Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HUMAN-PORTABLE GEOPHYSICAL ENERGY SOURCE
The present invention relates to a geophysical energy source that can be carried by
human beings.
BACKGROUND OF THF INVFNTION
For the past sixty years the petroleum and mining industries have used, controlled,
and contained energy sources to gellel~L~ surface and sub-surface vibrations within the
earth in order to record, process, and analyæ the-reflected or refracted energy returning
from sub-surface geologic strata in the earth for the purpose of e'.~ill~Lillg the most
favorable locations to contain or trap petroleum andlor mineral deposits. These, and other
efforts, are referred to as geophysical or seismic surveys.
The predominant energy source used for geophysical surveys has historically beenvarious forms of explosives. These products are detonated under controlled and accurately
timed conrliti-)n~ whereby the elapsed time required for the energy to propagate through the
earth and be reflected or refracted back to sensitive detectors which are deployed on or near
the earth's surface in a specific manner. These detectors respond to the reflected energy
and the vibrations from the reflected energy cause small ~lt~m~ting current voltages which
are amplified and then recorded either by m~c~nic;~l, electronic, or optical means.
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From the analysis of the recorded data so obtained, accurate esl;"~tl,s can be
effected concerning the shape and depth of sublell~neum strata and the probability of
locating petroleum or mineral deposits.
Because the explosive energy is impulsive and non-direction~t, the signal-to-noise
ratios of the recorded data are often too poor to accurately estim~te the depth and shape of
the desired strata. Consequently, other types of energy sources are often used to improve
the signal-to-noise ratios in those areas where explosive energy is not effective.
One such energy source uses oscill~tory, vibrator genera~d energy produced by the
combination of servo controlled, hydraulically or pnellm~ti-~lly driven vibrator units. This
technique has become the pl~rell-,d geophysical energy source in many areas of the world.
This technique uses large self-propelled vehicles which not only provide propulsion but
also provide a large mass to insure that the vibrator units remain coupled to the earth and
produce down-ward going energy.
These vibrator units are driven by electronically produced, oscill~tory signals which
are amplified by the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure of the unit and causes a baseplate to
shake in unison with the applied signals. Normally, these signals are of mathematically
coded nature in order that the coded information can be removed from the reflected or
refracted energy either before, during, or after the data is recorded
Since the vibrator units or other vehicle mounted energy sources must be held to the
earth, and the amount of force imparted into the earth is a direct relation to the weight of the
~ass used, these t~pes of sources have not and cannot be used efficiently
in ruq~ed, hostile
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or impassable terrain. Consequently, large areas of
land on the earth have not and cannot use many desired
techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of this invention is as follows:
A human-portable geophysical energy source
comprising:
(a) an earth-coupling element;
lo (b) a means for providing seismic energy operably
connected to said earth-coupling element;
(c) a containing means comprising at least one
flexible container connected to said means for providing
seismic energy; and
(d) a means for filling and removing liquid from
said containing means, wherein said liquid provides mass
to impart energy through said earth-coupling element and
to maintain coupling with the earth.
This unique concept uses the sources in a human-
portable mode whereby the source units can be used
without the need of large vehicles or carriers to
provide propuls-ion and mass. All of the various
t~c~niques which require a large mass to provide
coupling, or direction, or reaction to convert or
transmit energy into the earth are included under this
concept.
Preferably, the human-portable geophysical energy
source has a framework that minimizes vibrations of the
liquid by keeping the containing means inflexible when
that containing means is completely filled with liquid.
Preferably, the containing means has an upper
container and a flexible lower container. The lower
container is above the earth-coupling element, and the
upper
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container is above both the lower con~iner arld tbe means for providing seismic energ~.
Bo~h container~ may be covered with a protecovc ma~eri~l lo prevent puncn~res.
'rhis concept lses the n~ass and wei~ht provide~ by an ~ccum~ on of li~uid or
li~uids. Thesc acçumu~ations of mass providcd by the liquid or liquids, can be movcd,
conveycd, or transported by ~ny of the vaAous forms of pumps, centrifuges, flowlines,
~ y feed, sucnon or any o~er Inanner which can cause a liquid or liq-~ids lo move from
one loca~on to another. The resul~ing rnass can provide coupling, rcac~on or foree in any
direcnon or re~a~on to une cenler of ~ravi~y of the m~ss.
Therefore, the movemenl, conveyance, transpona~ion or couplin$ of the IllaS5 eanbe readily effecte~ b~ conduits,pipes. can.~ls, hoses, tubes or any other de~ice conG~ci~e
to the movemen~ of li~uid or li4uids. in ar ~r~ou~h ~he m~jon~v of the areas th~r are no~
s-~ppor~ve ro vehic~ r mo-~emenr.
Advantaaes of usin~ a liquid or ~iquids ~s an easily moved rnas5 inclu~e
( 1 j the liquid can be used a~a~n and a~ain by h~in~ mul~iple uni:s deployed
(7) flexible l~nks or conrainers can be useA to hold the licuid or iiqL;ids.
13) tan~s or conr~ ers c~n be s~acked ~o increase Lne mass,
~4) human-p~nable pumps are easily canied ~o move the liquid,
(5) all componenrs of thc source units can be designe~ to allow the units to
be carried by manpo~ er,
(6) min~ cxpend~hle supplies arç rcquued ~nd ~herefore operanons cost is
low, and
(7) mulriple unirs c~n be supponed b~ a single ser o~ elecrronics.
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Another aspect of this invention is as follows:
A human-portable geophysical energy source
comprising:
(a) a earth-coupling element;
(b) a means for providing seismic energy operably
connected to said earth-coupling element;
(c) a flexible lower container connected to said
means for providing seismic energy, wherein said lower
container is located on top of the earth-coupling
element and provides hold-down weight to couple the
earth-coupling element to the earth;
(d) an upper container connected to said means for
providing seismic energy, wherein said upper container
is located spatially above the means for providing
seismic energy and provides mass to impart energy
through the earth-coupling element;
(e) a framework that minimizes vibrations of the
liquid by keeping said upper and lower containers
inflexible when said containing means is completely
filled with liquid; and
(f) a hydraulic pump for filling and removing
liquid from said containers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to facilitate the understanding of this
invention, reference will now be made to the appended
drawings of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention. The drawings are exemplary only, and should
not be construed as limiting the invention.
Figure l i~ a schematic drawing of one emho~iment
of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of the use of more
than one human-portable unit.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In its broadest aspect, the present invention is a
human-portable geophysical energy source having an
earth-coupling element, a means for providing seismic
energy operably connected to the earth-coupling element,
a containing means having at least one flexible
container connected to the means for providing seismic
energy, and means for filling and
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removing liquid from the containing means. The liquid provides mass to impart energy
through the earth-coupling elempnt and to m~int~in coupling with the earth.
By "earth-coupling elçm~nt," we mean an element that is in direct connPc~ n withthe earth and couples imparted energy to the earth. A typical earth-coupling element is a
baseplate.
By "means for providing seismic energy" we mean a device that geneld~s
geophyslcal energy that can be imparted to earth.
Preferably, the cn~ in~ means has an upper CQ~ c~ and a lower container. The
lower cont~in~r is spatially above the earth-coupling cle- . .e~-t The upper cl~nt~inp~r is
spatially above both the lower cont~inPr and the means for providing seismic energy. Both
of the cont~iners may be covered with a protective material to prevent punctures.
Preferably, vibrations of the liquid within the containing means can be minimi7Pd
by using a framework that keeps the col-l;1i.-il-g means inflexible when the containing
means is completely filled with liquid.
Preferably, the means for filling and removing liquid from the containing means is a
hydraulic pump.
In one embo liment~ the human-portable geophysical energy source has an earth-
coupling element, a means for providing seismic energy operably connected to the earth-
coupling element, a flexible lower container connected to the means for providing seismic
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energy, an upper container connçcte-l to the means for providing seismic energy, a
framework that minimi7es vibrations of the liquid by keeping the upper and lowercontainers inflexible when the con~ ing means is comrletely f~ed with liquid, and a
hydraul* pump for filling and l~,~oving liquid from the cont~l~lg means. The lower
c-~nt~inPr is located on top of the earth-coupling element and provides hold-down weight to
couple the earth-coupling elen~nt to the earth. The upper cont~in~r is located spatially
above the means for providing seismic energy and provides mass to impart energy through
the earth-coupling elem~.nt.
The human-portable geophysical energy sources can be used within a system
comprising at least two human-portable geophysical energy sources. The multiple sources
can be used ~imlllt~neously to incl~;ase the erîec~ive amount of energy at a given location to
cancel undesired signal characteristics associated with the use of a single source.
~Itern~tively, the multiple sources can be used sequentially to improve work efficiency and
to provide storage reservoirs of the liquid for anticipated work. When used sequentially,
the liquid can be moved from one source to the other.
Referring to Figure 1, which is one embodiment of the present invention, a vibrator
unit might consist of a baseplate 2 resting on the surface of the earth. This baseplate 2 is
connected to vibrator piston assembly 4. Hydraulic actuator element 5 is attached to liquid
container reservoir flange 6, which is attached to support frames 16, which holds the
liquid reservoir containers 8. The mass of the liquid contained in cont~iners 8 provides the
mass to irnpart energy into the earth any time piston 4 is moved by hydraulic or pneumatic
pressure and maintains coupling with the earth.
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Servo valve 1 directs the pressure provided by hydraulic fluid carried from the
hydraulic pump 13. Servo valve 1 is modul~ted by a sinusoidal signal from signalgenerator 14 which causes the piston assembly to move in unison with the signal from the
signal generator 14 to servo valve 1. This mo~ ted pressure forces the earth to move in
proportion to the total force generated by the movement of the upper mass of container 8
and hydraulic ~cn1~tor el~ment 5. Of course, the force is limited by the amount of plessule
used.
The liquid or liquids used to fill containers 8 are moved through conduit 9 during
the time the con~ain~l~ 8 is being filled. Upon completion of the work at the location the
liquid or liquids are moved to the next location through conduit 10 to the next location of
work.
Flange 3 connects the vibrator piston assembly 4 to baseplate 2. Upper flange 6
is a connector for hydraulic actuator element 5 and upper container 8.
The above descriptions apply to a typical use of the concept but is not limited to
vibrator energy sources alone. Many other energy sources are used by the geophysical
industry which require a vehicle to provide propulsion and hold-down mass. This concept
will equally apply to these methods. Some of these methods use hydraulic rams, air guns
which expel a volume of high pressure gas into a me~ m, vacuum activated rams are
sometimes used and many other types of techniques to impart energy into the earth.
In one embodiment, a multitude of seismic sources can be used tied
to one sweep qenerator. Figure 2 shcws one such embodIment.
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WO 92/01358 PC~/~S91/0~90~
-9- 28S6~
While the present invention has been described ~ith reference to specific
embodiments, this application is intended to cover those various changes and substitunons
which may be made by those skilled in the art v~ithout depa~ing from the spirit and scope
of the appended claims.
