SUSPENSION NET FOR AIRBORNE SURVEYING

Priority Claim

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 11/610,556

Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to the field of airborne geophysical surveying. This invention further relates to an apparatus for conducting geophysical surveying using an electromagnetic method.

Background of the Invention

Airborne electromagnetic surveying has been a widely used method for obtaining geophysical information. Electromagnetic surveying was originally designed for the exploration of conductive ore bodies buried in resistive bedrock, but at the present time it is also used extensively in general geological mapping, in hydrogeology, in environmental investigations, etc. Known methods utilize electromagnetic conductivity techniques to measure the apparent conductivity of the earth by applying an artificial alternating magnetic field. In essence, these techniques employ a transmitter to radiate a primary electromagnetic field, which in turn induces eddy currents in underground conductors. These eddy currents induce a secondary electromagnetic field that is then observed by an electromagnetic sensor (such as a receiver coil). This data is then used to compute geophysical information in a manner that is known.

The two basic types of electromagnetic techniques are frequency domain electromagnetic (FDEM) surveying and time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) surveying. FDEM measures the electrical response of the underground conductors at different frequencies to record the variations of conductivity with depth. TDEM, on the other hand, measures the electrical response of the underground conductors to a periodic magnetic pulse. For either method, the secondary fields are measured and used for mapping and geological interpretation in a manner that is known.

Although these electromagnetic techniques encompass both ground and airborne applications, airborne systems are preferred if the speed of the surveying is important.

The common technical means to generate magnetic field pulses is a known transmitter generally consisting of a loop of wire or a multi-turn coil connected to the output of a known electrical current generator or transmitter driver. The typical size of a transmitter coil is up to a few meters in diameter for an airborne device and up to hundreds of meters for ground systems. Generally, the bigger the transmitter coil diameter the stronger its magnetic moment, which then results in deeper and more accurate investigations. An additional multi-turn coil or an x-y-z coil system usually serves as a receiver or sensor for the secondary electromagnetic field. Magnetometers are also applicable for this purpose. In contemporary systems, received signals are digitised by a known analog to digital converter (ADC) and processed and stored by computer.

In one type of electromagnetic bird, the transmitter loop is rigidly mounted inside the bird body along its perimeter and the electromagnetic sensor is mounted inside the bird body in its center. This sensor receives both the primary electromagnetic field of the transmitter loop and secondary electromagnetic fields of eddy currents induced in the underground conductors. The primary signal component, being generally constant, can be thus subtracted from the received signal using known compensating coils or electronic circuits.

One significant technical problem for the airborne systems of this type is that mechanical deformations of the transmitter loop can change its magnetic field, and therefore induce signals in the electromagnetic sensor. It is virtually impossible to distinguish such changes from electromagnetic anomalies received from the underground conductors. For this reason, it is important to minimize the bird deformations during the survey flight. Another difficulty encountered with such systems is mechanical management in start/landing and in flight manoeuvres.

An example of airborne electromagnetic birds technology is that used in the AEROTEM™ branded solution of Aeroquest Ltd. The suspension system consists of a tow cable and three ropes, which are attached to the rigid and relatively heavy structure of EM bird at three different points. The primary disadvantage of this method of suspension is the deformation that occurs between the three suspension points in the case of vertical accelerations of the helicopter. As discussed, such deformations can serve to significantly distort the electromagnetic signal during measurements. Such three point suspension systems also may limit the bird size and weight

because long distances between suspension points can cause instability and, in the worst scenario, result in breakage of the bird structure.

There are other suspension systems consisting of the tow cable and more than three ropes attached to the electromagnetic EM bird having some flexibility in the suspension points. An example of this configuration is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 20050001622. The primary disadvantage of this type of suspension system is that structural deformation can occur as a result in the change of rope length and flexing in oncoming wind conditions, causing deformations of the bird structure and consequently potentially comprising the integrity of the survey data.

Other common configurations for suspension systems exist, including one- and two-point suspensions. These are typically used only for small towed birds, such as for FDEM or electromagnetic birds containing sensors only. An example of these suspension techniques is found in the GEOTEM™ and MEGATEM™ TDEM systems (Fugro Airborne Surveys Ltd.), or the helicopter towed system manufactured by T.H.E.M Geophysics Inc. These one- or two-point suspension configurations possess the same shortcomings as described for the other suspension methods, namely that they do not provide adequate mechanical stability for larger birds.

On the basis of the foregoing, there is a need for a net suspension apparatus that provides a uniform distribution of tension forces from the aircraft to the electromagnetic bird body, thus minimizing possible deformations and optimizing the quality of the surveying data.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is a suspension net for use with a towed geophysical electromagnetic bird.

In one aspect of the present invention, the suspension net is a net structure consisting of rows of cells formed from ropes. The structure distributes tension forces in a substantially homogenous manner from the tow cable to the electromagnetic bird and thus minimizes mechanical deformations of the rigid electromagnetic bird body while in tow.

In another aspect of the present invention, the suspension net comprises ropes having pre- calculated lengths. Calculations are preferably performed using a custom software program, in a manner that is known.

The support characteristics of the suspension net allow for large transmitter loop sizes, which generally mean greater power for geophysical surveying, without exceeding the carrying capacity of a towing aircraft. As well, the interwoven nature of the net structure generally avoids rope confusions that can occur during starting lift-up.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) is(are) provided herein below by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. IA and FIG. IB illustrate a suspension net from a side view and a bottom view, respectively.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate a particular geometric configuration for a suspension net from a side view and a bottom view, respectively.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate another particular geometric configuration for a suspension net from a side view and a bottom view, respectively.

In the drawings, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Present Invention

In geophysical surveying, an electromagnetic bird normally comprises a frame structure with a rigidly placed transmitter loop and electromagnetic sensors (receiver coils). Typically, the transmitter loop is rigidly mounted inside the bird body along its perimeter. Alternating electrical current is passed through the transmitter loop, generating alternating magnetic fields

and inducing eddy-currents in underground conductors. There is also an electromagnetic sensor mounted inside the bird body in its center. This sensor receives both the primary electromagnetic field of the transmitter loop and secondary electromagnetic fields of eddy currents induced in the underground conductors. Thus, the constant component of the primary signal can be subtracted from the received signal using compensating coils or electrical circuits used in common practice in geophysical surveying. When the bird is towed over local underground conductors, the secondary electromagnetic field changes, changing the signal level in the sensor.

To ensure optimal data, it may be important to distinguish between the signals originating from the transmitter loop and the signals originating from the underground conductors. This distinction may only be possible if the frame of the bird is rigid and there are no significant deformations of its structure during the flight. Any changes or mechanical deformations in the shape of the transmitter loop may result either in a change of the distance between the loop and the sensor or change in its vector direction. This therefore may result in a change in the measured data (through the electromagnetic sensor) that may not generally be differentiated from the electromagnetic anomalies corresponding with the underground conductor measurements. For this reason, it may be important to minimize the bird deformations during the survey flight. A rigid frame of the bird allows for the primary electromagnetic field measured by the sensor to be constant so that all signal changes are a result of a presence of underground conductors.

As mentioned, tow suspensions that are currently used consist of a set of ropes that do not provide sufficient structural rigidity because the ropes can fluctuate in length and/or bow or arch so that the mechanical tension forces are not uniformly distributed to the contact points with the bird frame, causing bird frame deformations. Or, alternatively, bird frames may be structurally rigid themselves, but these are generally limited in size because the added rigidity means an increase in weight.

The present invention provides a suspension net generally for a geophysical electromagnetic bird. The suspension net is attached to a tow rope (attached to an aircraft) on one end and to the bird on another end. The suspension net distributes tension forces substantially uniformly around the bird body, thus minimizing possible deformations.

A suspension net in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. IA, shown from a side view. FIG. IB illustrates a bottom view. In this case, the electromagnetic bird has rigid body with a disk shape with a round perimeter 20m in diameter and with a weight of approximately 400kg, for example.

Although a round perimeter is described, it should be understood that the present invention is compatible with an electromagnetic bird having any shape, for example, having a perimeter that is polygonal or elliptical. Further, although the term "perimeter" may be used herein to describe the region on the electromagnetic bird where the electromagnetic bird attaches to the suspension net, it should be understood that it is not essential that the suspension net attaches to the exact perimeter of the electromagnetic bird.

The suspension net of the present invention provides homogenous support to the sensor loop, and this may be achieved even if the suspension net is not attached to the electromagnetic bird around its perimeter.

According to this particular embodiment, the suspension net has a conical shape and consists of rows of geometrically arranged cells (in this case the cells are quadrilaterals, but other shapes are of course possible) organized into levels, with the upper level attached to the tow cable, and the lower level attached to the structure of the electromagnetic bird. Although the term "conical" may be used herein to describe the shape of the suspension net, it should be understood that this term is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention, and is only used herein as a rough description of the shape of suspension net according to an embodiment.

The forward-oriented cells (in terms of position when in-tow) are generally smaller in size than rear-oriented cells. As a result, the top of the net cone is positioned, in one embodiment of the invention, as disposed off-centre over the bird device centre, and specifically the off-centre connection of the ropes to the bird device is operable to position the net structure forward of the centre of the bird device relative to the in flight direction so as to provide an off-centre net structure. During flight, the oncoming air stream pushes the suspended system backward from the aircraft relative to the in flight direction, but the off-centre net structure is operable to compensate for the force of the oncoming air stream so as to provide for a substantially horizontal positioning of the bird device body in the air stream in flight. The off-centre net structure provides directional stability to the bird, causing it to point forward and reduces vertical

rotation of the bird about its vertical axis. The ropes can be fashioned from any materials but preferably materials having good tensile properties, for example, organic fibre, nylon, polyester, SPECTRUM™, KEVLAR™, or ENDURA™. Ropes are fastened to one another by simple knotting, although the present invention contemplates any other suitable method of fastening.

The electromagnetic bird body is attached to the suspension net in 16 attachment points around its external perimeter, as an example. The number of attachment points will vary depending on various factors. Generally speaking, the larger and heavier the bird is, the greater number of attachment points that are required to keep deformations in the acceptable range, as would be readily appreciated by a person of skill in the art. This consideration is balanced with the net increase in air drag and there should be a compromise determined by experimental flight with different nets for each particular bird design, depending particularly on the bird size, shape and weight. The number of attachment points will also dictate the number of rope connection points that are positioned at every level between the bird and the tow rope.

According to this embodiment, the net consists of four levels of quadrilateral cells. The number of rows will also vary depending on various factors, e.g., the net height. For most applications, four to seven levels of cells for the suspension net are suitable. As mentioned, each level is defined by a series of rope connection points. The levels span the total net height, for example, 20m. The top of the net is shifted according to a tilt angle, for example, the top of the net is shifted 8m forward from the bird center. The tilt angle can be altered and/or optimized depending on the weight of the bird, the wind resistance of the bird and net configuration (i.e. the diameter of the ropes), and the flight speed of the aircraft.

In an aspect of the present invention, the suspension net has cells with dimensions that are pre- calculated so that the entire net has the desired shape, and is operable to provide a horizontal spatial attitude of the particular electromagnetic bird in the oncoming air stream during the flight with a normal survey speed of approximately 90 km/h, for example. In particular, software can be used to calculate the individual rope lengths for the plurality of ropes that form the suspension net. Each rope can be indexed according to a numbering system. The desired net height can be divided roughly equally into the desired number of levels. (It is not essential that the levels be of equal height, but this generally simplifies the calculations.)

The desired number of attachment points then establishes the number of individual cells (formed by four ropes, or formed by two ropes and the electromagnetic bird for the row directly adjacent the electromagnetic bird). In the case of a circular bird, the attachment points are preferably positioned around the perimeter of the bird at approximately equal distances from one another. The attachment points also dictate the number of rope connection points for each level. The rope connection points define a level diameter for each level, with the level diameter decreasing in size the closer the further level is from the bird, i.e. the closer the level is to the tow rope.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the rope length calculations can include a separate step in order to generate a "squeezed" appearance for the conical structure. According to this aspect, the level diameters for the middle levels are decreased in size by a desired factor. As a result, the suspension net resembles other types of conical or cylindrical nets which have a squeezed inward shape caused by the effect of mechanical tension forces on the net cells (seen, for example, with basketball nets and cargo nets). These mechanical tension forces compress the perimeter of the bird so as to provide increased stability thereof.

Using known simple trigonometric ratios, the software program can calculate the length of each individual rope according to: (i) the diameter and shape of the electromagnetic bird; (ii) the desired net height; (iii) the desired tilt angle (measured from the centre of the bird to the tow rope); (iv) the number of desired levels; (v) the height of the desired levels (if they are not equal); and (vi) the number of desired attachment points. Once the lengths are known, the suspension net can be readily fabricated.

For example, the calculations required for fabricating a suspension net structure in accordance with the present invention can be implemented in a custom software application created using C++™ programming language, in a manner that is known. It is not essential of course that the calculations are performed by software, but software is a useful means.

The suspension net of the present invention should be understood as a means of distributing tension forces substantially homogeneously around the perimeter of an electromagnetic bird, since any length changes or arcing of the ropes will cause deformations of the net cells, not of the bird. The support characteristics of the suspension net allow for larger possible transmitter loop sizes, which mean greater power for geophysical surveying, generally without exceeding

the carrying capacity of the towing helicopter. An additional advantage is that the interwoven nature of the net structure generally avoids rope confusions that can occur during starting lift-up.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations of the preferred embodiment may also be practised without departing from the scope of the invention. Further illustration of the present invention is provided in the following examples.

Example 1

Table 1 below provides rope lengths calculated in the manner described above. The resulting geometric configuration is depicted in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. The calculations were carried out using a custom software application. The parameters were: a diameter of 40.0; a tilt angle of 26.50°; a net height of 45.0; 18 attachment points; and 5 levels, with the level height the same for each level.

"Ll" indicates the first level which is adjacent to the circular bird perimeter; "L2" indicates the second level, etc. The rope numbers refer to adjacent ropes moving around the perimeter of the bird or the diameter of each level. The same number of ropes and the same number of rope connection points are present are present on each level.

01 36 1232 1166 11.42 11 12 11 05 0? 36 1193 1189 1119 11 20 10 97

03 34 1252 1126 1149 1089 1097

04 33 1135 11.93 1060 11 11 1074

05 32 1250 1071 1138 1051 1074

06 31 1066 1177 10 29 1087 1036

07 30 1227 1008 11 (O 1003 1038

08 29 991 1143 970 10.49 993

09 28 1184 941 1067 950 993

10, 27 919 1093 9 11 10 01 941

11, 26 1125 880 10 14 8 96 341

12, 25 861 1032 8 59 9 47 S 91

13, 24 1054 S33 9 55 8 50 891 14 23 826 965 821 893 847

15, 22 »76 811 8 97 8 18 847

16, 21 824 901 806 6 47 8 17

17, 20 908 816 8 47 8 06 a 17

18, 19 853 848 8 15 8 16 8.07

Table I Rope lengths for a suspension net with 5 levels

Example 2

Table 2 lists the rope lengths for another suspension net. The parameters in this case were a diameter of 40.0, a tilt angle of 26.50°, a net height of 45.0, 18 attachment points, and 14 levels, as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. In this example, the middle levels were reduced in diameter to give the conical shape a "squeezed" appearance, as described above.

01 , 36 643 567 528 477 454 420 407 386 379 366 363 356 355 353

02, 35 6 15 688 504 4.94 4 35 434 393 396 36S 373 357 359 3 S2 353

03, 34 6 60 538 542 452 4 65 401 416 3 72 385 356 366 350 355 350

04, 33 5 79 599 474 503 4 10 440 374 4 00 356 374 347 359 346 3.50 06, 32 666 502 547 422 4 S9 377 418 354 385 344 364 341 351 3.44

06, 31 539 599 439 502 382 439 352 398 339 372 336 355 338 344

07.30 659 462 541 389 464 3 51 413 335 381 3.29 359 331 345 336 08 29 497 587 403 4 9? 352 430 330 391 323 365 323 348 328 336 09, 28 642 4.25 526 358 450 326 402 3 16 371 315 351 320 337 327 10 27 461 566 3 70 474 326 4 15 310 3 78 307 356 311 3.39 3 18 3.27 11, 26 614 385 501 332 4 30 306 3.θ6 300 3.58 303 340 3 10 3.28 3 18 1? 25 435 535 347 448 307 394 295 3 62 296 341 302 32.8 309 3 18 13, 24 578 377 4 70 3 17 405 294 365 2 90 342 295 328 302 3 18 3 10 t4, 23 425 499 338 4 17 300 370 288 3.43 2 90 327 296 3 17 303 3 10 15, 22 537 376 435 3 16 376 2 92 343 288 326 292 3 16 297 309 303 16 21 434 460 346 3 BS 305 344 291 3.23 290 313 294 307 299 303 1?, 20 496 393 399 329 347 302 321 2 θ4 3 10 294 305 297 302 300 18, 19 459 422 367 3 53 322 320 303 306 298 302 297 300 299 300

Table 2 Rope lengths for a suspension net with 14 levels