Ocean Bottom Seismometer - Estimate of Costs

The costs of an experiment with OBS depends mainly on the number of instruments used and the duration of deployment. They can be devided into consumables (anchor, small parts and batteries), insurance and one-off expenses (mobilisation, demobilisation, transport). Additionally, an experienced technician is required for deployment and recovery. Please note, the amounts given in the tables below are without value-added tax (19%) and are estimates as at September 2010.

Consumables

Anchor and small parts Batteries

Insurance

300-500 EUR / unit 200-3000 EUR / unit (see also table below)

Retension of 2500-10000 EUR

One-off expenses

3200-3700 EUR / unit

Mobilisation Demobilisation Transport (incl. insurance)

Technician

2500-5000 EUR / container (12 units) 2500-5000 EUR / container (12 units) 5000-8000 EUR / container (12 units)

Deployment and recovery

16000-20000 EUR / month

Batteries
Alkaline cells are suggested to be used for short-term experiments. Battery packages of 48 and 96 cells each can be combined to achieve a maximum deployment duration of 132 days (sampling rate 500 Hz). Lithium cells are recommended to be used for long-term experiments. They are available at packages of 48 and 96 cells each. Combination of these leads to a maximum deployment duration of 365 days (sampling rate 50 Hz). The expenses of the lithium packages stongly depend on the number of ordered units. Depending on the number of batteries the standard OBS can be used in two configurations, a small version with only one pressure tube and without the outer floating units, and a large (normal) version including two pressure tubes and the outer floating units. The deep-sea OBS are available only with one pressure tube.

Alkaline cells

Number of cells 48 96 144 192 228 (*) as at September 2010

Lithium cells

Capacity (500 Hz) 28 days 55 days 82 days 110 days 132 days

Price / unit (*) 200 EUR 400 EUR 600 EUR 800 EUR 950 EUR

Configuration small small large large large

Number of cells 48 96 144 (*) as at September 2010

Capacity (50 Hz) 121 days 243 days 365 days

Price / unit (*) 1100-1200 EUR 1600-1800 EUR 2600-3000 EUR

Configuration small small large

Example - Long-term passive seismology

24 OBS, one year deployment, external technician necessary

Anchor and small parts Batteries Insurance Mobilisation Demobilisation Transport (incl. insurance) Technician Subtotal VAT (19%) Total

24 OBS x 500 EUR 24 OBS x 2600 EUR 24 OBS x 3000 EUR 2 container x 2500 EUR 2 container x 2500 EUR 2 ways x 2 container x 5000 EUR 2 cruises x 0.5 months x 16000 EUR

12000 EUR 62400 EUR 72000 EUR 5000 EUR 5000 EUR 20000 EUR 16000 EUR 192400 EUR 36600 EUR 229000 EUR