Patent ID: 9575198
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: B63B,B63C,B63G,G01S,G01V

Claim:
1. A method for surveying subterranean formations, comprising: providing at least one self-propelled underwater vehicle, the vehicle having at least one sensor disposed therein, an outer shell or hull that is hydrodynamically designed to have a low coefficient of drag, a control unit electrically connected to a battery, wings extending from the outer shell or hull, and a ballast adjusting device to adjust the balance and inclination of the vehicle; lowering the self-propelled underwater vehicle into the sea; deploying the self-propelled underwater vehicle to a first location on the seafloor to gather seismic data via the at least one sensor, the first location having a first depth; retrieving the seismic data from the self-propelled underwater vehicle while the self-propelled underwater vehicle remains in the sea at a surface of the sea; and deploying, after the retrieving, the self-propelled underwater vehicle to a second location different from the first location and on the seafloor to further gather seismic data.