RU2617525C1 - Anchored profiling underwater observatory - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: underwater observatory, coupled to a control room (9), includes a surface buoy (8), a subsurface buoy (3) and a lower buoyancy (4) connected via a rope (2). The running cable (2) is fixed to the ballast (5) by means of a hydroacoustic disconnector (6). Between the subsurface buoy (3) and the ballast (5), the profiling medium (1) moves along the running line (2). The profiling medium (1) contains a central microcontroller module, an electric drive and a set of measuring sensors. The surface buoy-sign (8) contains a radio antenna (16), a radio modem (17), accumulators (18), an accelerometer (19), a magnetic compass (20), electricity consumption counters (21), a GPS receiver (22), GSM-Modem (23), solar panels (24). The lower buoyancy (4) comprises an electric drive (10) articulated with a telescopic device (11) at the extremity of which a seismometer (12) is installed, as well as a modem (13) of a hydroacoustic communication channel with a dispatch station (9) and a device (15) with a flash drive integrated data logger seismometer (12). The lower buoyancy (4) is ball-shaped and comprises an elevator chamber (14) for moving the profiling carrier (1). Inside the running cable (2) there is a hydrosensor cable (7).

EFFECT: expanding the functionality.

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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 more specifically, for real-time automatic remote-controlled monitoring of the waters of the shelf-slope zone of the sea.

Autonomous bottom stations are known (RU No. 2270464 [1], RU No. 2276388 [2], RU No. 2294000 [3], IP Bashilov and others. Bottom geophysical observatories: design methods and applications / Scientific instrumentation, 2008, t . 18, No. 2, pp. 93-95 [4], RU No. 2009116092 A, 11/20/2010 [5], Underwater Geophysical Observatory / Design Bureau of the Russian Academy of Sciences / 2nd International Specialized Exhibition SIMEXPO - Scientific Instrument Making. - M ., 10/13/2008 [6], RU No. 2331876 C2, 08/20/2008 [7]).

So, for example, known bottom stations [1, 2, 3] are cylindrical or spherical bodies equipped with ballast for mounting them on the ground, inside which and on the body are installed measuring sensors and means of processing 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 from 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 also be used to solve problems such as studying the structure of the earth's crust, studying the totality of the manifestation of geophysical fields and tectonic faults directly at the bottom of the ocean, and geophysical monitoring of complex hydraulic structures.

Underwater observatories are also known (patent EP No. 0519031 [8], patent NO No. 911639 [9], patent EP No. 0516662 [10], book: Means and methods of oceanological research. Smirnov GV, Eremeev VN, Ageev M.D. et al. - M., Nauka, 2005 [11], patent AU No. 2002100749, 09/04/2002 [12]), which include a bottom seismometer, hydrophysical module, magnetic field sensor, means of primary processing and storage of information , means of communication with the complex of ship equipment installed on the platform, which allows recording a more complete range of geophysical and hydrophysical parameters and, to As a result, expand the functionality of bottom stations.

A disadvantage of the known underwater observatories is that the composition of their measuring instruments does not allow solving the problem associated with a comprehensive study of the parameters of the marine environment in the near-bottom zone, including tectonic processes occurring under the seabed, as well as the task of geophysical monitoring of complex hydraulic structures.

The deficiencies deprived of the device, which is an underwater observatory (patent RU No. 2348950 [13]), consisting of a sealed enclosure mounted on the frame, and containing means for recording geophysical signals, including a bottom seismometer, hydrophysical module, magnetic field sensor, optical measurement unit, information storage facilities, communication facilities with a control station, spatial orientation sensor, beacon, ballast, ballast disconnector, additionally introduced a block of hydrochemical measurements, spectrum analyzer, seismic acoustic unit, hydro-acoustic telecontrol unit, radioactive contamination control unit, registration and control unit, cable line modem, in which the hydrochemical measurement unit is connected by its inputs to the outputs of the radioactive contamination control unit, spectrum analyzer, and connected to the input of the registration unit by its output control, which is connected to the outputs of the bottom seismometer, hydrophysical module, magnetic field sensor, optical measurement unit, modem with other outputs cable communication line, and the input-output is connected to the input-output of the sonar remote control unit. Distinctive features in comparison with the known devices [1-12] are that a hydrochemical measurement unit, a spectrum analyzer, a seismic acoustic unit, a hydroacoustic remote control unit, a radioactive contamination control unit, a recording and control unit, a cable communication line modem are additionally introduced into the known device in which the unit of hydrochemical measurements with its inputs is connected to the outputs of the radioactive contamination control unit, a spectrum analyzer, and with its output is connected to the input of the regi lasing and control, which is connected by other outputs to the outputs of the bottom seismometer, hydrophysical module, magnetic field sensor, optical measurement unit, cable line modem, and input-output connected to the input-output of the hydroacoustic telecontrol unit, allow solving the technical problem of not only operational assessment the seismic state of the studied areas, but also the task of promptly assessing the hydrodynamic state at the water-soil boundary due to environmental changes under the influence of processes natural and manmade.

However, the composition of the measuring means of this device does not allow analysis for the methane content in the aquatic environment in the areas of oil and gas pipelines in the presence of leaks, as well as the determination of the coordinates of the gas formation. In addition, when using seismic sensors of the electromechanical type, disturbances in their operation are possible if there are shocks when the geophysical observatory is placed on the ground, as well as when the position of the seismic sensors deviates from the vertical by an angle greater than the maximum allowable. Also, due to the small buoyancy and the small internal space of the sphere, it is impossible to install autonomous power supply units of large capacity at the observatory and, as a result, it is impossible to increase the battery life of the device without losing the ability to independently ascend to the water surface.

At the same time, with the help of these devices, with their improvement, it is possible to solve the following fundamental problems consisting in studying the structure of the earth's crust in the waters of the oceans: studying the totality of the manifestation of geophysical fields in zones of tectonic faults directly on the ocean floor, studying the state of the marine environment in the bottom zone and its interaction with tectonic processes, geophysical monitoring of complex hydraulic structures, operational assessment of seismic and hydrodynamic state areas and forecast possible seismic and environmental impacts.

The known device (application RU No. 2009116092 [5]) is an underwater observatory, consisting of a hermetically sealed solid case mounted on a supporting frame, and containing means for recording geophysical and hydrophysical data, including a seismometer, hydrophysical module, magnetic field sensor, communications with the complex ship equipment, beacon, ballast, ballast disconnector, hydrochemical measurement unit, hydroacoustic telecontrol unit, registration and control unit, in which hydrochemical measurement unit its output is connected to the input of the recording and control unit, which is connected by other inputs to the outputs of the seismometer, hydrophysical module, magnetic field sensor, and the input-output is connected to the input-output of the hydroacoustic telecontrol unit, into which the methane detection sensor is connected to its output with a registration and control unit, a bottom pressure sensor connected by its output to a registration and control unit, a spatial orientation sensor connected by its input-output to the input m-output of the registration and control unit; A seismometer consists of a seismic module and a seismic acoustic module. At the same time, the well-known underwater observatory is coupled with the ship complex and a Data-buoy device, which are used to ensure the functioning of the underwater observatory for its intended purpose. In addition, the sealed durable housing mounted on the supporting frame has a spherical shape and is made of titanium with a buoyancy to total mass ratio of underwater observatory of 1: 1.35, the supporting frame is equipped with an anchor device, on the remote rod of which a seismic module is installed. Thanks to the new distinctive features, namely: a methane detection sensor is introduced, connected to the registration and control unit by its output, a spatial orientation sensor, connected by its input-output to the input-output of the registration and control unit; a seismometer consists of a seismic module and a seismic acoustic module; a sealed spherical body mounted on a supporting frame made of titanium with a ratio of buoyancy to the total mass of the underwater observatory 1: 1.35; and the supporting frame is equipped with an anchor device, on the remote rod of which a seismic module is installed, it is possible to analyze the content of methane in the aquatic environment by introducing a methane sensor into the measuring instruments. The introduction of a bottom pressure sensor connected to its recording and control unit to the measuring instrument with the aid of measuring instruments makes it possible to accurately record sea level changes and thereby determine the approach and record the propagation of a tsunami wave. The implementation of the seismometer of two modules expands the functionality of the device and increases the reliability of the research. The implementation of a sealed durable case made of titanium with a buoyancy to total mass ratio of the underwater observatory of 1: 1.35 provides a large positive buoyancy of the observatory and the possibility of installing high-capacity electric power elements, ensuring deep-sea research. The supply of the supporting frame with an anchor device, on the remote rod of which a seismic module is installed, allows you to register seismic signals at the water-soil interface.

However, when using this underwater observatory, there are a number of problems associated with the effect of bottom currents on hardware noises, its adhesion to the soft bottom, microseismic noise generated by gravitational waves, the propagation of seismic signals in the oceanic crust, etc. For example, bottom currents, especially with bottom relief in the form of steep slopes of seamounts, are not correlated with the direction and speed of the wind, which does not allow to exclude these interference from the observation results. In this case, quasi-harmonic interference can occur at frequencies of 1.3 Hz, 3 Hz and 6 Hz and occupy up to 40% of the total recording time. Moreover, the amplitudes of these noises are unstable and can vary by about 35 dB.

Also known is the underwater observatory (patent RU No. 2468395 C1, 11.27.2012 [14]), which is articulated with a ship complex and a device of the “Data” type, and consists of a hermetically sealed strong hull mounted on a supporting frame, and contains means for recording geophysical and hydrophysical data, including a seismometer, a hydrophysical module, a magnetic field sensor, communication equipment with a complex of ship equipment, a beacon, a ballast, a ballast breaker, a hydrochemical measurement unit, a hydroacoustic telecontrol unit, a recording and control unit in which the hydrochemical measurement unit is connected with its output to the input of the recording and control unit, which is connected by other inputs to the outputs of the seismometer, hydrophysical module, magnetic field sensor, and input-output is connected to the input-output of the hydro-acoustic telecontrol unit, additionally containing a methane detection sensor connected by its output to the registration and control unit, a bottom pressure sensor connected by its output to the registration and control unit, a spatial orientation sensor, with unified by its input-output with input-output of the registration and control unit; the seismometer consists of a seismic module and a seismic-acoustic module, and the sealed strong case mounted on the supporting frame is spherical and made of titanium with a buoyancy to total weight ratio of 1: 1.35 underwater observatory; the supporting frame is equipped with an anchor device; the rod of which the seismic module is installed, and differs in that on the supporting frame and in the case of the device of the type "Data '' - buoy there are nuclear magnetic resonance sensors connected by their outputs to the input of the recording unit and control, the nuclear magnetic resonance sensor consists of samarium-cobalt washers, which eliminates the disadvantages inherent in analogues [1-13].

However, the known device [14] has a complex structure, including a supporting frame, which complicates placing them to the bottom, especially when placing such a device, for example, from an oil and gas platform or terminal to control the hydrological and physico-chemical characteristics of water masses in order to monitor the ecological state of the marine environment directly at the stationary structure. In addition, in the presence of a supporting frame, there remains a problem associated with the influence of bottom currents on hardware noises, their adhesion to the soft bottom, microseismic noise generated by gravitational waves, features of the propagation of seismic signals in the oceanic crust, etc. In general, bottom currents can carry both laminar and turbulent in nature (due to bottom irregularities). At the same time, interference may occur in the low-frequency part of the seismometer range due to turbulent phenomena on large bottom irregularities (up to 10 m). In this regard, the possibility of using seismic receivers with inertial mass on an elastic suspension is almost completely excluded, despite the fact that they have high sensitivity, wide dynamic and frequency ranges.

In the marginal seas of the Russian Federation, offshore zones are actively conducting seismoacoustic studies using active sensing methods. For this, airgun systems or sparkers and boomers are used, as a rule, whose total power exceeds biologically permissible norms. Ecologists' studies published in recent years on the irreversible effects of powerful acoustic pulses on the nature of the ocean are known, which gives reason to form various measures restricting the planned conduct of marine seismic studies. Overcoming of limitations by reducing the power of sounding signals in marine seismic surveys has not been actively considered to date, since it was believed that in this case the solution to the main problem is not ensured - to obtain high-quality results of seismic profiling. On the other hand, in a related industry - in underwater sonar, coherent sounding methods are used that may be of interest for marine seismic systems. The emitters used in underwater sonar have a significantly lower power, and the sounding quality is achieved through the use of coherent methods of processing the received echo signals. In addition, the use of, for example, coherent sounding, by means of a sonar, will allow obtaining excess seismic information, as well as providing a study of the underwater structures of marine terminals, which will allow the early detection of deformation and cracks of underwater structures.

Of the known devices representing measuring observatories for operational monitoring of the marine environment in the waters of the shelf-slope zone, the closest analogue is the well-known anchored profiling ocean observatory (Anchored profiling ocean observatory / A.G. Ostrovsky, A.G. Zatsepin, V.N. Ivanov et al. // Underwater Research and Robotics, No. 2 (8), 2009, pp. 50-59 [15]).

The famous anchored profiling ocean observatory [15, p. 52] consists of a subsurface buoy anchored with a steel buoyer, which serves as a running cable for a profiling carrier, a carrier with a set of measuring sensors, including temperature, electrical conductivity and pressure sensors, an acoustic Doppler flow meter, a dissolved oxygen sensor, a central microcontroller module , electric drives and moving along a running cable, digital communication systems by means of contactless inductive insert into a running cable, a surface buoy - ehi modems data and telemetry information via radio, sonar breaker anchor ballast.

The advantages of the well-known anchored profiling ocean observatory are the lower risk of losing the observatory, which allows timely maintenance of power sources and cleaning of the measurement sensors from biofouling. Radio communication in the coastal zone is an economic alternative to mobile and satellite communications, since the transmission of information over a radio channel has no restrictions in the frequency range.

However, the disadvantage of the well-known anchored profiling ocean observatory is the impossibility of connecting seismic sensors to them, which do not allow mechanical connections with equipment that generates low-frequency noise. Since the running cable is the source of such noise, the placement of seismic sensors should be carried out at some distance from it.

The objective of the well-known technical solution (patent RU 2545159 C1, 03/27/2015 [16]) is to expand the functionality and reliability during operation of seismic underwater observatories, which is solved due to the fact that in the anchored profiling underwater observatory, articulated with a control station and consisting of from a subsurface buoy anchored with a steel buoyer, which serves as a guide wire for a profiling carrier with a set of measuring sensors, including temperature sensors conductivity and pressure, acoustic Doppler flow meter, oxygen dissolved in water sensor, central microcontroller module, electric drive and moving along the cable, digital communication systems via non-contact inductive insert into the cable, surface buoy-pole with data transmission and telemetry information modems on the radio channel, hydroacoustic breaker anchor ballast, on the running cable above the hydroacoustic breaker anchor ballast fixed lower melt the honor of a spherical shape, inside of which there is a modem of a hydro-acoustic communication channel, an electric drive coupled to a telescopic device at the tip of which a seismometer is installed, the profiling medium additionally contains sensors for the content of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, alpha, beta and gamma radioactivity.

An anchored profiling underwater observatory with a ball-shaped lower buoyancy anchor ballast of the lower buoyancy placed on a running cable above the hydroacoustic disconnector, inside of which there is a modem of a hydroacoustic communication channel, an electric drive coupled to a telescopic device at the tip of which a seismograph is installed, the profiling carrier additionally contains hydrocarbon content sensors, carbon gas, alpha, beta and gamma radioactivity allows you to control hydrological and physical co-chemical characteristics of water masses in order to monitor the ecological state of the marine environment directly at the stationary structure. The solution to this problem reduces the risk of loss or damage to the underwater observatory when it is placed on the bottom, and almost completely eliminates the influence of bottom currents on hardware noise. The introduction of an anchored profiling underwater observatory and a seismograph into the registration means allows obtaining seismic information.

In connection with the active development of the shelf for oil and gas production by laying underwater pipelines and communication cables, bottom earthquakes and the phenomena that they provoke become extremely dangerous both for the offshore structures themselves and for the ecology of the region as a whole. In addition, there is the possibility of induced seismicity during the extraction of large volumes of oil and gas from the bowels of the earth. Placing an underwater observatory directly in the hydrocarbon production and transportation zone allows you to evaluate in advance a possible threat to the life of marine terminals.

However, the presence of lower buoyancy limits the area of recorded characteristics. In addition, the operation of such underwater observatories in the hydrocarbon production and transportation zone is associated with a disruption in the normal functioning of the hydroacoustic communication channel due to the presence of acoustic noise caused by the operation of production units and shipping noise.

The objective of the proposed technical solution is to expand the functionality of the underwater observatory by increasing the research area.

The problem is solved due to the fact that in the anchored profiling underwater observatory, articulated with a control station and consisting of: a subsurface buoy anchored with a steel buoyer, which serves as a guide wire for a profiling medium containing a set of measuring sensors including sensors for measuring temperature and electrical conductivity and pressure, acoustic Doppler flow meter, oxygen dissolved in water sensor, central microcontroller module, electric drive, and etc. redvigayuschegosya of the running rope; digital communication systems by means of non-contact inductive insertion into the navigation cable, surface buoy-pole with modems for transmitting data and telemetry information via the GPS radio channel, sonar breaker of the anchor ballast, the lower buoyancy of the ball-shaped hydroacoustic form is fixed inside the rope of the anchor ballast, inside of which communication channel, an electric drive coupled to a telescopic device at the tip of which a seismometer is installed, and profiling the carrier contains sensors for the content of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, alpha, beta, and gamma radioactivity, the lower buoyancy contains an elevator shaft through which the profiling carrier moves along the wire rope into the area between the lower buoyancy and the ballast, the lower buoyancy also contains a flash reader cards of the integrated data logger, a hydrosensor cable is placed inside the steel buoyer, the buoy-pole is equipped with an accelerometer and a magnetic compass, electricity consumption meters, a GSM modem, with battery batteries.

Unlike the prototype [16], in the proposed technical solution, the lower buoyancy contains an elevator shaft, through which the profiling carrier moves along the cable to the area between the lower buoyancy and the ballast, the lower buoyancy also contains a reader from the flash card of the integrated data logger, inside the steel the buyrepa is equipped with a sensor cable, the buoy-pole is equipped with an accelerometer and a magnetic compass, electricity consumption meters, a GSM modem, and solar panels.

The essence of the technical solution is illustrated by drawings.

FIG. 1. The layout of the anchored profiling underwater observatory. The anchored profiling underwater observatory is made in the form of a vertically profiling carrier 1, placed on the navigation cable 2 between the subsurface buoy 3 and the lower buoyancy 4. The navigation cable 2 is fixed to the ballast 5 by means of a hydroacoustic breaker 6.

The subsurface buoy 3 is connected by cable 7 to the surface buoy-milestone 8 with modems for transmitting data and telemetry information via radio channel to the control station 9, which can be located on the shore or ship.

Inside the lower buoyancy 4 is an electric actuator 10, coupled to a telescopic device 11, at the tip of which a seismometer 12 is installed, as well as a modem 13 of a hydroacoustic communication channel with a control station 9. In the central part of the lower buoyancy 4, an elevator shaft 14 is equipped. The lower buoyancy 4 also contains a readout device 15 from the flash card of the integrated data logger of the seismometer 12. Inside the steel buoyer (running cable 2) a sensor cable is placed.

Surface buoy-milestone 8 is a Froude milestone with the ANLI A-100MU type 16 antenna antenna located at the top of the surface of the surface. The INTEGRA TR type 17 radio modem 17 built into the buoy-pole 8 is powered by a set of lead-gel batteries 18, which are the main ballast of the buoy-pole 8. The buoy-pole 8 is equipped with an accelerometer 19 and a magnetic compass 20, power consumption counters 21, GPS receiver 22 , GSM-modem 23, solar panels 24.

FIG. 2. Block diagram of the anchored profiling underwater observatory.

The anchored profiling underwater observatory contains a vertically profiling carrier 1, which houses temperature sensors 25, conductivity 26 and pressure 27, an acoustic Doppler flow meter 28, a dissolved oxygen sensor 29, a central microcontroller module 30, and an electric actuator 31 for moving along the cable 2 vertically profiling medium 1, digital communication system 32 by means of a non-contact inductive insert into the cable 2, profiling medium 1 contains sensors hydrocarbon 33, carbon dioxide 34, alpha, beta and gamma radioactivity 35, power source 36.

The lower buoyancy 4 also includes a reader 15 from the flash card of the integrated data logger of the seismometer 12.

A hydrosensor cable is placed inside the cable 2, which consists of two parallel flexible sensor elements - energized metal cores with a sheath made of highly conductive plastic. From the mutual closure of the veins are protected by a dielectric plastic rod entwined around the veins in the form of eights. The whole structure is placed in a “sorption” case made of a capillary-porous fibrous material with dielectric properties in a dry state.

As a key sensor element of the hydraulic sensor cable, wires with a sheath made of transenergoplastics - a highly conductive flexible polymer composite of the EMISTOP type (Unusual plastics - new solutions / Repair * Innovation * Technology * Modernization // Rhythm, October 2014, pp. 10-12), are used, which allows, thanks to the polymer base of the sensor cores, to provide respectively the flexibility and high chemical resistance of the cable. Moreover, such a cable is not susceptible to corrosion for a long time and can operate in a humid high-temperature environment.

Cable 7 is also a sensor cable.

The sorption cable operation scheme is as follows. With mechanical damage to the running cable, seawater in contact with the cover, due to the combination of sorption and capillary-porous effects, begins to be absorbed (spread throughout the thickness of the cover), forming a set of electrically conductive mutually penetrating microchannels. Ultimately, these microchannels close the electrically conductive surfaces of the two sensor elements. When a short circuit is generated, an electrical signal is generated, which is transmitted further along the metal core of the sensor elements. After the appropriate signal processing procedure, a message appears on the control panel about the fact of flooding and its coordinates, which increases the reliability of operation of the underwater observatory.

The accelerometer 19 and the magnetic compass 20 form a single sensor, designed together with the GPS receiver 22 to measure the height and direction of the waves, as well as the movements of the buoy-milestone 8 under the influence of wind waves and surface currents.

The GPS receiver 22 also serves to locate the milestone 8 and transmit recorded data over long distances using Iridium (global satellite communications), Argos (global single-channel communications) satellite communications systems, or Orbcomm.

GSM modem 23 is designed to provide coastal communications via SMS or Internet, which allows you to use the existing network and saves the cost of installing additional high-frequency receiving stations.

Solar panels 24 in combination with a power source 18 are designed to increase the duration of the underwater observatory. By means of electricity consumption meters 21, the actual energy consumption of the underwater observatory is recorded and a real estimate of the remaining battery life is monitored. An anchored profiling underwater observatory can be installed directly from the control station 9 or from a small floating facility. To tow an anchored profiling underwater observatory from an offshore terminal, such as a mining platform, a small boat, such as a rubber boat, is sufficient. The vertically profiling support 1 is mounted on a running cable 2, stretched vertically between the upper buoyancy 3 (near-surface buoyancy) and the lower buoyancy 4 (bottom buoyancy), which, in turn, is attached to the running cable 2.

After installing the vertically profiling carrier 1 on the running cable 2 and placing the ballast 5 on the bottom of the ballast 5, the electric drive 31 is turned on. The vertically profiling carrier 1 starts automatically moving at a speed of about 0.2 m / s along the vertically stretched running cable 2 between the upper buoyancy 3 and the lower buoyancy 4. and ballast 5 passing through the lower buoyancy 4 in the elevator shaft 14.

Inside the lower buoyancy 4 there is an electric actuator 10, articulated with a telescopic device 11, at the tip of which a seismometer 12 is installed, as well as a modem 13 with a hydroacoustic antenna for a hydroacoustic communication channel with a control station 9.

After setting the ballast 5 to the bottom, a signal is supplied to the electric drive 10, coupled with the telescopic device 11, and the seismometer 12 installed at the tip of the telescopic device 11 occupies an operating position at some distance from the running cable 2.

The measurement of seismic signals is carried out using a seismometer 12, which includes a seismic module, which is functionally combined with a seismic acoustic module for compactness and for providing measurements simultaneously by several sensors of various designs, which leads to an increase in the accuracy and reliability of measurements.

Seismometer 12 is designed to provide continuous seismic monitoring of the seabed in a wide frequency range and includes sensors: electrochemical cycle meter type СМЕ-3011-3, which is a three-component seismic sensor designed to record seismic vibrations of the bottom surface along three orthogonal directions; strong motion sensor, which is a three-component vector seismometer; spatial orientation sensor.

The strong motion sensor is equipped with a sensor, which consists of a magnetoelastic crystalline transducer, a high energy permanent magnet, three independent electrical windings and a single inertial mass, as well as a pre-amplifier and converts the three components of the acoustic vector of the bottom surface in three orthogonal directions into electrical signals. It has a velocity characteristic, which, in comparison with the characteristics of traditional instruments for measuring vibration displacements, has a high frequency-dependent sensitivity to displacements. In this case, the sensitivity increases by a factor of 10 by a factor of 1000.

For comparison, it should be noted that with the same increase in frequency, the sensitivity of conventional bicycles increases 10 times, and that of conventional accelerometers increases 100 times.

The intrinsic noise of the magnetoelastic sensor is less than the intrinsic noise of the seismometer and much less than the intrinsic noise of the accelerometer.

A magnetoelastic sensor with a steep amplitude-frequency characteristic can simultaneously detect displacements in a substantial range of more than 240 dB, which allows simultaneous measurements of displacement amplitudes of less than 10 ^-15 m at frequencies of more than 1000 Hz and more than 10 ^-3 m at frequencies of less than 1 Hz.

As in the prototype [16], the central microcontroller module 30, according to a predetermined program, controls the electric drive 10, which ensures the movement of the vertically profiled carrier 1, collects and processes data from temperature sensors 25, electrical conductivity 26 and pressure 27, an acoustic Doppler flow meter 28, sensor dissolved oxygen in water 29, and also collects and processes data from hydrocarbon sensors 33, carbon dioxide 34, alpha, beta and gamma radioactivity 35.

As sensors for measuring temperature 25, electrical conductivity 26 and pressure 27, and an acoustic Doppler current meter 28, sensors similar to those of the prototype [14] can be used, for example, an acoustic three-component current meter of the 3D-ACM type 3ACM-CBP-S and a conductivity meter with temperature sensor, made on the basis of a current velocity meter type CTS-C-1ED.

The sensor dissolved in water oxygen 29 can be used, as in the prototype, type (AANDERAA Oxygen Optode 4330F).

The hydrocarbon content sensor 24 may be a METS type sensor ("CAPSUM"), which allows you to measure the concentration of methane in the water column, as in the prototype.

The carbon dioxide sensor 33, as in the prototype, is designed to measure the Raman spectra of optical radiation as part of an anchored profiling underwater observatory by means of a spectrum analyzer. From the Raman spectra, information is obtained about the composition of sea water. The main technical characteristics of the spectrum analyzer are: a spectral range of 0.52-0.78 microns, a passband of 0.54 nm to 0.783 microns, a positioning accuracy of 0.2 nm in the spectrum, and a number of spectral channels of 4096.

The alpha, beta and gamma radioactivity content sensors 35, as in the prototype, are combined into a hydrochemical measurement unit, which also contains a radiation contamination control module, which is designed to determine the in situ content of gamma-emitting radionuclides (both technogenic and natural origin) in seawater.

The nuclear magnetic resonance sensor can be structurally mounted both on the vertically profiling carrier 1 and in the lower 4 and buoyancy 3 bodies, which is used to ensure the functioning of the anchored profiling underwater observatory for its intended purpose or in two versions, which significantly increases the information content of the device in whole.

Module 21 of the central microcontroller transmits data using an inductive modem to subsurface buoyancy 3.

The power supply 18 is designed to provide the possibility of long-term autonomous operation of the device and is assembled on parallel-connected sections of series-connected lithium or alkaline batteries of type D. In contrast to the prototype, the proposed technical solution additionally has 21 electricity meters and solar panels 24.

The modem of the hydroacoustic communication channel 13 is designed to provide communication between the seismometer 12 and the information processing complex installed at the dispatch station. Unlike the prototype, the proposed device also contains a GSM modem. Ballast 6 with a hydroacoustic disconnector is designed for launching and lifting operations of the anchored profiling underwater observatory. The control computer of the dispatching station 9 and the software and mathematical support, the real-time service are designed to control the equipment of the underwater observatory, diagnose its malfunctions, receive data received from the underwater observatory, and place the received data on information storage devices. The functioning of the entire hardware and software complex is determined by the configuration file, which is created by a special program and sets the presence of underwater observatories, the type of geophysical channels used, channel parameters, as well as the presence or absence of time synchronization equipment (GPS receiver). When the registration program is launched, the configuration of the entire network of the underwater observatory is read and the Greenwich time is referenced to within a few tens of microseconds and the corrections are calculated to the quartz frequency of the computer to maintain the functioning of the complex in the event of a short-term GPS receiver failure.

Time synchronization is carried out every second from the GPS receiver.

Following synchronization, polling, programming, synchronization and launch of equipment of the anchored profiling underwater observatory take place. The state of the equipment of the anchored profiling underwater observatory is requested (its serviceability, availability of channels, serviceability of channels, etc.). In case of problems, an appropriate message is displayed on the screen (it is also recorded in the operation protocol file). In the module 30 of the central microcontroller of the anchored profiling underwater observatory, the program of work for each measuring channel, the polling frequency, and the gain are transmitted.

Before starting, the module 30 of the central microcontroller of the anchored profiling underwater observatory is synchronized by the time of the computer of the control station 9 (hereinafter, synchronization is carried out every 10 s). When synchronizing takes into account the signal travel time from the computer of the control station 9 to the synchronized module 30 of the central microcontroller of the anchored profiling underwater observatory. After that, the module 30 of the central microcontroller of the anchored profiling underwater observatory is launched and begins collecting data from the measuring channels. Module 30 of the central microcontroller of the anchored profiling underwater observatory compresses all the information and adds it to the buffer memory.

The control computer of the dispatching station 9 cyclically requests data from the central microcontroller module 30 of the anchored profiling underwater observatory about the signals recorded by the sensors and, if any, receives them and writes them to their buffers in RAM. After accumulating a sufficient amount of data for the channel, they are overwritten into a file corresponding to the type of channel. Usually these files are located on another computer and are accessible on a local network, although for short-term experiments the system can be configured in such a way that a local disk will be used. In case of short-term communication breaks (up to 10 min), data is not lost due to the presence of each control unit and registration of a sufficiently large own buffer. In the process of exchanging data, the operator can calibrate any measuring channel that is part of the control station network. In case of emergency situations (disconnection from the anchored profiling underwater observatory, its breakdown, failure of individual channels or restoration of the above), as well as some normal situations - the occurrence of an event or the calibration of the corresponding measuring channel is triggered, a message is displayed on the screen, including the GMT time of the onset of the situation , the names of the underwater observatories and the channel and the message itself. Messages are also written to a buffer of 100 lines and to the log file. The buffer can be viewed by the operator at any time.

Measuring sensors of the anchored profiling underwater observatory, after being placed at the bottom of the ballast 5, function for their intended purpose.

The signals registered by the sensors are recorded on the information storage means, during communication sessions they are transmitted to the dispatch station, where a complete analysis of the assessment of the seismic and hydrodynamic state of the studied areas is performed, based on which a forecast is made about the possible seismic and environmental consequences of a natural and technogenic nature.

An anchored profiling underwater observatory is designed to solve the following problems:

- study of the structure of the earth's crust in the waters of the oceans;

- studies of the totality of the manifestation of geophysical fields in the zones of tectonic faults directly at the bottom of the ocean;

- studies of the state of the marine environment in the bottom zone and its interaction with tectonic processes;

- geophysical and geoecological monitoring of complex hydraulic structures;

- operational assessment of the seismic and hydrodynamic state of the regions and the forecast of possible seismic and environmental consequences;

- early warning with a significant increase in the accuracy of the forecast of earthquakes and tsunamis;

- identification of precursors of seismic, geodeformation, geochemical, hydrophysical precursors of catastrophic earthquakes, the sources of which are under the ocean floor, the implementation of medium-term and short-term forecast of earthquakes with magnitude 5.5 and higher;

- control of changes in the stress-strain state of the sections of the earth’s crust of offshore zones near the developed oil and gas fields caused by hydrocarbon recovery, bypass water injection and other artificial influences on the hydrocarbon reservoir;

- the choice of environmentally sound modes of field exploitation;

- prediction of the development of crustal deformations and induced seismicity;

- prediction of small local earthquakes hazardous to damage to wells, oil platforms / subsea pipelines;

- research of deposits of marine gas hydrates.

The use of the proposed anchored profiling underwater observatory will make it possible to conduct research in the near-bottom region of the ocean at a new qualitative level, making it possible not only to record geophysical, hydrochemical, hydrophysical and hydroacoustic parameters, but also to evaluate the relationships between these parameters, as well as to identify seismic, geodeformation, geochemical, hydrophysical harbingers of catastrophic earthquakes, the foci of which are under the ocean floor, and thereby significantly Sit the accuracy of prediction of earthquakes and tsunamis.

In addition, the application of the proposed design of the anchored profiling underwater observatory also allows monitoring changes in the stress-strain state of the sections of the earth’s crust of shelf zones near the developed oil and gas fields caused by hydrocarbon recovery, bypass water injection and other artificial influences on the hydrocarbon reservoir, and to predict small local earthquakes hazardous to damage to wells, oil platforms / subsea pipelines, predicted s emergency situations, thus help to reduce environmental risk in the operation of offshore industrial facilities.

The implementation of the device is not of technical complexity, since the device is implemented on commercially available sensors and elements of microelectronics, which allows us to conclude that the claimed technical solution meets the patentability condition "industrial applicability".

Information sources

1. Patent RU No. 2270464.

2. Patent RU№2276388.

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6. Underwater Geophysical Observatory / Design Bureau of OT RAS / 2nd International Specialized Exhibition "SIMEXPO - Scientific Instrument Making". - M., October 13, 2008.

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Claims (1)

An anchored profiling underwater observatory, articulated with a control station and consisting of a subsurface buoy anchored with a steel buoyrp, which serves as a navigation cable for a profiling medium containing a set of measuring sensors, including temperature, conductivity and pressure sensors, an acoustic Doppler flow meter, a dissolved sensor in oxygen water, as well as the module of the central microcontroller, electric drive and moving along the running cable; digital communication systems by means of non-contact inductive insertion into the navigation cable, surface buoy-pole with modems for transmitting data and telemetry information via the GPS radio channel, sonar breaker of the anchor ballast, the lower buoyancy of the ball-shaped hydroacoustic form is fixed inside the rope of the anchor ballast, inside of which communication channel, electric drive coupled to a telescopic device at the tip of which a seismometer profiling is installed the carrier also contains sensors for the content of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, alpha, beta and gamma radioactivity, characterized in that the lower buoyancy contains an elevator shaft through which the profiling carrier moves along the wire rope into the area between the lower buoyancy and ballast, the lower buoyancy also contains a reader from a flash card of an integrated data logger, a hydrosensor cable is placed inside a steel buoyer, a buoy-pole is equipped with an accelerometer and a magnetic compass, electricity consumption meters Power, GSM-modem, solar panels.

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