Patent ID: 9081119
Filing Date: 2015-07-14
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. A method for acquiring seismic data in a body of water, said body of water being covered by ice or ice floes, comprising: a) positioning a control station at or near an opening in the ice cover, said control station being a fixed structure or a marine vessel; b) deploying into the body of water under the ice or ice floes from said control station one or more ROV units, each said ROV unit being an unmanned unit that remains tethered by an umbilical to said control station, said umbilical providing control and power to the ROV unit under the ice or ice floes; c) operating the one or more ROV units under the ice or ice floes to deploy towed seismic sensors and recording equipment on or near the bottom of the body of water under the ice or ice floes; d) operating the same or another of the one or more ROV units under the ice or ice floes to deploy seismic source equipment on or near the bottom of the body of water under the ice or ice floes; e) generating and applying control signals to one or more of the ROV units for transfer to the equipment of c) and d) to generate and to record seismic signals; f) operating the one or more ROV units within the water under the ice or ice floes to move the seismic source equipment and seismic sensors and recording equipment to other locations, and to repeat c) through e) until completion.