SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACQUIRING SEISMIC DATA USING DEFINED CELLS AND INDEPENDENT PATHWAYS

摘要

An apparatus and method for collecting data acquired during a seismic survey are disclosed. The apparatus is a seismic survey system, comprising a plurality of data sources, a plurality of cells, and a plurality of independent pathways. The data sources are positioned about an area to be surveyed, each data source being associated with a transmitter capable of transmitting data. The cells each contain a portion of the data sources and their associated transmitters. One of the transmitters within each cell also serves as a gateway for receiving data transmitted from the other data source transmitters within the cell. The independent pathways each contain a portion of the gateways whereby data may be transmitted along each pathway via the gateways and associated transmitters in that pathway. The method is a method for conducting a seismic survey. The method comprises positioning a plurality of seismic data sources about an area to be surveyed; defining a plurality of cells such that each cell contains a portion of the seismic data sources; defining one of the seismic data sources within each cell to also serve as a gateway; defining a plurality of independent pathways such that each pathway contains a portion of the gateways; within each respective cell, transmitting seismic data from the seismic data sources to the gateway; and, within each pathway, transmitting the seismic data from one gateway to another to reach a central location.