System for source towing at depth
AssigneePGS Geophysical AS
InventorsMattias Oscarsson, Thomas Hvesser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for towing geophysical sources includes a housing; a first geophysical source disposed in the housing so that the first geophysical source is partially exposed to a surrounding environment; and a plurality of ballast tanks coupled to the housing and configured to at least one of: change a buoyancy of the source towing system; and shift a center of mass of the source towing system. A method of towing a geophysical source includes towing a source towing system through a body of water at a towing depth; and operating a plurality of ballast tanks of the source towing system to at least one of: change a buoyancy of the source towing system; and shift a center of mass of the source towing system.
Claims20
A survey system comprising:
- a source towing system comprising:
- a housing;
- a first geophysical source disposed in the housing so that the first geophysical source is partially exposed to a surrounding environment and able to generate an acoustic signal in the surrounding environment;
- and
- a plurality of ballast tanks coupled to the housing and configured to at least one of:
- change a buoyancy of the source towing system;
- and
- shift a center of mass of the source towing system;
- and
- a survey vessel, wherein:
- the survey vessel is configured to tow the source towing system, and
- aside from the survey vessel, the source towing system is not coupled to a surface float.
A method of towing a geophysical source comprising:
- towing a source towing system through a body of water at a towing depth;
- generating an acoustic signal in the body of water with the geophysical source;
- and
- operating a plurality of ballast tanks of the source towing system to at least one of:
- change a buoyancy of the source towing system;
- and
- shift a center of mass of the source towing system,
- wherein:
- the source towing system is towed by a survey vessel, and
- aside from the survey vessel, towing the source towing system does not utilize a surface float coupled to the source towing system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.