Apparatus for seismic data acquisition

Abstract

A seismic exploration method and unit comprised of continuous recording, self-contained wireless seismometer units or pods. The self-contained unit may include a tilt meter, a compass and a mechanically gimbaled clock platform. Upon retrieval, seismic data recorded by the unit can be extracted and the unit can be charged, tested, re-synchronized, and operation can be re-initiated without the need to open the unit's case. The unit may include an additional geophone to mechanically vibrate the unit to gauge the degree of coupling between the unit and the earth. The unit may correct seismic data for the effects of crystal aging arising from the clock. Deployment location of the unit may be determined tracking linear and angular acceleration from an initial position. The unit may utilize multiple geophones angularly oriented to one another in order to redundantly measure seismic activity in a particular plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A seismic data collection unit comprising:
 a. a fully enclosed, single case formed of a housing, said case having a wall defining an internal compartment within said housing; 
 b. at least one geophone internally fixed within said housing; 
 c. a clock disposed within said housing; 
 d. a power source disposed within said housing; and 
 e. a seismic data recorder disposed within said housing; 
 f. wherein each of said elements b-e include an electrical connection and all electrical connections between any elements b-e are contained within said housing; and 
 g. wherein said geophone is coupled to said seismic data recorder to permit seismic signals detected by said geophones to be recorded on said seismic data recorder, 
 h. wherein the single case comprises a first plate having a first periphery and a second plate having a second periphery, wherein the plates are joined along their peripheries by a circular wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said unit is self contained and requires no external communications or controls during recording. 
     
     
       3. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the case is watertight. 
     
     
       4. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one geophone is disposed adjacent a plate. 
     
     
       5. A seismic data collection unit comprising:
 a. a fully enclosed, single case formed of a housing, said single case having a first plate having a first periphery and a second plate having a second periphery, wherein the plates are joined along their peripheries by a circular wall, said wall defining an internal compartment within said housing; 
 b. at least one geophone internally fixed within said housing; 
 c. a clock disposed within said housing; 
 d. a power source; and 
 e. a seismic data recorder disposed within said housing. 
 
     
     
       6. The unit of  claim 5 , wherein said unit is self contained and requires no external communications or controls during recording. 
     
     
       7. The unit of  claim 5 , wherein , wherein each of said elements b-c include an electrical connection and all electrical connections between any elements b-c are contained within said housing. 
     
     
       8. The unit of  claim 5 , wherein the power source includes a fuel cell attached to the case. 
     
     
       9. The unit of  claim 5 , wherein the power source includes a solar cell attached to the case. 
     
     
       10. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the case defines an external surface, and the external surface is provided with ridges to enhance coupling of unit with the earth. 
     
     
       11. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the case defines an external surface, and the external surface is provided with at least one spike to enhance coupling of unit with the earth. 
     
     
       12. The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a. three geophones disposed within said case; and 
 b. a compass. 
 
     
     
       13. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the geophone is a multi-component geophone capable of measuring seismic signals in at least two directions angularly oriented to one another. 
     
     
       14. The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a GPS location transducer. 
     
     
       15. The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a radio unit. 
     
     
       16. The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an external connector in electrical communication with at least one of said geophone, clock, power source and seismic recorder, said connector extending through the wall of said case and disposed within said wall so as to be set in from the external surface of said wall. 
     
     
       17. The unit of  claim 16 , further comprising a water tight, pressure resistant cap disposed over said external connector. 
     
     
       18. The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an internal control mechanism for controlling all functions of the unit while deployed. 
     
     
       19. The seismic data collection unit of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a. at least four seismic data geophones disposed within said case, wherein at least three of said geophones are disposed adjacent one another and at least one geophone is disposed in a location within said case removed from said other geophones. 
 
     
     
       20. The seismic data collection unit of  claim 5 , further comprising a case in which the at least four seismic data geophones are disposed, wherein said at least three geophones are disposed in said case to maximize detection of seismic energy and said at least one geophone is disposed in said case to maximize vibration of said case by said removed geophone. 
     
     
       21. A seismic data collection unit comprising:
 a. a fully enclosed, single case formed of a housing, said single case having a first plate having a first periphery and a second plate having a second periphery, wherein the plates are joined along their peripheries by a circular wall, said wall defining an internal compartment within said housing; 
 b. at least one geophone internally fixed within said housing; 
 c. a clock disposed within said housing; 
 d. a power source disposed within said housing; 
 e. positional electronics disposed within said housing; 
 f. orientation electronics disposed within said housing; and 
 g. a seismic data recorder disposed within said housing; 
 h. wherein each of said elements b-g include an electrical connection and all electrical connections between any elements b-g are contained within said housing. 
 
     
     
       22. A seismic data collection unit comprising:
 a. a non-spherical pod formed of a single housing, said pod comprising a wall defining an internal compartment within said single housing;   b. at least one geophone internally fixed within said internal compartment;   c. a clock disposed within said internal compartment;   d. a power source disposed within said internal compartment; and   e. a seismic data recorder disposed within said internal compartment;   f. wherein each of said elements b-e include an electrical connection and all electrical connections between any elements b-e are contained within said internal compartment; and   g. wherein the at least one geophone is coupled to the seismic data recorder to permit seismic signals detected by said geophones to be recorded on said seismic data recorder.    
     
     
       23. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, wherein said seismic data collection unit is self contained and requires no external communications or controls during recording.  
     
     
       24. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, wherein said pod is watertight.  
     
     
       25. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, wherein a portion of an external surface of the pod comprises at least one projection to enhance coupling of the seismic data collection unit with the earth.  
     
     
       26. The seismic data collection unit of claim 25, wherein the at least one projection is at least one spike, at least one ridge, or at least one groove.  
     
     
       27. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, further comprising: a compass; and at least two additional geophones disposed within said pod.  
     
     
       28. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, wherein the at least one geophone is a multi-component geophone capable of measuring seismic signals in at least two directions angularly oriented to one another.  
     
     
       29. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, wherein a portion of the pod has a circular shape.  
     
     
       30. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, wherein a portion of the pod has a non-circular shape.  
     
     
       31. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, further comprising a GPS location transducer.  
     
     
       32. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, further comprising a radio unit.  
     
     
       33. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, further comprising an external connector, wherein the external connector is disposed in electrical communication with the at least one geophone, the clock, the power source and the seismic data recorder, and wherein the external connector extends through a portion of the wall of the single case.  
     
     
       34. The seismic data collection unit of claim 33, further comprising a water tight, pressure resistant cap disposed over said external connector.  
     
     
       35. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, wherein the power source comprises a fuel cell or a solar cell.  
     
     
       36. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, wherein:
 the at least one geophone comprises at least four seismic data geophones disposed within said case,   at least three seismic data geophones of said at least four seismic data geophones are disposed proximate to one another, and   at least one seismic data geophone of said at least four seismic data geophones is disposed at a location within said internal compartment that is removed from the at least three seismic data geophones that are disposed proximate to each other.    
     
     
       37. The seismic data collection unit of claim 36, wherein the at least three seismic data geophones that are disposed proximate to each other are configured to maximize detection of seismic energy, and wherein the at least one seismic data geophone that is removed from the at least three seismic data geophones is configured to mechanically vibrate the pod.  
     
     
       38. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, further comprising a tilt meter disposed in the internal compartment.  
     
     
       39. The seismic data collection unit of claim 22, wherein the pod comprises at least one internal partition disposed within the internal compartment.  
     
     
       40. The seismic data collection unit of claim 39, wherein the at least one partition is disposed proximate to the power source, and wherein the at least one partition separates the power source from other components in the pod.  
     
     
       41. The seismic data collection unit of claim 39, wherein the at least one partition is disposed proximate to the seismic data recorder, and wherein the at least one partition separates the seismic data recorder from other components in the pod.  
     
     
       42. The seismic data collection unit of claim 39, wherein the at least one partition is disposed proximate to the seismic data recorder, and wherein the at least one partition separates the seismic data recorder from the at least one geophone.  
     
     
       43. The seismic data collection unit of claim 39, wherein the at least one internal partition divides the internal compartment into multiple compartments.  
     
     
       44. The unit of claim 1, wherein said geophone is configured to vibrate said housing.  
     
     
       45. The unit of claim 1, wherein said geophone is a first geophone, further comprising:
 a second geophone configured to vibrate the case.    
     
     
       46. The unit of claim 5, wherein said geophone is configured to vibrate said housing.  
     
     
       47. The unit of claim 5, wherein said geophone is a first geophone, further comprising:
 a second geophone configured to vibrate the case.    
     
     
       48. The unit of claim 21, wherein at least one of said at least one geophone is configured to vibrate said housing.  
     
     
       49. The unit of claim 22, wherein at least one of said at least one geophone is configured to vibrate said pod.