Single vessel range navigation and positioning of an ocean bottom seismic node

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for monitoring, positioning, and/or guiding a plurality of seismic nodes on or near the seabed by a plurality of acoustic pinging devices coupled to a deployment line and at least one surface buoy. The acoustic pinging devices are configured to emit a unique ID that may be detected by a receiver or transceiver located on each of the surface buoys. The acoustic pinging devices may be coupled to each node or only to a portion of the plurality of nodes (such as every two, three, or four nodes). The monitoring system may be configured to identify the ID, position, depth, and height of each seismic node during travel to the seabed and upon node touchdown with the seabed. A guidance system may be configured to guide the deployment of the deployment cable based upon node position data determined by the monitoring system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A monitoring system for the deployment of seismic nodes on or near the seabed, comprising:
 a plurality of ocean bottom seismic nodes coupled to a deployment cable that is coupled to a surface vessel;   a plurality of acoustic pingers, wherein each of the plurality of acoustic pingers is coupled to each of the plurality of seismic nodes, wherein each of the plurality of acoustic pingers is configured to emit a ping with a unique ID; and   a plurality of acoustic receivers located on one or more surface buoys towed behind the surface vessel, wherein the plurality of acoustic receivers is configured to detect the emitted pings.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface buoys is coupled to the surface vessel with a buoy connecting line, wherein the buoy connecting line is configured to provide power to the surface buoy and data transfer between the surface buoy and the surface vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface buoys comprises a plurality of surface buoys, each comprising at least one of the plurality of acoustic receivers. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of surface buoys is positioned on one side of the deployment cable and at least one of the plurality of surface buoys is positioned on the other side of the deployment cable. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of surface buoys is configured to substantially remain in a predetermined position with respect to the surface vessel and at least one of the plurality of surface buoys. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring system is configured to determine a touchdown position of the plurality of seismic nodes on the seabed based upon the emitted pings. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the monitoring system is configured to communicate the touchdown position of each of the plurality of seismic nodes with the surface vessel at approximately the same time as touchdown. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface buoys comprises an autonomous surface vehicle (USV). 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface buoys is a self-positioning buoy. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface buoys is self-powered. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of acoustic pingers emits a ping at a predetermined interval for a period of time, wherein the predetermined interval is at least 2 seconds and the period of time is at least 5 minutes. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of acoustic pingers is remotely actuated by a surface transceiver. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of acoustic pingers is actuated by contact with water. 
     
     
         14 . A method for monitoring the deployment of a plurality of seismic nodes on or near the seabed, comprising:
 deploying a plurality of seismic nodes from a surface vessel onto the seabed, wherein the nodes are coupled to a deployment cable, wherein each node is coupled to an acoustic pinger;   emitting pings from each of the acoustic pingers;   towing one or more surface buoys by the surface vessel, wherein the one or more surface buoys comprises one or more acoustic receivers;   monitoring the deployment of the deployed seismic nodes by receiving the emitted pings at the one or more acoustic receivers; and   determining a touchdown position of the plurality of seismic nodes based on the emitted pings.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising maintaining a desired position of the one or more surface buoys behind the surface vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more surface buoys comprises a plurality of surface buoys, further comprising maintaining a desired position of the plurality of surface buoys with respect to the other surface buoys and the surface vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising modifying the deployment cable as it is deployed from the surface vessel based on the touchdown position of the plurality of seismic nodes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising communicating the touchdown position of each of the plurality of seismic nodes with the surface vessel at approximately the same time as touchdown. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising predicting a touchdown position of the plurality of seismic nodes on the seabed based upon the emitted pings. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising determining the ID, position, depth, and height of each of the plurality of seismic nodes upon touchdown with the seabed based upon the emitted pings.