Arctic seismic surveying operations

US9933536B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ION Geophysical Corporation · US

Inventors

• Joseph R. Gagliardi · Katy, US
• Shawn Rice · Spring, US
• Curt Schneider · Houston, US
• Jeffrey W. Cunkelman · Sugar Land, US
• Tim Dudley · Houston, US
• Dale J. Lambert · Mandeville, US
• Mike Burnham · Houston, US
• Ray Charles Pierce · Bolingbrook, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 17, 2014
• Grant date: Apr 3, 2018
• Expiry date: Sep 24, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01V1/38
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A marine seismic survey is performed in icy waters by initially planning a survey track traversing a survey area. The initial track is planned based on initial ice conditions in the survey area having the icy waters. After preparing the system, a seismic system is deployed into the water from a survey vessel at the survey area. This is typically done in an area relatively free of ice. At least one escort vessel escorts the survey vessel as it traverses the survey track and obtains seismic data. The survey vessel tows the seismic system under the surface of the icy water to avoid the ice. All the while, systems and operators monitor the survey area along the survey track for actual ice conditions. In this way, the escort vessel can handling the actual ice conditions along the survey track so the survey vessel does not need to halt.