SpiceRack - A Robotized Seabed Seismic Acquisition System

Robotics is a key transformative technology that can revolutionize seismic acquisition in both land and marine applications. We are moving forward to develop, through the SpiceRack research initiative, an integrated autonomous seafloor acquisition system incorporating robotics-based technologies. The goal of this multi-year research collaboration is to move toward nodal seafloor acquisition operations that will match towed streamer costs and turnaround time, while at the same time will retain the technical advantages of OBN systems. Furthermore, the use of automation and robotics in seafloor acquisition will accomplish high productivity by adding a substantial number of AUVs and making it possible to conduct higher resolution surveys in a cost-effective manner employing any desired acquisition design. We believe that by 2020 the geophysical industry will be mature enough to accommodate robotics-based solutions which will become the seismic seafloor acquisition technology of choice.