Patent Description:
The laying of undersea cables and pipelines is commonplace around the world. In order that this can be undertaken safely it is commonplace to take surveys of the seabed along the proposed route for the pipe or cable. This is particularly the case where the pipeline or cable crosses an area where naval conflict has taken place and there is a significant risk of UXO's such as mines and bombs remaining intact on the seabed. This is typically done in a two-stage process where an initial acoustic and magnetic geophysical survey is undertaken by a vessel using apparatus either mounted to the vessel or towed along behind the vessel. This is used to undertake a broad survey identifying potential targets of concern.

Once such targets have been identified a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is used to conduct a more detailed survey of the targets which have been identified. This process involves flying an ROV over the target area in short reciprocal paths crossing the survey area close to the seabed in a pattern which allows more detailed topographic and metallic content data to be gathered relating to the seabed around the target. This in turn allows a detailed image to be produced which can then be interpreted to determine whether remedial action is required. However, accurate data acquisition requires ROV stability and smooth flight and therefore additional time is taken to overrun the target area, this allows the ROV to turn then regain stability for the next crossing all of which is time consuming.

In order for such targeted surveys to be undertaken by an ROV, the conditions on the seabed must be quite calm and it is quite common, particularly in areas of shallow water where currently are stronger, for the undertaking of such a survey to be very difficult or only possible during certain states of tide and certain weather conditions. Furthermore, the manpower required to operate an ROV and process the data is significant and specialist and large vessels are required in order to handle the on and off loading of the ROV. As a result, the detailed surveys are expensive to undertake adding significantly to the cost of laying a cable or pipeline.

Examples of the prior art are disclosed in the patent applications published under the following numbers <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> <NPL>.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or alleviate the above described disadvantages of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a seabed survey apparatus as set out in claim <NUM>.

By providing a survey apparatus with a body mounted on a frame and detectors for gathering data related to topographical information and metallic content information of the seabed the advantage is provided that an accurate survey of a small area of seabed, typically <NUM> x <NUM>, can be surveyed in detail much less expensively than deploying an ROV. Furthermore, the number of personnel required to operate the device of the present invention and the skill level of the people on the vessel is significantly lower than to operate an ROV. The apparatus of the present invention can be lowered from a vessel by a crane via a lift cable (which is accompanied by a secondary cable carries electrical power and the signals from the detectors). The time taken to lower the apparatus of the present invention is similar to that required to deploy ROV and as a result the time saving comes from the speed of scanning. For example, an ROV can take approximately <NUM> minutes to conduct a seabed survey that can be conducted in <NUM> minutes using the apparatus of the present invention. Furthermore, because the apparatus of the present invention is stabilised on the seabed the data received is more accurate and requires less data manipulation and interpretation in order to produce clear and accurate images. These images can also be created in seabed conditions which are significantly worse than those where an ROV is useable. For example, in relatively shallow areas and at time of significant tidal current ROV devices are unable to operate whereas the apparatus of the present invention is able to operate safely and produce high quality images.

According to the invention, the body further comprises at least one detector mover for moving the detector on said frame.

By having a detector mover, the advantage is provided that smaller numbers of detectors are required in order to scan a large area such as <NUM> x <NUM>.

According to the invention, the detector mover comprises a beam mounted and movable on said frame, said detectors mounted on said beam.

By using a beam mounted to the frame, the advantage is provided that a single row of detectors can be provided to produce an image across a significantly larger area.

In a further preferred embodiment the detector mover further comprises a carriage mounted on and moveable along said beam and having at least one detector mounted thereon.

By providing a carriage mounted to the beam the advantage is provided that a single detector can scan the whole area immediately below the apparatus.

The detector mover may comprise at least one height adjustment device for moving at least one of said detector relative to the seabed.

Having the detectors mounted on a height adjustable device provides the advantage that the apparatus can be used on unusual terrain of seabed to maintain the accuracy of images produced.

The apparatus may further comprise at least one third detector for gathering third data which can be interpreted to give visual information relating to the seabed adjacent said body.

Having a third detector which can gather visual information allows further detail of the potential UXO to be provided. This improves the accuracy of UXO identification and reduces the likelihood of false positive identification.

The apparatus may also further comprise at least one fourth detector for gathering fourth data which can be interpreted to give topographical information relating to a volume below said surface of the seabed adjacent said body and wherein said first detector gathers information which can be interpreted to give topographical information relating to said surface of the seabed adjacent said body.

In a preferred embodiment the legs comprise height adjustment means for altering the length of the legs.

By altering allowing the height of the legs to be altered the advantage is provided that the frame can be levelled or stabilised in order to produce the best data images.

In a preferred embodiment the first detector comprises at least one sonar apparatus.

In another preferred embodiment the first detector comprises at least one multibeam echo sound apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment the first detector comprises at least one laser scanner.

The first detector may comprise at least one camera.

By using a camera (preferably multiple cameras) to generate the topographical information has the advantage that both topographical and image information can be obtain from a single set or type of detectors.

In a preferred embodiment the second detector comprises at least one gradiometer.

In another preferred embodiment the second detector comprises at least one induction electrically conductive material detector.

In a preferred further embodiment the third detector comprises at least one camera.

The apparatus may further comprise at least one lighting device.

In another preferred embodiment the fourth detector comprises a sub-bottom imager.

The apparatus may also further comprise at least one pump for removing seabed material from adjacent the apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of conducting a seabed survey according to claim <NUM>.

The method may further comprise processing said data to produce at least one video image of the seabed adjacent said body.

The method may further comprise firstly conducting at least one acoustic and magnetic geographic survey of the seabed to identify potential targets for conducting the steps set out above to undertake a more detailed survey.

The method may the further comprise dealing with any unexploded ordinance identified in said survey and repeating the steps set out above.

The method may also further comprise using said pump to remove material from the seabed.

In a preferred embodiment the data from the vessel is sent to an onshore location and undertaking said processing using a processing device located onshore.

Onshore data-processing significantly reduces the manpower costs associated with undertaking the UXO surveys using the apparatus of the present invention.

Furthermore, the provision of processed data package to UXO specialists onshore further reduces the cost of carrying the specialist onboard the vessel during the initial survey campaign.

Should physical intervention works be required at the site in relation to potential UXO, the apparatus can be deployed again to perform acoustic and magnetic geographic survey of the seabed confirming success or progress of the intervention works.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:.

Referring to <FIG>, a seabed survey apparatus <NUM> includes a body, generally indicated at <NUM> which itself comprises a frame <NUM> supported on a plurality, in the embodiment shown in <FIG>, four legs <NUM>. The ends of the legs <NUM>, which are distal of the frame <NUM>, are provided with feet <NUM> to engage the seabed when the survey apparatus <NUM> is in use. The legs are formed in two parts and are extendable, by hydraulic rams, to enable the body to be stabilised and the frame levelled if necessary.

Mounted to the body <NUM> and specifically to the frame <NUM> is a detector mover in the form of a beam <NUM> which has an upper beam portion <NUM> and a lower beam portion <NUM>. The upper beam portion <NUM> is mounted to and is movable on the frame <NUM>. Specifically, the upper beam has a hydraulic motor <NUM> which is able to drive wheels (not shown) mounted in the frame <NUM> to move the beam <NUM> from one end of the frame <NUM> to the other. However, other suitable drive mechanisms, such as electrical drives, may be used. The outermost part of the frame <NUM> is formed from four beam members <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and, in the example shown in <FIG>, the beam moves from frame member <NUM> to frame member <NUM> by travelling along the frame members <NUM> and <NUM>.

Mounted to the beam <NUM>, and therefore in turn to the frame <NUM>, are a plurality of detectors which gather data about the seabed adjacent the survey apparatus. These detectors include a first detector in the form of a pair of multi-beam echo sounders <NUM> which are mounted to either end of the upper beam portion <NUM>. This multi-beam echo sounders are able to gather data which, when processed, can be interpreted to give topographical information relating to the seabed adjacent the apparatus. This data is presented in the form of a map of the <NUM> x <NUM> square below the frame <NUM>.

Mounted on the lower beam portion <NUM> are a plurality, in this embodiment, ten, second detectors, in the form of gradiometers <NUM> which gather data that when processed can be interpreted to give information relating to the metallic content of the seabed adjacent the apparatus. By providing ten gradiometers <NUM> the whole width of the beam <NUM> can be scanned in a single operation providing an accurate assessment of the presence or absence of metal objects on, buried into or below the seabed. This signal strength data is presented in the form of a map of the <NUM> x <NUM> square below the frame <NUM>.

Also mounted to the lower beam portion <NUM> are at least one, and in this example a plurality, of third detectors, in the form of a series of cameras <NUM>. Associated with the cameras are a plurality of lights <NUM> which together gather third data which can be interpreted to give visual information relating to the seabed adjacent the apparatus. This data is presented in the form of digital video recordings and images of the <NUM> x <NUM> square below the frame <NUM>.

Joining the upper and lower beam portions <NUM> and <NUM> are a pair of beam connectors <NUM> which are hydraulically or electrically controlled to vary the distance between the upper and lower beam portions thereby allowing the height at which the cameras <NUM>, lights <NUM> and gradiometers <NUM> are scanned relative to the seabed. This is particularly important where the seabed surface is uneven, where a suspected UXO's extend out of the seabed and where the seabed is particularly soft and the feet and legs begin to sink into that surface.

In order to manoeuvre the apparatus <NUM> onto the seabed a cable <NUM> is provided from each corner of the frame <NUM>, these cables being joined together and suspended from a main lift cable <NUM>.

A second cable (running parallel to the main lifting cable <NUM> but not shown in the figures) is used to carry power and data. This cable enables data from the various detectors to be transferred, via a transfer processor <NUM>, and received on board the vessel.

Operation of the seabed survey apparatus will now be described. Before the apparatus is used an initial survey of the whole of the route of a proposed pipeline or cable is undertaken using standard surveying techniques such as acoustic surveying to identify topographical information and magnetic surveys. These are typically undertaken using multibeam echo sounder and/or side scan sonar conducted from a moving vessel and metal detection using a gradiometer. This initial survey identifies possible targets which require further investigation.

These targets then utilise the seabed survey apparatus <NUM> of the present invention in order to conduct a more detailed survey of that target area. A vessel delivers the seabed survey apparatus <NUM> to the target area by lowering the apparatus on cables <NUM> and <NUM> until the feet <NUM> of legs <NUM> contact the seabed. The location of the apparatus <NUM> on the seabed is determined using methods familiar to persons skilled in the art including, but not limited to:.

The surface positioning of the support vessel is typically achieved by utilising GPS differentially corrected by either real time kinetic (RTK) network or base station corrections received by satellite, internet, mobile or ultra-high frequency radio communications.

For relative positioning systems (such as USBL transceiver, taut wire or LARS) the geographic location of the apparatus <NUM> relative to the vessel is determined by 3D rotation calculation using some or all of the following factors:.

If not established by the systems mentioned above, the depth below sea level of the apparatus is determined via pressure / water depth sensors mounted on the apparatus or relative to known seabed surface levels.

Once the apparatus is located on the seabed the legs <NUM> can be extended or retracted as required in order to stabilise the apparatus and if necessary level the frame <NUM> relative to the seabed. When the apparatus is stable and in position the surveying of the seabed can be conducted.

Data is gathered by each of the detectors when the beam is in the starting position, adjacent the first frame member <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The beam <NUM> is then moved along the frame members <NUM> and <NUM> and data gathered whilst the beam moves. Once the beam <NUM> has reached the frame member <NUM> a scan of the seabed is complete. The data is either continually streamed up to the survey vessel or packaged and transferred once the survey is complete.

The various data are then processed in order to produce graphic representations of the seabed. The data from the multibeam echo sounders <NUM> is used to produce topographical maps of the <NUM> x <NUM> portion of the seabed immediately below the frame <NUM> of the survey apparatus <NUM>. Similarly, the data gathered from the magnetic field equipment (that is the gradiometers <NUM>) is processed to produce one or more images representing the metallic or conductive content of the seabed adjacent the survey apparatus. The image data from the cameras is also processed to produce images of the seabed adjacent the apparatus.

This data processing can take place on the vessel or alternatively data can be transferred from the vessel to an onshore data processing facility. This allows data from multiple surveys to be processed by an experienced data analyst who does not need to travel to the survey location.

In the event that one or more UXO's are identified in a survey suitable remedial action can be taken. This can include removal of the UXO, for example by explosion. A repeat survey can then be undertaken in order to determine whether the remedial action that has sufficiently dealt with the UX0 to make the survey area safe.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the protection which is defined by the appended claims. For example, <FIG> shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the legs <NUM> are not extendable and the beam <NUM> is a single beam carrying all of the detectors. In this example, since the legs cannot vary the distance of the detectors from the seabed surface, it is advantageous to have the height of the beam adjustable to allow the detectors to be positioned at the ideal distance from the surface being surveyed.

It should be noted that the beam <NUM> is not an essential component of the present invention as the frame could be mounted with sufficient detectors to capture data for the whole of the <NUM> x <NUM> area below the survey apparatus. Although such an embodiment has advantages of being mechanically simpler that the moving beam, the additional expense of many more detectors may make this option less desirable.

The gathering and interpretation of data to provide topographical information relating to the seabed can be carried out by other means than the multibeam echo sound in the following non-limiting list. For example, laser scanners can be used to generate the topographical information. Furthermore, acoustic sonar can be used and this would typically involve placing four sonar detector devices in the corners of the frame <NUM> thereby avoiding the need to mount them on the beam <NUM>.

The topographical information can also be interpreted from the image data gathered by the cameras. As a result, the first detectors can be replaced with cameras which also provide the video images. This is achieved by fixed separation of multiple cameras with known positions to allow photogrammetric modelling of the imagery they produce to create three dimensional images which are the topographic information of the seabed surface. In this example the second detectors remain as those determining the metal content in the seabed.

The cameras <NUM> described above are typically standard underwater cameras with light detection in the visible range. However, spectral cameras detecting light outside the standard visible range may be used to improve visibility where the water column contains obstructive levels of particles. In addition, the use of bandpass filters to as assist in material identification may be used.

Other material detection techniques may also be used to determine the metallic content of the seabed adjacent the apparatus. For example, pulse induction detectors can be used. This method is particularly effective at shorter ranges than gradiometers and is therefore very effective in the apparatus of the present invention as the distance from the detectors to the seabed is easily controlled by the adjustment of the legs or the beam relative to the frame.

In addition to the other detectors, fourth detectors, in the form of sub-bottom imagers, are also provided in a further alternative embodiment. These sub-bottom imagers are able to gather data which can be interpreted to provide information relating to the composition of the seabed below the surface (which is measured by the first detector, multi-echo sounder <NUM>. The additional use of the sub-bottom imaging provides additional useful information particularly relating to the depth at which metal objects, detected by the second detectors gradiometers <NUM>, are buried. For example, the sub-bottom imager can distinguish a small metallic object just below the seabed surface from a larger object more deeply buried.

Furthermore, the sub-bottom imager may be used in place of the multibeam echo sounders <NUM> by providing data which can be interpreted to provide information about the seabed and the volume below the seabed, particularly topographical information relating to the seabed surface and below the seabed surface adjacent the frame. In other words, a combination of sub-bottom imager together with gradiometers, or the like, for determining metallic content on or below the seabed, provides sufficient information to identify UXO's. However, this information is enhanced by the addition of video images and further enhanced with multi-beam echo sounders providing true topographical data.

Claim 1:
A seabed survey apparatus comprising:
a body (<NUM>) having a frame (<NUM>) and a plurality of legs (<NUM>) extending therefrom, distal ends of said legs for engaging the seabed;
at least one first detector (<NUM>) mounted on said body for gathering first data to be interpreted to give topographical information relating to a surface or a volume below said surface of the seabed adjacent said body; and
at least one second detector (<NUM>) mounted on said body for gathering second data to be interpreted to give information relating to the metallic content of the seabed adjacent said body, wherein said body (<NUM>) is characterized in that it further comprises at least one detector mover for moving the detectors (<NUM>, <NUM>) on said frame (<NUM>) and said detector mover comprises a beam (<NUM>) mounted and movable on said frame (<NUM>), said detectors (<NUM>, <NUM>) mounted on said beam (<NUM>).