Ocean bottom system

Abstract

An example system for deploying seismic sensor stations includes a cable storage device configured to deploy a rope, and a plurality of seismic sensor stations each having a respective coupling mechanism. The respective coupling mechanism of a seismic sensor station of the plurality of seismic sensor stations is configurable in a first position such that the rope is free to deploy through or by the seismic sensor station, and is configurable in a second position such that the rope is gripped to attach the seismic sensor station to the rope for deployment. The example system further includes a deployment control system configured to selectively cause the respective coupling mechanism of each of the plurality of seismic sensor stations to grip the rope.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for deploying seismic sensor stations, the method comprising:
 deploying a seismic sensor station with a coupling mechanism adjacent a rope; and   attaching the seismic sensor station to the rope with the coupling mechanism, wherein a deployment controller causes the seismic sensor station to grip the rope.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rope comprises a deployment rope or cable, wherein the seismic sensor station is autonomous and comprises a seismic node configured to grip the deployment rope or cable to be deployed at predetermined intervals of time, after a predetermined length of the deployment rope or cable has been deployed, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching the seismic sensor station to the rope comprises:
 positioning the coupling mechanism such that the rope is free to deploy through or by the seismic sensor station; and   positioning the coupling mechanism such that the rope is gripped by the seismic sensor station to attach the seismic sensor station to the rope.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising retracting an elongate element of the coupling mechanism to grip the rope to attach the seismic sensor station. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a length of the rope that has been deployed since deployment of the seismic sensor station; and   when a desired length of the rope has been deployed, commanding a next seismic sensor station to grip the rope and deploy.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coupling the seismic sensor station and a second seismic sensor station to a first segment of the rope;   coupling the first segment of the rope to a second segment of the rope; and   deploying the first and second segments of the rope.   
     
     
         7 . A method for attaching a plurality of seismic nodes to a deployment rope, the method comprising:
 deploying the plurality of seismic nodes adjacent the rope;   determining an interval of time or length of the rope that has been deployed; and   attaching one of the plurality of seismic nodes to the rope to deploy the one of the plurality of seismic nodes when the determined interval of time or length is equal to a predetermined interval of time or length.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: establishing a connection with a respective component of the one of the plurality of seismic nodes that is integrated onto the rope after attachment to the rope. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising operating a deployment controller to equally space the plurality of seismic nodes along the rope during deployment, or to taper or vary distances between the seismic nodes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising operating a deployment controller to taper or vary distances between adjacent seismic nodes of the plurality of seismic nodes along the rope. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising causing each of the plurality of seismic nodes to attach to the rope such that there is a distance of at least 25 meters between adjacent seismic nodes of the plurality of seismic nodes. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining a length of the rope that has been deployed since deployment of the one of the plurality of seismic nodes; and   sending a signal for a next one of the plurality of seismic nodes to grip the rope when the determined length of rope that has been deployed reaches a predetermined length.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising coupling the one of the plurality of seismic nodes to the rope with a clamping member of the one of the plurality of seismic nodes. 
     
     
         14 . A system for deploying seismic sensor stations, the system comprising:
 a cable storage device configured to deploy a rope;   a plurality of seismic sensor stations each having a respective coupling mechanism wherein the respective coupling mechanism of a seismic sensor station of the plurality of seismic sensor stations is configurable in a first position such that the rope is free to deploy through or by the seismic sensor station, and is configurable in a second position such that the rope is gripped to attach the seismic sensor station to the rope for deployment; and   a deployment control system configured to selectively cause the respective coupling mechanism of each of the plurality of seismic sensor stations to grip the rope.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of seismic sensor stations are autonomous and comprise a respective seismic node configured to grip the rope to be deployed at predetermined intervals of time, after a predetermined length of the rope has been deployed, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a sensor configured to determine a length of the rope that has been deployed. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the cable storage device comprises a winch and a winch sensor or winch controller, wherein the winch sensor or winch controller is configured to determine a number of turns of the winch that have occurred during deployment, wherein the number of turns of the winch determines a length of the rope that has been deployed. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the deployment control system comprises a processor and memory for a deployment program executable to determine a length of the rope that has been deployed since deployment of a most recent of the plurality of seismic sensor stations, and, when a desired length of the rope has been deployed, to command a next of the plurality of seismic sensor stations to grip the rope and deploy. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising an interface adapted to send commands to the plurality of seismic sensor stations, wherein a signal is sent inductively, via a connector, or via a wireless command for the next of the plurality of seismic sensor stations to grip the rope based on the length of the rope that has been deployed since deployment of the most recent of the plurality of the seismic sensor stations. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the rope comprises a cable having a predefined specific density or predefined buoyancy relative to water, or wherein the rope is made from at least one synthetic material, at least one natural material, at least one metallic material, or any combination thereof.