Patent ID: 7239579
Filing Date: 2007-07-03
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. A method of acquiring seismic survey data comprising the steps: a. For generating a terrestrially transmitted seismic survey event; b. For detecting seismic reflections of said event by first and second groups of physically spaced sensors; c. For generating by said first and second sensor groups respective first and second sensor signals corresponding to said seismic reflections; d. For receiving said first and second sensor signals by respective first and second signal processing modules; e. For cyclically transmitting interrogate signals by a central data recording and control unit along a first conduit toward said first signal processing module; f. For retransmitting said interrogate signals by said first signal processing module to said second signal processing module along a second conduit; g. For beginning a transmission of a first data packet stream by said first signal processing module upon receipt of said interrogate signal, said first data packet stream comprising one or more data packets, each data packet of said first stream including digital data bits corresponding to an instantaneous signal amplitude generated by a particular sensor within said first sensor group, said first data packet stream being transmitted along said first conduit toward said central data recording and control unit, such transmission being continued for the time interval required for completion; h. For beginning the transmission of a second data packet stream by said second signal processing module upon receipt of said retransmitted interrogate signal, said second data packet stream comprising one or more data packets, each data packet of said second stream including digital data bits corresponding to an instantaneous signal amplitude generated by a particular sensor within said second sensor group, said second data packet stream being transmitted along said second conduit toward said first signal processing module, such transmission being continued for the time interval required for completion; and, i. For coordinating the retransmission of said interrogate signal by said first signal processing module to an arrival time of said second data packet stream at said first signal processing module whereby a leading data bit of said second data packet stream is received and retransmitted by said first signal processing module immediately following the moment that a last data bit of said first data packet stream is transmitted, said data packet streams being transmitted in a prescribed sequential order that enables said central data recording and control unit to determine the signal processing module origin of a specific data packet stream without explicit identification data among the digital data bits of a data packet stream.