Marine Seismic Survey Systems and Methods Using Autonomously or Remotely Operated Vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods for carrying out seismic surveys and/or conducting permanent reservoir monitoring with autonomous or remote-controlled water vehicles, including surface and submersible vehicles, are described. Additional methods carried out by autonomous or remote-controlled water vehicles and associated with seismic surveys are further described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of seismic surveying, comprising:
 deploying a plurality of unmanned water vehicles in a region for surveying, the unmanned water vehicles comprising one or more autonomous or remotely controlled surface and/or underwater vehicles, at least one of such unmanned vehicles having motion dependent primarily on harvesting wave energy; and   coupling at least one hydrodynamic body to one or more of the unmanned water vehicles, the hydrodynamic body having a sensor for recording seismic data.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising deploying a source to generate seismic signals, the source being coupled to one of the unmanned water vehicles. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein deploying a plurality of unmanned water vehicles further comprises deploying a plurality of unmanned surface vehicles and deploying a plurality of underwater vehicles, one or more of such unmanned surface and underwater vehicles having a seismic sensor coupled thereto. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the unmanned surface vehicles has a streamer coupled thereto, and further comprising deploying the streamer in a generally vertical direction through the water column. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein one or more of the unmanned underwater vehicles has a streamer coupled thereto, and further comprising towing the streamers coupled to the underwater vehicles in a generally horizontal direction through the water column. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein one or more seismic sensors is coupled to the unmanned underwater vehicles, and further comprising maneuvering the unmanned underwater vehicles in a generally horizontal direction through the water column. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the unmanned surface vehicles has a streamer coupled thereto, and further comprising deploying the streamer in a generally horizontal direction through the water column. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein one or more of the unmanned underwater vehicles has a streamer coupled thereto, and further comprising towing the streamers coupled to the unmanned underwater vehicles in a generally vertical direction through the water column. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein one or more seismic sensors is coupled to the unmanned underwater vehicles, and further comprising maneuvering the unmanned underwater vehicles in a generally vertical direction through the water column. 
     
     
         10 . A method of seismic surveying, comprising:
 towing one or more seismic streamers with a tow vessel, the one or more seismic streamers having seismic sensors coupled thereto for recording seismic data;   deploying one or more unmanned water vehicles in an area generally proximate to the seismic streamers, the unmanned water vehicles comprising one or more autonomous or remotely controlled unmanned surface and/or underwater vehicles, at least one of such vehicles having motion dependent primarily on harvesting wave energy; and   using the unmanned water vehicles to support the seismic survey.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein using the unmanned water vehicles to support the seismic survey comprises using the unmanned water vehicles to measure current in the survey region. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting the measured current to the tow vessel. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein using the unmanned water vehicles to support the seismic survey comprises using the unmanned water vehicles to position the one or more streamers. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising using the unmanned water vehicles to record acoustic signals transmitted from the streamers, and further transmitting such acoustic signals to the tow vessel. 
     
     
         15 . A method of seismic surveying, comprising:
 deploying one or more unmanned water vehicles in a seismic survey area, the unmanned water vehicles comprising one or more autonomous or remotely controlled unmanned surface and/or underwater vehicles, wherein the unmanned water vehicles have one or more seismic sensors coupled thereto, at least one of such unmanned vehicles having motion dependent primarily on harvesting wave energy;   deploying one or more source vessels in the seismic survey area, the source vessel having one or more sources coupled thereto;   advancing the unmanned water vehicles along a predetermined path; advancing the source vessel along a predetermined path;   emitting acoustic signals from the one or more sources to generate seismic data; and   recording the seismic data via the seismic sensors coupled to the unmanned water vehicles.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the unmanned water vehicles advance along a substantially linear path and the source vessel advances along a path substantially perpendicular to the path of the water vehicles. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the unmanned water vehicles advance along a substantially linear path and the source vessel advances along a path substantially parallel to the path of the water vehicles. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the unmanned water vehicles advance along a substantially linear path and the source vessel advances along a path substantially transverse to the path of the water vehicles. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the unmanned water vehicles advance along a substantially linear path and the source vessel advances along a substantially circular or elliptical path in the survey area. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the unmanned water vehicles advance at a first velocity and the source vessel advances at a second velocity, the first velocity being less than the second velocity. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the seismic sensors are disposed in a hydrodynamic body coupled to the unmanned water vehicles.