Subsurface seismic deployment system and method
AssigneeION Geophysical Corporation
InventorsRonald Barry, André W. Olivier, Curt Schneider
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seismic deployment system having a deployment apparatus, a tow line, and a carrier line having a plurality of seismic sensor coupled therealong. The deployment apparatus has a hydrodynamic body. The tow line is configured for towing the hydrodynamic body through a water column. The carrier line is engaged with the deployment apparatus. The deployment apparatus is configured to control tension in the carrier line for deployment of the seismic sensors while the hydrodynamic body is towed through the water column by the tow line.
Claims25
A seismic receiver deployment system comprising:
- a deployment apparatus having a hydrodynamic body;
- a tow line configured for a tow vessel towing the hydrodynamic body through a water column;
- and
- a carrier line engaged with the deployment apparatus, the carrier line having a plurality of seismic sensors coupled therealong for deployment from the tow vessel;
- wherein the deployment apparatus is configured to control tension in the carrier line for deployment of the seismic sensors from the tow vessel to a bottom surface of the water column by way of the carrier line, while the hydrodynamic body is towed through the water column by the tow line.
A method for deploying seismic nodes, the method comprising:
- towing a deployment apparatus by a tow line coupled to a tow vessel, the deployment apparatus having a hydrodynamic body;
- adjusting a payout of the tow line to control a position of the deployment apparatus relative to the tow vessel;
- deploying a carrier line from the tow vessel to a bottom surface of the water column, wherein the carrier line engages the deployment apparatus to define a tension in the carrier line that is greater between the tow vessel and the deployment apparatus than between the deployment apparatus and the bottom surface;
- and
- deploying the one or more seismic nodes from the tow vessel to the bottom surface of the water column along the carrier line, while the hydrodynamic body is towed through the water column by the tow line, wherein a deployment rate of the one or more seismic nodes is responsive to the tension in the carrier line.
A seismic node deployment apparatus comprising:
- a hydrodynamic body configured for navigation through a water column having a bottom surface;
- and
- a sheave mechanism provided on the hydrodynamic body, the sheave mechanism configured to engage a carrier line having a plurality of seismic nodes distributed therealong for deployment from a seismic vessel;
- wherein tension in the carrier line is responsive to operation of the sheave mechanism for deployment of the seismic nodes along the carrier line from the seismic vessel to the bottom surface of the water column by way of the carrier line, during navigation of the hydrodynamic body through the water column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.