Development of a Novel Seismic Acquisition System Based on Fully Autonomous Gliding Ocean Bottom Nodes

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of a novel seismic acquisition system that utilizes a fleet of fully autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) as ocean bottom nodes (OBNs). The primary objective is to eliminate a reliance on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or ropes for deployment, making ocean bottom seismic acquisition significantly more efficient and cost-effective. This is achieved here by employing AUVs with long endurance that are capable of self-locating to pre-determined positions without the need for any direct surface control. Additionally, the system is designed for scalability, allowing for large inventories of AUVs to be deployed in parallel.