Vibroseis-Messzug unterwegs im Alpenvorland Oberoesterreichs

A seismic vibrator is a truck-mounted or buggy-mounted device that is capable of injecting low-frequency vibrations into the earth. It is one of a number of

seismic source A seismic source is a device that generates controlled seismic energy used to perform both reflection and refraction seismic surveys. A seismic source can be simple, such as dynamite, or it can use more sophisticated technology, such as a specia ...

s used in

reflection seismology Reflection seismology (or seismic reflection) is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflected seismic waves. The method requires a controlled seismi ...

. The ‘Vibroseis’ exploration technique (performed with vibrators) was developed by the

Continental Oil Company Conoco Inc. ( ) was an American oil and gas company that operated from 1875 until 2002, when it merged with Phillips Petroleum to form ConocoPhillips. Founded by Isaac Elder Blake in 1875 as the "Continental Oil and Transportation Company". Curre ...

(

Conoco Conoco Inc. ( ) was an American oil and gas company that operated from 1875 until 2002, when it merged with Phillips Petroleum to form ConocoPhillips. Founded by Isaac Elder Blake in 1875 as the "Continental Oil and Transportation Company". Curr ...

) during the 1950s and was a trademark until the company's patent lapsed. Today, seismic vibrators are used to perform about half of all seismic surveys on land. The largest seismic vibration truck in the world, known as 'Nomad 90’, weighs 41.5T and has a 90,000 lbf force.

Principle

A seismic vibrator transforms the energy provided by a diesel engine into a vibration. It is performed by a shaker, a movable element that generates the vibration thanks to a piston-reaction mass device driven by an

electrohydraulic servo valve An electrohydraulic servo valve (EHSV) is an electrically-operated valve that controls how hydraulic fluid is sent to an actuator.https://www.moog.com/literature/ICD/Valves-Introduction.pdf Servo valves are often used to control powerful hydraulic ...

. The shaker is applied to the ground for each vibration, then raised up so that the seismic vibrator can move to another vibrating point. Vibrator capability is defined by the maximum force it is capable to generate, called High Peak Force and measured in pound-force. To transmit a maximum force to the ground and prevent the shaker from bumping, part of the weight of the vibrator is applied to the shaker. The vibration frequency typically ranges between 20–150 Hz.

Popular culture

The plot of

Ken Follett Kenneth Martin Follett, (born 5 June 1949) is a British author of thrillers and historical novels who has sold more than 160 million copies of his works. Many of his books have achieved high ranking on best seller lists. For example, in the ...

's 1998 thriller ''

The Hammer of Eden ''The Hammer of Eden'' is a work by Ken Follett published in 1998. Plot It is about a group of people living together in a commune cut off from the rest of the world. When their commune is threatened by a plan to build a dam, they turn despera ...

'' turns on the use of a stolen seismic vibrator truck by ecoterrorists.

References

Industrial Vehicles International is a manufacturer of Seismic Vibrators

External links

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description of seismic vibrator and how the Kansas Geological Survey uses it
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
image of a vibroseis in use
Geosys IVI
Pictures and descriptions of seismic vibrators manufactured by Geosys, Inc. of Japan

Images of a vibrator trucks used by the University of Calgary Seismology Geological tools {{geophysics-stub