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US 10,126,464 B2Granted
Marine streamer handling
AssigneePGS Geophysical AS
InventorsEinar Nielsen, Karl Petter Elvestad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques are disclosed relating to marine geophysical prospecting. According to some embodiments, a survey vessel may tow a streamer through a body of water. If the streamer needs to be maintained (e.g., cleaned, repaired, or serviced), a second vessel may lift the streamer out of the water for this purpose. Techniques are disclosed that are relevant to the handling of protruding members (such as streamer steering devices) on the streamer.
Claims19
An apparatus, comprising:
- a rotatable member affixable to a vessel;
- a first streamer handling block affixed to a first portion of the rotatable member;
- and
- a second streamer handling block affixed to a second portion of the rotatable member;
- wherein the apparatus is configured to:
- support the streamer by the first streamer handling block, wherein the streamer includes a protruding member;
- and
- in response to a change in position of the protruding member caused by horizontal traversal by the streamer of the first streamer handling block, rotate the rotatable member to support the streamer by the second streamer handling block for horizontal traversal by the streamer of the second streamer handling block, wherein the apparatus is configured to rotate the rotatable member without the protruding member contacting either the first streamer handling block or the second streamer handling block.
5 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a rotatable member affixable to a vessel;
- wherein the apparatus is configured to, while a streamer is towed behind a vessel in a body of water:
- support a streamer by the rotatable member, the streamer including a protruding member;
- wherein the rotatable member includes at least one depression therein that is configured to accept the protruding member of the streamer;
- and
- in response to a change in position of the protruding member caused by horizontal traversal by the streamer of the rotatable member while the streamer is towed behind the vessel in a body of water, rotate the rotatable member to receive the protruding member in the depression.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- towing at least one streamer including a protruding member behind a first vessel in a body of water;
- and
- performing maintenance on the at least one streamer via a second vessel in the body of water, the second vessel including a rotatable member, a first streamer handling block affixed to a first portion of the rotatable member, and a second streamer handling block affixed to a second portion of the rotatable member, wherein the performing maintenance includes:
- supporting the at least one streamer by the first streamer handling block;
- and
- in response to a position of the protruding member, the rotatable member rotating such that the streamer is supported by the second streamer handling block.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.