Patent ID: 8576658

Claim:
A method for acquiring seismic data at a plurality of acquisition positions spread out over a zone on the seabed, the method comprising the following steps: transmitting acoustic waves in the water layer above said zone by using a plurality of sources; for said acquisition positions, dropping from the surface seismic acquisition equipment, a seismic acquisition equipment comprising a seismic acquisition unit and an autonomous guiding equipment adapted to receive acoustic signals from said sources and to control a trajectory of the seismic acquisition equipment according to the received signals so as to direct said seismic acquisition equipment towards said acquisiton position on the seabed, wherein said control of the trajectory is performed in the seismic acquisition equipment with no input from a mother vessel; performing the seismic acquisition with a seismic sensor located on the seismic acquisition equipment such that the seismic sensor couples to the seabed; and causing the seismic acquisition equipment to move back to the surface together with the seismic sensor.