SEA BOTTOM MAPPING, HYDROGRAPHY, SEABED SEDIMENTOLOGY
Modern hydrography includes sea bottom mapping, tide and current measurement, study of sea level evolution and seabed sedimentology. Whether the survey site is along the coasts, in ports or in deep sea waters, the quality of data collection is highly reliant on the performance of the sensors that are installed onboard the survey vessel.
DIFFERENTIAL GPS, ECHO SOUNDER, DGPS
One of several types of echo sounder using one or more beams generally provides the primary measurement, usually of water depth. Whatever the type of sensor used, the depth measurement alone is useless without being closely related to a synchronous and precise position within a specified reference coordinate system. Since the beginning of the 1990`s, real-time differential GPS (DGPS) has been meeting the needs of a growing number of positioning applications in hydrography, and current kinematic techniques now offer real-time centimeter accuracy.
SUB-METER POSITIONING PRECISION, DUAL FREQUENCY SOUNDERS
Small-scale coastal surveys are carried out with single or dual frequency sounders. They usually require sub-meter positioning precision within a maximum area of several tens of kilometers from the coast. The Thales Navigation Sagitta provides a turnkey solution for this type of application with integrated data links for differential corrections.
MULTI-BEAM SOUNDERS, BATHYMETRY
Large-scale bathymetry generally makes use of multi-beam sounders combined with inertial reference systems for attitude compensation. These surveys also require centimeter-accurate positioning for compensating tidal effect in real-time as well as delivering perfect plane positioning. The dual-frequency Aquarius with LRK technology provides high performance that extends up to a 40-km range. The solutions offered are: 3011 GPS Compass, Aquarius, Sagitta and Aquarius2
SEISMIC MARINE SURVEYING
Seismic marine surveying aims to reveal the location of hydrocarbon resources, somewhere from 0 to 5000 meters below the seabed. Data collection is carried out to build a 3-dimensional image, which can be analyzed by petroleum reservoir engineers. In surveys of this kind, surveying configurations are becoming more powerful and sophisticated and now consist of up to 12 streamers, each between 3 to 5 kilometers in length and roughly 25 meters apart.
HYDROPHONES, FLUX GATE COMPASS
The level of quality assurance and productivity required by oil companies, and marine seismic exploration missions, leads to the use of the most advanced and high-performance techniques available for positioning. Efficient seismic data collection needs accurate coordination of the source position and all the hydrophone groups along the streamers. Surveyors need to take advantage of sophisticated positioning techniques such as acoustic techniques, and laser or flux gate compass (for hydrophones). Differential GPS is now being used extensively for this type of operation. DGPS accuracy for seismic survey vessels is typically better than 5 meters, with corrections usually provided by a satellite link.
HIGH-SPEED UHF BI-DIRECTIONAL DATA LINK
GPS is commonly used to provide the position of the tail buoys relative to the absolute position of the seismic vessel, with meter-level accuracy. This technology involves a high-speed UHF bi-directional data link along with a high-grade GPS core, which is part of our know-how and is available to system integrators. Thales Navigation offers GPS solutions, ideal for Marine Seismic Exploration: Aquarius and Aquarius2
OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION
A single offshore oil and gas production operation carried out anywhere worldwide, from the North Sea to the Middle East to the Gulf of Mexico and in West Africa, typically reaches a cost of over $100,000 a day. Therefore, the availability of reliable and precise positioning is an absolute necessity.
USBL ACOUSTICS, KINEMATIC DGPS DATA
Offshore positioning is typically based on the simultaneous and redundant use of two or three different kinds of systems such as differential GPS (DGPS) laser tracking systems and USBL acoustics, often combined in Dynamic Positioning (DP). Most Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and construction support operations, seabed surveys, pipe laying and rig move applications generally require 5-meter accuracy. Level measurements in offshore activities are for dimensional control, for tilt and settlement structural surveys, and critical rig move operations. The Thales Navigation Aquarius with LRK technology provides a turnkey solution for these applications, guaranteeing the availability of kinematic DGPS data even in the most difficult environments. Thales Navigation offers GPS solutions ideal for Oil and Gas applications: 3011 GPS Compass, ADU5, Aquarius, Aquarius2, DG14 Sensor, DG16 Sensor and ZXW-Sensor.
OEM SOLUTIONS
Thales has an Original Equipment Manufacturer(OEM) solution for every GPS application guaranteeing high-performance, small form factor, low power usage and affordability. Thales GPS components compliment your design and manufacturing process. Choose from a complete line of boards, sensors, chipsets and vehicle navigation solutions.
VEHICLE NAVIGATION SOLUTIONS
Take advantage of advanced, easy to integrate and affordable GPS technologies for OEMs of vehicle navigation solutions.
OEM CHIPSET SOLUTIONS
State-of-the-art GPS chipsets meet today`s stringent requirements for small form factor and low power consumption. If your application involves integrating GPS into a cell phone device, designing a recreational GPS handheld, or building a vehicle tracking and navigation system, Thales can provide the optimal performance in affordable OEM chipset solutions.
BOARD AND SENSOR SOLUTIONS
Thales provides a complete range of professional GPS/GNSS OEM board and sensor solutions to meet the needs of a vast number of applications.
