Back to results
US 10,479,455 B2Granted
Performing geophysical surveys using unmanned tow vessels
AssigneePGS Geophysical AS
InventorRune Toennessen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed relating to towing source elements and geophysical sensors through a body of water using one or more unmanned tow vessel. In some embodiments, a plurality of unmanned tow vessels are configured to tow one or more signal sources and/or one or more streamers. The plurality of unmanned tow vessels may, in some embodiments, traverse various sail paths along a surface of a body of water in order to acquire geophysical data relating to formations disposed below the bottom of the body of water.
Claims19
A system, comprising:
- a plurality of unmanned tow vessels, including:
- a first unmanned tow vessel that is configured to tow one or more vibratory source elements but not any streamers;
- and
- a second unmanned tow vessel that is configured to tow one or more vibratory source elements and one or more streamers;
- wherein the plurality of unmanned tow vessels are configured to:
- traverse a first sail path in a first formation, wherein the first formation includes a first ordering of the plurality of unmanned tow vessels;
- while traversing the first sail path in the first formation, actuate at least one vibratory source element within the system and collect first data via at least one streamer within the system;
- turn toward a subsequent sail path, wherein both the first and second unmanned tow vessels turn toward the subsequent sail path using substantially similar turning radii;
- traverse the subsequent sail path in a second formation, wherein the second formation includes a second, different ordering of the plurality of unmanned tow vessels;
- and
- while traversing the subsequent sail path in the second formation, actuate at least one vibratory source element within the system and collect second data via at least one streamer within the system.
8 more elements
A method, comprising:
- a plurality of unmanned tow vessels traversing a first sail path in a first formation, wherein the first formation includes a first ordering of the plurality of unmanned tow vessels in a direction perpendicular to the first sail path, and wherein the plurality of unmanned tow vessels includes:
- a first unmanned tow vessel that is configured to tow one or more vibratory source elements but not any streamers;
- and
- a second unmanned tow vessel that is configured to tow one or more vibratory source elements and one or more streamers;
- while traversing the first sail path, actuating at least one vibratory source element and collecting first data via at least one streamer;
- the plurality of unmanned tow vessels turning from the first sail path to a subsequent sail path, wherein both the first and second unmanned tow vessels turn toward the subsequent sail path using substantially similar turning radii;
- traversing, by the plurality of unmanned tow vessels, the subsequent sail path in a second, different formation, wherein the second, different formation includes a second, different ordering of the plurality of unmanned tow vessels in a direction perpendicular to the subsequent sail path;
- and
- while traversing the subsequent sail path, actuating at least one vibratory source element and collecting second data via at least one streamer.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.