Patent · US Active

Fiber optic microseismic sensing systems

US9194738B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
36References
89Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 22, 2010
Grant dateNov 24, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 24, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01P15/093
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A fiber optic microseismic sensing system is provided. The system includes a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes including a surface portion, an underground portion, and an optical cable extending between the surface portion and the underground portion. The surface portion includes (1) an optical source for transmitting an optical signal along the optical cable to the underground portion, and (2) an optical receiver for receiving a return optical signal propagating along the optical cable from the underground portion. The underground portion includes at least one transducer, each of the at least one transducer including (1) a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest, (2) a moveable portion having a range of motion with respect to the fixed portion, (3) a spring positioned between the fixed portion and the moveable portion, and (4) a mass engaged with the moveable portion. The optical cable includes a length of fiber wound between the fixed portion and the moveable portion of each of the at least one transducer, the length of fiber spanning the spring. In one disclosed aspect of the transducer, the mass envelopes the moveable portion.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.