VectorSeis® Sensor

OCTIO Geophysical co-operates with ION Geophysical Corporation who has pioneered the development of a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) based 3 axial accelerometer called VectorSeis®. OCTIO has acquired an exclusive license to use VectorSeis® for permanent installations offshore. VectorSeis® is a digital, 3-component, single-point sensor that contains three identical, highly sensitive MEMS accelerometer chips. The single-point VectorSeis® sensor does not suffer from the directional bias, signal smear and frequency loss effects of a geophone array and therefore more accurately samples the true seismic wavefield with a broader bandwidth.

Some of the advantages of this sensor are:

• Response down to 0 Hz
• Increased Resolution - better high frequency response
• DC response measures sensor orientation
• Compactness
• Long term stability

Since the sensor orientation is measured, rotation can be performed in processing faster and with improved accuracy.

The VectorSeis® sensor is the first digital sensor on the market for seismic applications. The sensor contains the sensing element as well as signal conditioning circuitry, and provides a direct digital output (no ADC required). Thus not only is the sensor element more compact than a standard geophone, but the associated electronics circuitry also requires less space and is less complex.