Ultera Mirage Data Recorder, a Virtual Tape Solution

Ultera Systems, Inc. unveiled its new series of Mirage Data Recorders (MDR) with real time Read After Write (RAW) functionality in a virtual tape solution at the 79th Annual SEG International Exposition.

According to Mo Nour, Ultera Systems president, implementation of RAW is accomplished by providing an independent secondary host (monitor) port. Seismic files are retrieved and displayed via the monitor port while the MDR primary host port is used to simultaneously record seismic acquisition data.

“The ability to display seismic data immediately after it is written to the media offers the ultimate assurance in real time data acquisition applications,” Nour explained.

Petroleum Geo Services (PGS), which laid out the initial concept and specifications for the system, is the first exploration company to implement this feature on its crews. A spokesman for PGS stated: “We are constantly looking for ways to improve our ability to deliver the best results to our clients.”

“The MDR unique architecture makes this breakthrough solution possible by incorporating two independent host ports combined with hard drive-based tape emulation,” said Jeff Imber, president of Beltway Seismic, an Ultera Systems technology partner. Beltway Seismic has developed the MirageView monitoring application for RAW display of seismic data.

MDR solutions are 100% compatible with data acquisition systems from Sercel, ION, ARAM and Fairfield, and can be configured with FC, SCSI, USB and ExpressCard interfaces. The MDR built-in archive includes support for tape drives and flash disk for distribution and processing.

Seismic Equipment LP (SES) was also exhibiting the MDR. SES’s strong partnership with Ultera includes worldwide sale and leasing of Ultera MDR solutions.

In addition, Cypress Technology, Inc. was exhibiting the MDR in rugged Alcatraz enclosures.