed inside the chamber; a battery pack configured to supply electrical power to the main electronic board and placed inside the chamber; and a digital cover that attaches to the open side of the base to seal the chamber, and a sensor device located inside the chamber and attached to a wall of the base to form a digital field unit, or an analog cover that attaches to the open side of the base to seal the chamber, and an analog sensor electrically attached to the analog cover to form an analog field unit.

The present invention discloses a system and method for phased array sound wave advanced geological exploration for a shield tunneling machine. The system includes a phased array sound wave emitting and receiving apparatus, a probe automatic telescopic apparatus, an automatic protection and cleaning apparatus, and a signal processing and imaging system. Sonic probes are installed on a side wall of a main spoke, opposite to a rotation direction, of a cutterhead of the shield tunneling machine, on the basis of automatic detection of a telescopic state and a contact state, sonic array probes are enabled to make contact with a tunnel face by a hydraulic push rod, a focus sound wave is emitted by using a phased array emitting technology, and a reflected wave signal with front geological information reflected from the front of the tunnel face is received. A scanning direction of a sound wave beam is controlled and changed continuously through a host system, on the premise of obtaining a suspected abnormal body position, the suspected position is imaged in detail by using a focusing image till scanning of a whole two-dimensional section is completed, then the cutterhead is rotated to change an arrangement direction of an array to continue scanning of a next two-dimensional section, and finally three-dimensional geological exploration in front of the tunnel face is realized.

An acoustic vector sensor (“AVS”) includes one or more sensitive elements arranged in an orthogonal configuration to provide high-sensitivity directional performance. The one more sensitive elements may be seismometers arranged in a pendulum-type configuration. The AVS further includes a hydrophone.

A seismic attenuation quality factor Q is determined for seismic signals at intervals of subsurface formations between a seismic source at a marine level surface and one or more receivers of a well. Hydrophone and geophone data are obtained. A reference trace is generated from the hydrophone and geophone data. Vertical seismic profile (VSP) traces are received. First break picking of the VSP traces is performed. VSP data representing particle motion measured by a receiver of the well are generated. The reference trace is injected into the VSP data. A ratio of spectral amplitudes of a direct arrival event of the VSP data and the reference trace is determined. From the ratio, a quality factor Q is generated representing a time and depth compensated attenuation value of seismic signals between the seismic source at the marine level surface and the first receiver.

The present disclosure is directed to a MEMS-based rotation sensor for use in seismic data acquisition and sensor units having same. The MEMS-based rotation sensor includes a substrate, an anchor disposed on the substrate and a proof mass coupled to the anchor via a plurality of flexural springs. The proof mass has a first electrode coupled to and extending therefrom. A second electrode is fixed to the substrate, and one of the first and second electrodes is configured to receive an actuation signal, and another of the first and second electrodes is configured to generate an electrical signal having an amplitude corresponding with a degree of angular movement of the first electrode relative to the second electrode. The MEMS-based rotation sensor further includes closed loop circuitry configured to receive the electrical signal and provide the actuation signal. Related methods for using the MEMS-based rotation sensor in seismic data acquisition are also described.

A hybrid sensing apparatus for collecting data inside a well, the apparatus including an optical cable that acquires a first set of data; and an array of discrete probes connected to each other with an electrical cable. The discrete probes are configured to acquire a second set of data. The apparatus further includes an attachment system attached to the discrete probes and configured to hold the optical cable. The attachment system is configured to expose the optical cable to directly contact the well.

A horizontal acoustic vector sensor system described herein includes a housing which has a gimbal assembly therein which is attached to a sensor assembly which has multiple pairs of seismometers that arranged orthogonally to one or more neighboring pairs of seismometers, along an approximately horizontal axis. The gimbal assembly with sensor assembly are enclosed within the housing by an endcap which includes an electronics assembly. The multiple pairs of seismometers are wired to the electronics assembly through a slip-ring which allows for movement of the gimbal assembly without entangling the wires. The horizontal acoustic vector sensor system further includes at least one omni-directional hydrophone integrated into the endcap.

The present disclosure is directed to a MEMS-based rotation sensor for use in seismic data acquisition and sensor units having same. The MEMS-based rotation sensor includes a substrate, an anchor disposed on the substrate and a proof mass coupled to the anchor via a plurality of flexural springs. The proof mass has a first electrode coupled to and extending therefrom. A second electrode is fixed to the substrate, and one of the first and second electrodes is configured to receive an actuation signal, and another of the first and second electrodes is configured to generate an electrical signal having an amplitude corresponding with a degree of angular movement of the first electrode relative to the second electrode. The MEMS-based rotation sensor further includes closed loop circuitry configured to receive the electrical signal and provide the actuation signal. Related methods for using the MEMS-based rotation sensor in seismic data acquisition are also described.

A seismic attenuation quality factor Q is determined for seismic signals at intervals of subsurface formations between a seismic source at a marine level surface and one or more receivers of a well. Hydrophone and geophone data are obtained. A reference trace is generated from the hydrophone and geophone data. Vertical seismic profile (VSP) traces are received. First break picking of the VSP traces is performed. VSP data representing particle motion measured by a receiver of the well are generated. The reference trace is injected into the VSP data. A ratio of spectral amplitudes of a direct arrival event of the VSP data and the reference trace is determined. From the ratio, a quality factor Q is generated representing a time and depth compensated attenuation value of seismic signals between the seismic source at the marine level surface and the first receiver.