Positioning for Ocean Bottom Systems (OBS) applications: A case study

This paper presents a real-time positioning solution that reduces the deployment constraints of geophysical OBS (Ocean Bottom Systems) survey equipment. The proposed approach is based on the use of an ultra-short baseline positioning system called GAPS (Global Acoustic Positioning System) that enables real-time, accurate monitoring of the equipment deployed from the moment it enters the water to the point of contact with the ocean floor. This approach enables the user to command the handling and placing of the equipment with considerable flexibility and great accuracy, and in this way allows geophysicists to utilize quality seismic data whilst reducing the length of time and therefore deployment costs of the equipment.