JP2003021684A - Submarine prospecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a submarine prospecting device capable of forming an underwater base compact in prospecting a large-depth sea range for a long period. SOLUTION: This submarine prospecting device is composed of the underwater base 1 installed on the seabed B, and equipped with prospecting devices 2 and 3, a power station 4 equipped with a transmitter 9 and a power source 7, a cable 10 to connect the underwater base 1 to the power source 7 of the power station, and an autonomous automatic guided sailing vehicle 5 for supplying power to the power source of the power station.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seafloor exploration device applied to exploration of the seabed strata and physics, or observation of the seafloor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to search for energy resources such as oil and methane hydrate buried in the seabed, the seabed is explored.

As a method for exploring the seabed, for example, a streamer cable having equipment such as an amplifier, a device for controlling a towing depth and a means for controlling a course is towed by a mother ship, and an air gun suspended from the mother ship into the sea is used. A sound wave (elastic wave) is emitted toward the seabed, and the reflected wave is received by the streamer cable and analyzed.

However, when the streamer cable is towed by the mother ship, since the towing depth is shallow, if the sea area to be explored becomes large in depth, the resolving power of the reflected wave is poor, and it is difficult to perform highly accurate geological exploration.

Therefore, it is conceivable that the streamer cable is not directly towed by the mother ship, but the streamer cable is attached to a towed body towed by the mother ship and the streamer cable is indirectly towed by the mother ship.

However, for example, in a sea area having a large depth of 1000 m or more, not only the towing device on the mother ship becomes large, but also the towing line connecting the mother ship and the towed body becomes long, and the accuracy of the towed body is increased. Streamer cables cannot be towed close to the sea floor, as high depth control is virtually impossible. Therefore, the resolution cannot be greatly improved.

On the other hand, recent seafloor geological exploration is often performed over a long period of time in a deep sea area.

Therefore, it is considered to install an underwater base equipped with a geological exploration device and an observation device on the seabed and transmit the information obtained from these devices to an offshore or land base.

[0009]

By the way, in the seabed exploration system having the above-mentioned underwater base, it is necessary to supply power, mainly power, to the equipment installed in the underwater base. If the electricity is stored in the underwater base, the size of the underwater base becomes very large and the construction cost increases.

Therefore, the underwater base has a minimum required power, and when this power is reduced or reduced, it is supplied from the mother ship or the like. In that case, a special cable for supply is supplied. Will be needed.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to downsize an underwater base in exploring a deep sea area for a long period of time. It is to provide a seabed exploration device.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is constructed as follows.

(1) An underwater base installed on the seabed and equipped with exploration equipment, a power station equipped with a transmitter and a power source, and the underwater base and the power source of the power station are connected. A submarine exploration device including a cable and an autonomous unmanned vehicle for power supply that supplies power to a power source of the power station.

(2) A submersible base station located on the seabed and equipped with exploration equipment, a power station equipped with a transmitter and a power source, and a first base station connecting the submersible base station and the power source of the power station. A cable, an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle for power supply that supplies power to the power source of the power station, and an underwater vehicle equipped with a power source that is connected to a floating body floating above the sea via a second cable. A submarine exploration device comprising a station, a third cable connecting the underwater station to the underwater base, and an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle for exploring the seabed, which is powered by a power source of the underwater station. .

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (A) First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an underwater base for connecting an observation device 2, a drill hole 3, etc., and a power station 4 is installed at a predetermined distance from the underwater base 1. The underwater base 1, the observation device 2, the drill hole 3, and the power station 4 are installed on the seabed B, respectively. W is
Shows the sea level.

As shown in FIG. 2, the power station 4 stores a storage box 6 for storing an autonomous unmanned vehicle 5 for power supply and a power source 7 such as a battery or a charger. And a hangar 8 are provided. The power source 7 is connected to the underwater base 1 via a cable 10 and supplies power (electric power) to the observation device 2 and the drill hole 3. Further, the power station 4 is provided with a transmitter 9 such as a transponder.

Next, the operation of this seabed exploration device will be described. The power source 7 of the power station 4 stores a predetermined amount of power (electric power) in advance.

However, when the storage amount of the power source 7 becomes less than the set value due to power consumption (power consumption), the autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle 5 for power supply starts toward the power station 4. Then, while moving forward while receiving the signal from the oscillator 9,
Dock with the storage 6 of the power station 4. Next, the autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle 5 is connected to a power source 7 such as a battery or a charger in the power station 4 via an underwater connector (not shown) to supply power (electric power). Alternatively, replace them with new ones.

Further, in the present invention, since the power station 4 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the underwater base 1, there is no obstacle to the surroundings, and the control of the autonomous unmanned vehicle 5 is facilitated. There are also advantages. (B) Second Embodiment FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the seabed exploration device according to the present invention, in which the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a floating body floated on the sea surface W, and the floating body 11 is connected via a second cable 12 to an underwater station 14 located at a predetermined water depth.

As shown in FIG. 4, the underwater station 14 stores a storage 16 for storing a second autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle 15 for seabed exploration and a power source 17 such as a battery and a charger. It has a hangar 18. In addition, the underwater station 14 has a transmitter 19 such as a transponder.
Is provided.

The underwater station 14 is connected to the underwater base 1 on the seabed B via a third cable 20.

Second autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle 15 for seabed exploration
Emits a vibration wave toward the seabed from a vibration source (not shown) such as a piezoelectric element provided at the bottom of the seabed, and receives the reflected wave by an undersea cable (OBC) (not shown) to search the seafloor strata. It is like this. Reference numeral 21 indicates a communication satellite.

Next, the operation of this seabed exploration device will be described. Observation device 2 and drill hole 3 installed in the underwater base 1.
When the stored amount of power (electric power) of the power source 7 of the power station 4 supplied to the
The autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle 5 supplies power (electric power) to the power source 7 of the power station 4.

On the other hand, when the power of the second autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle 15 for seabed exploration falls below a set value during seabed exploration,
Upon receiving the signal from the transmitter 19, the docking station 16 docks in the storage 16 of the underwater station 14, where power (electric power) is supplied from the power source 17. Of course, when the storage amount of the power source 17 of the underwater station 14 becomes equal to or less than a set value, the power (electric power) is supplied by the first autonomous unmanned vehicle 5 for power supply.
Is replenished.

The information obtained at the underwater base 1 is transmitted to the communication satellite 21 via the third cable 20, the second cable 12 and the floating body 11, and is transmitted from here to a land base (not shown).

Conventionally, the power (electric power) of the floating body 11 is supplied by a ship. However, it is not stable due to the large-scale power supply device and the influence of ocean waves.
Although difficult in the past, according to the present invention, it is supplied from the seabed or underwater that is weather stable, that is, from the power station 4 or the underwater station 14.

[0028]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, according to the present invention, the power of an underwater base installed for working in a deep sea area and for a long period of time is stored in two places, an underwater base and a power station. Therefore, it is possible to downsize the underwater base. In addition, since the power station is supplied with power (electric power) by an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle, the power station can be downsized.

It is also possible to supply power (electric power) to a buoy floating on the surface of the sea from a power station or an underwater station.

Further, since the power station is arranged at a predetermined distance from the underwater base, there is no obstacle in the vicinity. Therefore, there are advantages such as easy control of the autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of a seabed exploration device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a power station.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of a seabed exploration device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an underwater station.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 underwater base 2 Observation equipment 3 drilling equipment 4 power station 5,15 Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle 6,16 storage 7,17 Power source 8,18 hangar 9,19 oscillator 10,12,20 cable 11 floating body 14 Underwater station 21 Communication satellite

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An underwater base installed on the seabed and equipped with exploration equipment, a power station equipped with a transmitter and a power source, and a cable connecting the underwater base and the power source of the power station. An undersea exploration device comprising an autonomous unmanned vehicle for power supply that supplies power to a power source of the power station. 2. A submarine base station located on the seabed and equipped with exploration equipment, a power station equipped with a transmitter and a power source, and a first cable connecting the underwater base station and the power source of the power station. An autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle for supplying power to a power source of the power station, and an underwater station connected to a floating body floating on the sea via a second cable and equipped with a power source And a third cable connecting the underwater station and the underwater base, and an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle for exploring the seabed, which is powered by a power source of the underwater station.