Seismic source controller and display system

Abstract

A seismic survey system is described for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurement operations. According to a specific embodiment, the system may include a first seismic survey subsystem and a second seismic survey subsystem remotely located from the first seismic survey subsystem. The first seismic survey subsystem may include a first source control system; a first interface; a first wireline tool control system; and a first wireless digital communication device. The second seismic survey subsystem may include a second source control system; a second interface; at least one source signal device; and a second wireless digital communication device. According to a specific implementation, the first and second digital communication devices may be configured to provide a digital communication link for transporting digital information between the first seismic survey subsystem and second seismic survey subsystem. In at least one implementation the system may be configured to enable a user at the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify at least a portion of the first plurality of operating parameters associated with at least one source signal device located at the second seismic survey subsystem. Additionally, according to a specific embodiment, the seismic survey system of the present invention may be configured to utilize GPS information in order to improve accuracy of source signal firing timing synchronization.

1 . A method for using a first seismic survey system to remotely control desired aspects of a second, remote seismic survey system, wherein the second seismic survey system includes a first seismic source signal device, the first source signal device having a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith, the method comprising: 
 displaying at the first seismic survey system a source signal device parameter interface configured or designed to facilitate remote modification of at least a portion of the first plurality of operating parameters associated with the first source signal device;    modifying at the first seismic survey system, using the source signal device parameter interface, selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device;    transmitting the modified selected operating parameter values from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system; and    automatically implementing at the second seismic survey system, using the received modified selected operating parameter values, modification of the selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modified selected operating parameter values are transmitted from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system using a digital communication link.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of operating parameters includes source signal tuning parameters.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first source signal device is an air gun.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising performing offset borehole seismic survey measurements using the first seismic survey system and the second seismic survey system.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a blanking interval parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a manual delay parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a gun pulse width parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a polarity selection parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a filter method parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       11 . A method for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurement operations using a first seismic survey system and a second seismic survey system, wherein the second seismic survey system includes a first seismic source signal device, the first source signal device having a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith, the method comprising: 
 performing a first seismic survey measurement operation, wherein the first seismic survey measurement operation generates a first portion of quality control information;    analyzing the first portion of quality control information at the first seismic survey system;    generating modified operating parameter information in response to the analysis of the first portion of quality control information, wherein the modified operating parameter information relates to at least one operating parameter associated with the first source signal device; and    remotely modifying, using at least one interface at the first seismic survey system, at least one operating parameter associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first portion of quality control information includes a first subset of quality control information generated at the second seismic survey system; and 
 wherein the method further comprises transmitting the first subset of quality control information from the second seismic survey system to the first seismic survey system using a digital communication link.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 transmitting the modified operating parameter information from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system; and    automatically implementing at the second seismic survey system, using the received modified operating parameter information, modification of selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the modified operating parameter information is transmitted from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system using a digital communication link.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising performing offset borehole seismic survey measurements using the first seismic survey system and the second seismic survey system.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a blanking interval parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a blanking interval parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a manual delay parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a gun pulse width parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a polarity selection parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, a filter method parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first source signal device is an air gun.  
   
   
       23 . A seismic survey system for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurement operations, the system comprising: 
 a first seismic survey subsystem; and    a second seismic survey subsystem remotely located from the first seismic survey subsystem;    the first seismic survey subsystem comprising: 
 a first source control system;  
 a first interface;  
 a first wireline tool control system; and  
 a first wireless digital communication device;  
   the second seismic survey subsystem comprising: 
 a second source control system;  
 a second interface;  
 at least one source signal device; and  
 a second wireless digital communication device;  
   wherein the first and second digital communication devices are configured or designed to provide a digital communication link for transporting digital information between the first seismic survey subsystem and second seismic survey subsystem.    
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the bandwidth of the digital communication link is at least 10 Mbps.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the at least one source signal device has a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith; 
 the system being configured or designed to enable a user at the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely control at least a portion of the first plurality of operating parameters.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the at least one source signal device has a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith; 
 the system being configured or designed to enable a user at the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify at least a portion of the first plurality of operating parameters.    
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the at least one source signal device includes a first air gun; 
 the system being configured or designed to enable a user at the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely implement manual tuning of operating parameters associated with the first air gun.    
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the system is further configured or designed to automatically provide suggested operating parameter values to the user for facilitating manual tuning of the first air gun operating parameters.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the first seismic survey subsystem includes a first GPS device; 
 wherein the second seismic survey subsystem includes a second GPS device; and    wherein the system is configured or designed to utilize the first and second GPS devices to improve accuracy of source signal firing timing synchronization.    
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the accuracy of the source signal firing timing synchronization is within a range of about 1-10 microseconds.  
   
   
       31 . A system for using a first seismic survey subsystem to remotely control desired aspects of a second, remote seismic survey subsystem, wherein the second seismic survey subsystem includes a first seismic source signal device, the first source signal device having a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith, the system comprising: 
 a first seismic survey subsystem; and    a second seismic survey subsystem remotely located from the first seismic survey subsystem;    the first seismic survey subsystem comprising: 
 a first processor;  
 a first interface;  
 first memory;  
   the second seismic survey subsystem comprising: 
 a second processor;  
 a second interface;  
 second memory;  
   the first seismic survey subsystem being configured or designed to display a source signal device parameter interface configured or designed to facilitate remote modification of at least a portion of the first plurality of operating parameters associated with the first source signal device; and    the first seismic survey subsystem being further configured or designed to modify selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device using the source signal device parameter interface.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31:   the first seismic survey subsystem being further configured or designed to transmit the modified selected operating parameter values from the first seismic survey subsystem to the second seismic survey subsystem; and    the second seismic survey subsystem being configured or designed to automatically implement modification of the selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device using the received modified selected operating parameter values.    
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first seismic survey subsystem and second seismic survey subsystem are configured or designed to communicate with each other using a digital communication link.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first plurality of operating parameters includes source signal tuning parameters.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first source signal device is an air gun.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 31  being configured or designed to performing offset borehole seismic survey measurements using the first seismic survey subsystem and the second seismic survey subsystem.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 31  being configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a blanking interval parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 31  being configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a manual delay parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 31  being configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a gun pulse width parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 31  being configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a polarity selection parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 31  being configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a filter method parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       42 . A system for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurement operations using a first seismic survey subsystem and a second seismic survey subsystem, wherein the second seismic survey subsystem includes a first seismic source signal device, the first source signal device having a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith, the system comprising: 
 a first seismic survey subsystem; and    a second seismic survey subsystem remotely located from the first seismic survey subsystem;    the first seismic survey subsystem comprising: 
 a first processor;  
 a first interface;  
 first memory;  
   the second seismic survey subsystem comprising: 
 a second processor;  
 a second interface;  
 second memory;  
   the system being configured or designed to perform a first seismic survey measurement operation, wherein the first seismic survey measurement operation generates a first portion of quality control information;    the system being further configured or designed to analyze the first portion of quality control information at the first seismic survey subsystem;    the system being further configured or designed to generate modified operating parameter information in response to the analysis of the first portion of quality control information, wherein the modified operating parameter information relates to at least one operating parameter associated with the first source signal device; and    the system being further configured or designed to remotely modify at least one operating parameter associated with the first source signal device using at least one interface at the first seismic survey subsystem.    
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the first portion of quality control information includes a first subset of quality control information generated at the second seismic survey subsystem; and 
 wherein the system further comprises transmitting the first subset of quality control information from the second seismic survey subsystem to the first seismic survey subsystem using a digital communication link.    
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 42  being further configured or designed to: 
 transmit the modified operating parameter information from the first seismic survey subsystem to the second seismic survey subsystem; and    automatically implement at the second seismic survey subsystem, using the received modified operating parameter information, modification of selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the first seismic survey subsystem and second seismic survey subsystem are configured or designed to communicate with each other using a digital communication link.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 42  being further configured or designed to perform offset borehole seismic survey measurements using the first seismic survey subsystem and the second seismic survey subsystem.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 42  being further configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a blanking interval parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 42  being further configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a blanking interval parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 42  being further configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a manual delay parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 42  being further configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a gun pulse width parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 42  being further configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a polarity selection parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 42  being further configured or designed to enable the first seismic survey subsystem to remotely modify a filter method parameter value associated with the first source signal device.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the first source signal device is an air gun.  
   
   
       54 . A computer program product for using a first seismic survey system to remotely control desired aspects of a second, remote seismic survey system, wherein the second seismic survey system includes a first seismic source signal device, the first source signal device having a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith, the computer program product comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code comprising:    computer code for displaying at the first seismic survey system a source signal device parameter interface configured or designed to facilitate remote modification of at least a portion of the first plurality of operating parameters associated with the first source signal device;    computer code for modifying at the first seismic survey system, using the source signal device parameter interface, selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device;    computer code for transmitting the modified selected operating parameter values from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system; and    computer code for automatically implementing at the second seismic survey system, using the received modified selected operating parameter values, modification of the selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       55 . The computer program product of  claim 54  wherein the modified selected operating parameter values are transmitted from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system using a digital communication link.  
   
   
       56 . The computer program product of  claim 54  wherein the first plurality of operating parameters includes source signal tuning parameters.  
   
   
       57 . The computer program product of  claim 54  further comprising computer code for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurements using the first seismic survey system and the second seismic survey system.  
   
   
       58 . The computer program product of  claim 54  further comprising computer code for remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, at least one operating parameter associated with source signal device; 
 wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of: blanking interval parameters, manual delay parameters, gun pulse width parameters, polarity selection parameters, and filter method parameters.    
   
   
       59 . A computer program product for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurement operations using a first seismic survey system and a second seismic survey system, wherein the second seismic survey system includes a first seismic source signal device, the first source signal device having a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith, the computer program product comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code comprising:    computer code for performing a first seismic survey measurement operation, wherein the first seismic survey measurement operation generates a first portion of quality control information;    computer code for analyzing the first portion of quality control information at the first seismic survey system;    computer code for generating modified operating parameter information in response to the analysis of the first portion of quality control information, wherein the modified operating parameter information relates to at least one operating parameter associated with the first source signal device; and    computer code for remotely modifying, using at least one interface at the first seismic survey system, at least one operating parameter associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       60 . The computer program product of  claim 59  wherein the first portion of quality control information includes a first subset of quality control information generated at the second seismic survey system; and 
 wherein the computer program product further comprises computer code for transmitting the first subset of quality control information from the second seismic survey system to the first seismic survey system using a digital communication link.    
   
   
       61 . The computer program product of  claim 59  further comprising: 
 computer code for transmitting the modified operating parameter information from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system; and    computer code for automatically implementing at the second seismic survey system, using the received modified operating parameter information, modification of selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       62 . The computer program product of  claim 59  wherein the modified operating parameter information is transmitted from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system using a digital communication link.  
   
   
       63 . The computer program product of  claim 59  further comprising computer code for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurements using the first seismic survey system and the second seismic survey system.  
   
   
       64 . The computer program product of  claim 59  further comprising computer code for remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, at least one operating parameter associated with source signal device; 
 wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of: blanking interval parameters, manual delay parameters, gun pulse width parameters, polarity selection parameters, and filter method parameters.    
   
   
       65 . A system for using a first seismic survey system to remotely control desired aspects of a second, remote seismic survey system, wherein the second seismic survey system includes a first seismic source signal device, the first source signal device having a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith, the system comprising: 
 means for displaying at the first seismic survey system a source signal device parameter interface configured or designed to facilitate remote modification of at least a portion of the first plurality of operating parameters associated with the first source signal device;    means for modifying at the first seismic survey system, using the source signal device parameter interface, selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device;    means for transmitting the modified selected operating parameter values from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system; and    means for automatically implementing at the second seismic survey system, using the received modified selected operating parameter values, modification of the selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 65  further comprising means for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurements using the first seismic survey system and the second seismic survey system.  
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 65  further comprising means for remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, at least one operating parameter associated with source signal device; 
 wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of: blanking interval parameters, manual delay parameters, gun pulse width parameters, polarity selection parameters, and filter method parameters.    
   
   
       68 . A system for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurement operations using a first seismic survey system and a second seismic survey system, wherein the second seismic survey system includes a first seismic source signal device, the first source signal device having a first plurality of operating parameters associated therewith, the system comprising: 
 means for performing a first seismic survey measurement operation, wherein the first seismic survey measurement operation generates a first portion of quality control information;    means for analyzing the first portion of quality control information at the first seismic survey system;    means for generating modified operating parameter information in response to the analysis of the first portion of quality control information, wherein the modified operating parameter information relates to at least one operating parameter associated with the first source signal device; and    means for remotely modifying, using at least one interface at the first seismic survey system, at least one operating parameter associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 68  further comprising: 
 means for transmitting the modified operating parameter information from the first seismic survey system to the second seismic survey system; and    means for automatically implementing at the second seismic survey system, using the received modified operating parameter information, modification of selected operating parameter values associated with the first source signal device.    
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 68  further comprising means for performing offset borehole seismic survey measurements using the first seismic survey system and the second seismic survey system.  
   
   
       71 . The system of  claim 68  further comprising means for remotely modifying, using the first seismic survey system, at least one operating parameter associated with source signal device; 
 wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of: blanking interval parameters, manual delay parameters, gun pulse width parameters, polarity selection parameters, and filter method parameters.