A time-synchronized acquisition scheme for marine controlled source electromagnetic transmitter output current.

Abstract

Marine Controlled Source Electromagnetic (MCSEM) transmitters require precise recording of output current waveforms for subsequent data processing. This study presents a novel time-synchronized acquisition scheme for MCSEM transmitter output current, featuring GPS-referenced timing and periodic calibration. The proposed dual-core architecture enables complete current data acquisition and storage while maintaining synchronization with the pulse-per-second signal. Laboratory tests confirmed the system's performance metrics, and field deployments in two separate MCSEM operations successfully captured actual transmitter output currents. Comparative analysis revealed excellent temporal alignment between transmitter and receiver data, with measured deviations consistently below 100 ms. The demonstrated reliability and precision of this acquisition system represent a significant advancement for MCSEM instrumentation, particularly in deep-water resource exploration applications where accurate current waveform recording is critical for robust data interpretation.