RU2563316C1 - Underwater station - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: underwater station includes an emerging module (1) of measuring equipment, an anchor device (2) and positive buoyancy (5) in the form of a buoy. The positive buoyancy (5) is fitted with a beacon (19). The emerging module (1) of the measuring equipment is connected to the anchor device (2) through a releasing device (3). The lower part of the emerging module (1) of the measuring equipment is placed inside a girder (6) which is linked to the releasing device (3). The inner surface of the girder (6) is fitted with two mechanical cantilevers (8), which are fitted with three-component digital seismographs (9) and a hydrophone (12). The emerging module (1) of the measuring equipment and the anchor device (2) are made of prepolymers, the girder (6) is made of high-strength plastic and the positive buoyancy (5) is made of plastic with hollow microspheres. The emerging module (1) of the measuring equipment includes a hydroacoustic transceiver (13), a GPS receiver (14), accumulators (16), an accelerometer (38), seismic receiver sensors, an acoustic Doppler flow meter, a constant magnetic field magnetometer, a gamma spectrometer, as well as a probe for measuring electroconductivity, sea water temperature, pressure and sound speed.

EFFECT: high reliability of the underwater station.

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Description

The invention relates to the field of geophysics, and more particularly to devices for measuring geophysical and hydrophysical parameters in the bottom zone of the seas and oceans, and can be used in the operational assessment of the seismic and hydrodynamic conditions of regions and the forecast of possible seismic and environmental consequences of catastrophic phenomena of natural and technogenic nature, and also for geological and geophysical studies of offshore hydrocarbon deposits.

Known autonomous bottom stations (patents RU No. 2270464, RU No. 2276388, RU No. 2294000 [1, 2, 3]) are cylindrical or spherical bodies equipped with ballast for mounting them on the ground, inside and outside of which measuring sensors and processing tools are installed primary information. As measuring sensors are used, as a rule, hydrophones and geophones. The information registered by the sensors is stored on the flash memory of the bottom station, which, after lifting the bottom stations, is processed using a complex of ship equipment or read through sonar channels. Known bottom stations are intended primarily for recording seismic signals in marine areas. So the device [3] is a sea autonomous bottom seismic station, installed on the seabed mainly with floating means. The station includes a sealed enclosure, consisting of two hemispheres, equipped with a sealing ring at the joint. Geophysical equipment is located inside, including measuring sensors for geophonic and hydrophone types, modules for receiving, recording, converting and storing registered signals, interface units with the airborne module after surfacing and lifting the device aboard, satellite and sonar communication channels, orientation unit, synchronization unit, unit control circuit breaker and power supply. Hydroacoustic and satellite antennas, means for searching the bottom station during ascent, rigging elements and connectors, a device for placing on the bottom and for ascent of the bottom station, made in the form of a ballast, are installed on the outer surface of the hull. The technical result is to increase the accuracy of measurements, reducing the complexity and manufacturing of the bottom station, simplifying the processes of putting it to the bottom and returning to the board after the end of work.

A disadvantage of the known autonomous bottom stations is that they are designed to register only signals of seismic nature. At the same time, autonomous bottom stations can be used to solve such problems as studying the structure of the earth's crust, studying the totality of the manifestation of geophysical fields and tectonic faults directly on the ocean floor, geophysical monitoring of complex hydraulic structures, as well as for geological and geophysical studies of offshore hydrocarbon deposits .

Also known is a marine autonomous bottom electroseismic station (application WO No. 2009110818 A1, 09/11/2009 [4]), including a sealed enclosure consisting of two hemispheres, equipped with a sealing ring at the junction, inside of which the geophysical equipment is located, as well as a registration module, unit breaker control and power supply; on the outer surface of the sealed enclosure there are rigging elements and connectors, a device for placing on the bottom and providing ascent of the bottom station, as well as induction magnetic field sensors, measuring electrodes that act as electric field sensors, and a seismic sensor, while induction magnetic field sensors and measuring electrodes performing the function of measuring sensors of the electric field, made in the form of a separate module mounted on the outer surface of the sealed enclosure.

Due to the presence of induction magnetic field sensors and measuring electrodes that act as electric field sensors, it is possible to obtain simultaneous recordings of electromagnetic and seismic field variations and to construct a geoelectric section of the sedimentary cover and a velocity section of the sedimentary cover.

However, when a well-known offshore autonomous bottom electroseismic station is placed at the bottom, at medium and deep depths, mechanical and hydrodynamic effects are possible on the sealed housing, on the external surface of which there is a module consisting of induction magnetic field sensors and measuring electrodes, which leads to their damage, and accordingly, to a malfunction.

In addition, from the presence of unaccounted slopes of the seabed, disturbances in the operation of the seismic sensor are possible.

The well-known autonomous bottom seismic station (patent RU No. 2229146, 05.20.2004 [5]) contains a deep-water self-floating carrier of geophysical equipment placed in a sealed spherical container, a device for setting and removing the carrier from the bottom soil, made in the form of a ballast anchor and secured by means of breakers in the lower part of the carrier of geophysical equipment.

Known underwater station with removable power supply (US patent No. 4780863, 10.25.1988 [6]) contains a unit with measuring equipment located in a container, a disconnecting device and an anchor device, which houses a replaceable power unit. This device allows you to replace the batteries, and also allows you to remove the batteries after the end of the station and the ascent of the unit with measuring equipment.

Known underwater seismic station (US patent No. 6951138, 04.10.2005 [7]). The station is located in a container and contains a measuring unit and a detachable anchor device. It is equipped with a propulsion device and a device for controlling the movement of the station during immersion and ascent. This device autonomously starts from the ship and, planning at a given point, is installed on the ground. Upon command, the pop-up module is separated from the anchor and, when surfaced, is also guided by the motor device to the desired point.

Known underwater stations [5, 6, 7] are quite difficult to manufacture and operate. Submarine stations, especially those designed to work at great depths, must contain one or more durable detachable bodies made of durable material, glass, titanium or composite materials, which are expensive to perform and require complex detachable joints. To test and configure the equipment, sealed deep-water bushings are installed on the hulls.

Stations require replacement or energy charging of power supplies of the equipment. Therefore, all station housings are detachable.

Also known is an underwater station (patent RU No. 2388021 C1, 04/27/2010 [8]), which contains a pop-up block of measuring equipment and an anchor device. The pop-up block of measuring equipment and the anchor device are made in the form of monolithic modules. The measuring instrument module is mounted on the module of the anchor device and connected to the last disconnecting device. The anchor module contains a power source. The module of the anchor device and the module of the measuring equipment include elements of the device for contactless transfer of energy from the module of the anchor device to the module of the measuring equipment.

This design of an underwater station does not imply a station case, since the measuring instrument module and the anchor module are made in the form of monolithic modules. In particular, they can be made by pouring and curing the plastic mass, while prepolymers can be used as such substances.

In the particular case of execution, the unit of measuring equipment includes positive buoyancy in the form of a float made of plastic / plastic with microspheres.

The instrumentation module can include batteries, for example electric batteries, in order to ensure the operation of the station after it is separated from the module of the anchor device.

The instrumentation module may further include a sonar transceiver for communicating with the surface or underwater means from which a command may be issued. In addition, the module may include a GPS receiver for determining the location of the station in the water position and a beacon to facilitate its search in the dark after surfacing.

To transfer data from the measuring instrument module, it can additionally include a wireless transceiver, with which data are transmitted from the measuring equipment of the station for further use. In this case, there is no need to install output connectors on the module.

An anchor device module may include electric batteries as a power source for the measuring instrument module.

A device for contactless transfer of energy from the module of the anchor device to the module of the measuring equipment can be made in the form of a device for the contactless transmission of electric energy, while the module of the anchor device contains a transmitter of electrical energy, and the module of the measuring equipment contains a receiver of electrical energy.

Despite the apparent simplicity of manufacturing modules, the use of this design gives the station modules new and previously unknown technical properties. For example, this design provides a spatially distributed heat sink, which allows achieving extremely high integration of elements per unit area of the printed circuit board, which makes it possible, on the one hand, to make modules simple and cheap to manufacture, on the other hand, to make the equipment of modules arbitrarily complex, performing any necessary tasks.

Moreover, the modules are easy to operate and cannot violate the ecology of the area, even when they are left on the surface or the seabed, as they can be made of materials, for example prepolymers, which practically do not decompose and keep the filling of the modules from contact with the external environment.

A significant disadvantage of the known underwater station is that the power source is located in the module of the anchor device, i.e. the power source is a disposable element, and each subsequent installation of the underwater station requires a new power source, the cost of which can significantly exceed the cost of the hull of the underwater station and measuring sensors, and when setting up several underwater stations at the same time, this will lead to significant material costs.

The closest analogue to the claimed technical solution is an underwater station, cited in the source [8].

The objective of the proposed technical solution is to increase the reliability of the functioning of the underwater station.

The problem is solved due to the fact that in an underwater station containing a pop-up module of the measuring equipment and the anchor device, made in the form of monolithic modules, in which the pop-up module of the measuring equipment is installed on the anchor device and connected to the latter by means of a disconnecting device, while the pop-up module is measuring the equipment and the anchor device are made monolithic by pouring and curing the plastic mass, for which prepolymers are used, in which real buoyancy in the form of a float made of plastic with hollow microspheres is installed on the pop-up module of the measuring equipment, including batteries, for example, electric batteries, a hydroacoustic transceiver, GPS receiver, seismic sensors, an accelerometer in which a beacon is placed on the float, the lower part of the pop-up module measuring equipment placed inside the farm, made of high-strength plastic, in its lower part articulated with a disconnecting device, a pop-up m the measuring instrument’s bar further contains an acoustic Doppler flow meter, a probe for measuring electrical conductivity, sea water temperature, pressure and sound velocity, a constant magnetic field magnetometer, a gamma spectrometer, two mechanical consoles with three-component digital seismographs mounted on them with a frequency registration of seismic signals 0.03 ÷ 40 Hz and hydrophone.

In FIG. 1 shows a general view of the submarine assembly, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a measuring instrument module.

The underwater station contains a module 1 measuring equipment, module 2 of the anchor device (Fig. 1). Positive buoyancy in the form of a float 5 is established on the module 1 of the measuring device. In the position when the modules 1 and 2 are mounted on top of each other, they are interconnected via a disconnecting device 3 with connectors 4, for example, rubber bands fixed in the holes in the flange of the measuring device module 1 . The lower part of the pop-up module 1 of the measuring equipment is placed inside the truss 6 made of high-strength plastic, in its lower part, articulated with the disconnecting device 3. Inside the pop-up module 1 of the measuring equipment, a power supply 7 is installed, consisting, for example, of batteries. As the power source 7 can be used electrochemical sources operating by electrolysis of sea water, fuel cells or other sources of electrical power. On the outer surface of the farm 6 there are two mechanical consoles 8 with three-component digital seismographs 9 mounted on them with a frequency of registration of seismic signals of 0.03 ÷ 40 Hz, a hydrophone 12, an electromagnetic sensor module 20, which consists of two magnetic field induction sensors and two electric sensors fields.

The measuring equipment module 1 also includes a sonar transceiver 13, a GPS transceiver 14 for communicating with the underwater station, a measuring and control unit 15, which is equipped depending on the purpose of the underwater station. In module 1, batteries 16, which are necessary for the operation of the equipment, modems 17 of communication channels for transmitting registered data, and an accelerometer 38, which is a three-axis accelerometer of the LSM303DLM type, are also installed.

Modules 1 and 2 of the station are made monolithic by pouring plastic elements of the modules and subsequent rejection. As the plastic mass can be used prepolymers. As the plastic mass constituting the monolith of the modules, any substances known from the prior art can be used.

The float 5 may be made of plastic or plastic with microspheres containing cavities. A flashing beacon 19 is installed on the float 5 to search for an underwater station when it emerges to the water surface, as well as antennas 10 and 11, respectively, of satellite and hydroacoustic communication channels.

Figure 2. Block diagram of a measuring instrument module. The block diagram includes modules for receiving 21, recording 22, converting 23 and storing 24 registered signals, interface units 25 with the on-board module after surfacing and lifting the underwater station aboard the vessel, satellite 26 and hydroacoustic 27 communication channels, orientation unit 28, synchronization unit 29 , a control unit 30 of the disconnector and a power source 7, as well as sonar and satellite antennas 10 and 11, a seismic sensor 31, a hydrophone 12, three-component broadband digital seismographs 9.

Seismic sensor 31 is a highly sensitive sensor of the type "SM-3KV1" located on the gimbal suspension 32 in the lower part of the underwater station, which allows you to maintain the vertical location of the sensor inside the station with tilts of the seabed to 25 degrees. and is designed to record the vertical component Z of the seismic field in the frequency range from 0.5 to 40 Hz.

The underwater station is also equipped with a module 20 of electromagnetic sensors, consisting of two induction sensors of the magnetic field and two sensors of the electric field, which is installed on the outer surface of the farm 6 and is designed to register two electrical components (Ex, Eu), two magnetic components (Hx, Well) in the frequency range of the electromagnetic field from 300 to 0.0001 Hz with recording periods from 0.033 to 10000 seconds.

Based on the measurement results, for example, the simplest model of an underwater hydrocarbon reservoir is constructed, which can be represented as a homogeneous reservoir with a reduced density and an increased speed of elastic waves. In such a model of an underwater deposit, two contrasting boundaries must be present - at the bottom surface associated with the top of the deposit and at the lower boundary depth. A change in the density of precipitation and the speed of propagation of elastic waves in them creates the prerequisites for identifying underwater deposits by seismic and acoustic methods. Since the underwater deposits are distributed in the sedimentary sequence extremely unevenly and the structural anomalies encountered are of different sizes, the use of much more complex structural-acoustic models of the underwater hydrocarbon deposits may be required. The registration of seismic vibrations in the range of 20-40 Hz, the electromagnetic field in the frequency range from 300 to 0.0001 Hz with registration periods from 0.033 to 10000 seconds allows you to obtain simultaneous recordings of variations in the electromagnetic and seismic fields and to build a geoelectric section of the sedimentary cover and a velocity section of the sedimentary cover , as well as perform a geological interpretation of sedimentary cover sections, which allows you to determine the lower and upper boundaries of hydrocarbon rocks, as well as their concentration, based on which you can evaluate s gas resources and choose their place of drilling exploratory wells for the initial evaluation of the deposit.

Detailed exploration of subsea deposits is carried out through geophysical exploration in drilled wells, as well as by coring followed by their comprehensive analysis.

A station made in this way can be operated in a wide range of depths, from shallow water to the extreme depths of the oceans.

Submarine station operates as follows.

The batteries 16 necessary for the operation of the equipment of the pop-up module 1, can be pre-contactlessly charged from the charger located on the ship.

The pop-up module 1 of the measuring equipment is installed on the module 2 of the anchor device and is fastened to the disconnectors 3 by connectors 4, rubber bands.

The GPS receiver 14, which is part of the subsea station, sets the coordinates and synchronizes the time of the timers in the processor of the block 15 of the measuring and control equipment in accordance with the global time UTC. The underwater station enters measurement mode.

The underwater station sinks into the water and sinks to the bottom. Thanks to the centering of the station, the module 2 of the anchor device is located at the bottom, and the antenna of the hydroacoustic transceiver 13 is directed upwards. The diving time is controlled by the station equipment using the accelerometer 38 and the GPS transceiver 14. Assuming that the start of the dive is the moment when the GPS signal of the transceiver 14 is lost, the station antenna will be submerged. The time when the dive ends, is determined by fixing the accelerometer 38 jump negative acceleration, which will happen when the station touches the bottom surface. At a given time, based on the known depth at the installation point, the readings of the measuring equipment of the underwater station are recorded. The last of the recorded readings of the mentioned sensors and the GPS coordinates of the transceiver 14 at the time of the loss of a satellite signal (i.e., immersion in water) after proper processing will determine the exact location of the station at the bottom.

After setting up the underwater station, a signal is fed to the bottom of the electric drive 33, by means of which two mechanical consoles 8, with three-component digital seismographs 9 fixed to them with a frequency of registration of seismic signals of 0.03 ÷ 40 Hz, are transferred to a horizontal position. The spatial dispersion of three-component digital seismographs 9 from the underwater station is carried out to exclude the influence on the quality of registration of seismic signals from bottom currents, which swing the underwater station and cause vortex noise around the thin elements of the farm 6.

Three-component digital seismographs 9 with a frequency of registration of seismic signals of 0.03 ÷ 40 Hz are equipped with microaccelerometers and microcomputers to control the position of seismographs relative to the seabed.

The connection between the three-component digital seismographs 9 with the unit 1 of the measuring equipment is carried out via a cable laid in the mechanical consoles 8.

Unit 1 of the measuring equipment further comprises an acoustic Doppler current meter 34 and a probe 35 for measuring electrical conductivity, sea water temperature, pressure and sound velocity mounted on the inner surface of the truss 6, a magnetometer 36 of a constant magnetic field, a gamma-ray spectrometer 37 are additionally installed inside the unit of measuring equipment .

At the end of the time set by one of the processor timers or upon receipt of a signal from the hydroacoustic transceiver 13, the measuring equipment module 1 activates two mechanical consoles 8 with an electric drive 33 with three-component digital seismographs 9 mounted on them to bring the mechanical consoles 8 to their original position, and then breakers 3, which, in turn, release rubber bands tightening the pop-up station and the energy block. In this case, the measurement of seismic acoustic signals ceases and the ascent of module 1 of the measuring equipment begins. During the ascent and further until the moment of boarding the vessel, the pop-up station uses built-in accumulators 16, charged during its operation at the bottom from the power source 7.

After activating the breakers 3, the module 1 of the measuring equipment activates the GPS receiver 14 and determines the coordinates that will happen when the station reaches the surface.

After receiving a valid GPS signal, the transceiver 14 determines and stores information in memory. Then it transmits its coordinates to the radio and includes a flashing beacon. The vessel, having received the coordinates from the location of module 1 of the station, moves to it and module 1 is removed from the water.

On board, data is extracted from module 1 of the measuring equipment of the submarine station, after which the pop-up station can be installed on the new module 2 of the anchor unit. After that, the station can be used again.

The proposed device is implemented in installations having industrial applications, which leads to the absence of technical risks in its application.

Unlike known similar devices for marine seismic exploration for hydrocarbons, the proposed device can improve the reliability of the marine underwater station and get a wider range of signals about the state of geophysical fields, which increases the reliability of the judgment on the presence of discrete sections of underwater hydrocarbon deposits, as well as the possible development of seismic processes .

Information sources

1. Patent RU No. 2270464.

2. Patent RU No. 2276388.

3. Patent RU No. 2294000.

4. Application WO No. 2009110818 A1, 09/11/2009.

5. Patent RU No. 2229146, 05.20.2004.

6. US patent No. 4780863, 10.25.1988.

7. US patent No. 6951138, 04.10.2005.

8. Patent RU No. 2388021 C1, 04/27/2010.

Claims (1)

An underwater station containing a pop-up module for measuring equipment and an anchor device, in which a pop-up module for measuring equipment and an anchor device are made in the form of monolithic modules, a pop-up module for measuring equipment is installed on the anchor device and connected to the latter via a disconnecting device, a pop-up module for measuring equipment and an anchor device made monolithic by pouring and hardening the plastic mass; prepolyme was used as the plastic mass A positive buoyancy in the form of a float made of plastic with hollow microspheres is installed on a pop-up module of measuring equipment, including batteries, for example, electric batteries, a hydroacoustic transceiver, a GPS receiver, seismic sensors, an accelerometer, and a beacon is placed on the float, characterized in that the lower part of the pop-up module of the measuring equipment is placed inside the truss made of high-strength plastic, in its lower part articulated with a disconnecting device The pop-up module of the measuring equipment additionally contains an acoustic Doppler flow meter, a probe for measuring electrical conductivity, sea water temperature, pressure and sound velocity, a constant magnetic field magnetometer, a gamma spectrometer, two mechanical consoles with three-component digital devices mounted on them seismographs with a frequency of registration of seismic signals of 0.03 ÷ 40 Hz and a hydrophone.

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