Patent ID: 6975560

Claim:
A method of seismic exploration, comprising the steps of: (a) loading a plurality of seismic data receivers in a carrier located on a ship floating on the surface of a body of water, each carrier comprising a plurality of compartments that are adapted to removably hold said seismic data receivers, each of said receivers having a seismic sensor, having a memory for recording compression and shear waves emanating from the seabed, and having a switch for activating said memory; (b) lowering said carrier into the water and to a depth near the seabed by using a crane on said ship; (c) using a ROV located in the water and tethered to said ship to unload said data receivers from said carrier, to deposit each on the seabed, and to position said sensor along a survey line; and (d) remotely operating said switches to activate said memories and begin recording the response of the seabed to sound injected into the water from a vessel floating in or on said body of water.