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). Also 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 | 300-500 EUR / unit |
| Batteries | 200-3000 EUR / unit (see also table below) |
Insurance |
|
| Retension of 2500-10000 EUR | 3200-3700 EUR / unit |
One-off expenses |
|
| Mobilisation | 2500-5000 EUR / container (12 units) |
| Demobilisation | 2500-5000 EUR / container (12 units) |
| Transport (incl. insurance) | 5000-8000 EUR / container (12 units) |
Technician |
|
| 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 |
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| Number of cells | Capacity (500 Hz) | Price / unit (*) | Configuration |
| 48 | 28 days | 200 EUR | small |
| 96 | 55 days | 400 EUR | small |
| 144 | 82 days | 600 EUR | large |
| 192 | 110 days | 800 EUR | large |
| 228 | 132 days | 950 EUR | large |
| (*) as at September 2010 | |||
Lithium cells |
|||
| Number of cells | Capacity (50 Hz) | Price / unit (*) | Configuration |
| 48 | 121 days | 1100-1200 EUR | small |
| 96 | 243 days | 1600-1800 EUR | small |
| 144 | 365 days | 2600-3000 EUR | large |
| (*) as at September 2010 |
Example - Long-term passive seismology
24 OBS, one year deployment, external technician necessary
| Anchor and small parts | 24 OBS x 500 EUR | 12000 EUR |
| Batteries | 24 OBS x 2600 EUR | 62400 EUR |
| Insurance | 24 OBS x 3000 EUR | 72000 EUR |
| Mobilisation | 2 container x 2500 EUR | 5000 EUR |
| Demobilisation | 2 container x 2500 EUR | 5000 EUR |
| Transport (incl. insurance) | 2 ways x 2 container x 5000 EUR | 20000 EUR |
| Technician | 2 cruises x 0.5 months x 16000 EUR | 16000 EUR |
| Subtotal | 192400 EUR | |
| VAT (19%) | 36600 EUR | |
| Total | 229000 EUR |