GI 210 Seismic Source

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Seismic source for high-resolution multichannel seismic system. Pressurized air releases a pulse of acoustic energy. This pulse penetrates and bounces off of the seafloor and its subsurface at varying speeds, depending on the kind of rock, sand, mud, or discontinuous layers that it hits. Receivers listen for the return pulses and record them, generating a cross-section of the subsurface beneath the seafloor. This cross-sectional reflection reveals the shape of subsurface material including the locations of faults and buried channels that would not otherwise be visible.

Specifications

• Manufacturer - Sercel, Inc.

• Model - GI 210

• Weight  GI 210 – 165 lbs (74kg)

• Dimensions – Length 827 mm, Width 292 mm, Volume 210 cu. in.

• Power Requirements - Air at 2,000 psi

Operational Characteristics

• Minimum Operational Depth - 100m

• Maximum Operational Depth - unlimited

• Ship’s Requirements

  • All overboarding gear rated to a SWL of 2 tons

  • A-frame or davit with minimum height of 10’

  • 30’ of clear deck space forward from transom

  • Deck winch with line pull of at least 2,000 lbs for deployment and recovery of equipment

  • Ability to line-follow and hold heading in variety of sea states at speeds of 2-4 knots

Additional Equipment Required

• Shot Controller

• High Pressure air compressor

• Banked air storage

• Seismic streamer or other data acquisition system

Complementary Systems

As a seismic source, the Sercel GI 210 is most often used in pairs, or in a 4-source array, coordinated by a shot controller, and towed in combination with a multichannel streamer that receives the signal.  Additional resources include a near-field hydrophone, sonobuoys, and magnetometer.