Heads-up Navigation for Seismic Data Acquisition

Abstract

A method and system for acquiring seismic data from a seismic survey plan is provided. A survey area is selected in which the seismic data will be acquired. A coordinate for at least one point of interest within the survey area is determined and input into a portable navigation device. A navigation solution is determined between a GPS-determined location of the portable navigation device and the determined coordinate and thereupon presented in a human cognizable media. A seismic device may be positioned at the determined coordinate to insonify a subterranean formation with seismic energy or for detecting reflected seismic energy. Data may be periodically entered into and retrieved from the portable navigation device by an in-field operator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

1 . A method for conducting a seismic survey, comprising: 
 (a) selecting a survey area in which the seismic data will be acquired;    (b) determining a coordinate for the at least one seismic device within the survey area;    (c) inputting the determined coordinate into a portable navigation device;    (d) determining a navigation solution between a determined location of the portable navigation device and the determined coordinate; and    (e) presenting the determined navigation solution in a human cognizable media.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the seismic device is a seismic source, and further comprising activating the seismic source to insonify a subterranean formation with seismic energy.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the seismic device is a sensor station.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , and further comprising detecting reflected seismic energy at the sensor station.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising positioning the seismic device at the determined coordinate.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising retrieving the seismic device.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising periodically entering data into the portable navigation device, the data representing at least one of: (i) a status of the mobile unit, (ii) a terrain characteristic, (iii) a topography characteristic, (iv) a characteristic of the coordinate, and (v) an image of a surrounding terrain.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising retrieving data from the portable navigation device representing at least one of: (i) a status of a mobile unit, (ii) a terrain characteristic, (iii) a topography characteristic, (iv) a characteristic of the coordinate, and (v) an image, while retrieving a selected device.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the determined coordinate is associated with a location of one of: (i) a sensor station, (ii) a seismic source, (iii) a rendezvous point, (iv) a mobile unit, and (v) a power supply.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising obtaining the determined location of the portable navigation device from a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) device.  
     
     
         11 . A system for conducting a seismic survey, comprising: 
 (a) a database configured to contain data associated with a survey plan, the data containing at least one coordinate associated with a point of interest;    (b) a computer configured to access the database;    (c) a portable navigation device configured to receive the at least one coordinate from the computer;    (d) a device configured to determine a location of the portable navigation device;    (e) a processor configured to determine a navigation solution from the determined location and the at least one coordinate; and    (f) a presentation device configured to present the determined navigation solution in a human cognizable media.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the data further contains a plurality of coordinates, each of which is associated with a seismic device.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the portable navigation device further comprises a memory module configured to receive data relating to at least one of: (i) a status of a mobile unit, (ii) a terrain characteristic, (iii) a topography characteristic, (iv) a characteristic of the coordinate, and (v) an image of a surrounding terrain.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the determined coordinate is associated with one of: (i) a sensor station, (ii) a seismic source, (iii) a rendezvous point, (iv) a mobile unit, and (v) a power supply.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the device configured to determine a location of the portable navigation device is a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) device.  
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium containing a computer program that when executed by a processor performs a method for guiding a mobile unit in a geographical area of interest, the computer program comprising: 
 instructions to obtain a location for at least one seismic device from a survey plan database;    instructions to obtain a location of the mobile unit from a location sensor carried by the mobile unit;    instructions to determine a navigation solution for guiding the mobile unit to the at least one seismic device; and    instructions to send the navigation solution to an output device to present the navigation solution in a human cognizable media.    
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16  further comprising instructions to obtain coordinates related to the mobile unit from a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) device.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16  further comprising instructions to obtain from a knowledge database geographical data related to at least one of: (i) legal boundaries; (ii) transit routes; (iii) a layout of a seismic spread; (iv) crew schedules; (iv) preset rendezvous points; (v) support areas.  
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the survey plan database includes one of: (i) a GIS database; and (ii) a historical seismic survey database.  
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the output device includes one of a visual display and an audio speaker.