Advances in nodal acquisition system and perspectives on future development

Intensified hydrocarbon exploration in increasingly complex targets has driven the large-scale application of high-precision seismic techniques characterized by wide band, wide azimuth, and high density, thereby imposing higher demands on channel count and acquisition efficiency. A cabled acquisition system faces inherent limitations in real-time channel capability, adaptability to surface complexities, power consumption, and fault handling, rendering it inadequate for high-channel-count high-efficiency seismic exploration operation. In contrast, a node system, characterized by cable-free autonomous manipulation and distributed recording mode based on satellite timing service, continuous operation exceeding 25 days, higher channel capability than a cabled system, and high stability of spread arrangements with field deployable and retrievable design, enables the further large-scale application of wide-band wide-azimuth high-density seismic techniques by offering hardware support, particularly in those prospect areas with complicated surface conditions. This paper gives an overview of the current application of seismic instruments as well as the performance and technical progress in nodal instruments, followed by the discussion on the key performance parameters of nodal instruments and the performance testing methods utilized in the process of instrument development, manufacturing, and application. From the perspective of the practical demands for high-density high-channel-count seismic data acquisition, this paper ends with the expected future technical development of nodal instruments.