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US 2003/0151974 A1Published application
Marine seismic source towing apparatus and method
AssigneeInput/Output, Inc.
InventorsShyam Kutty, David McCall
Life of this patent
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AssigneeInput/Output, Inc.
InventorsShyam Kutty, David McCall
Estimating the term…
A marine acoustic source system has relativley densely packed energy sources arrayed in a tandem-like fashion along a horizontal plane. Preferably, a longitudinal axis of each source lies orthogonal to a pre-determined towing direction. The system includes protective tubes that encloses supply lines and auxiliary equipment, and a harness. The harness provides the primary mechanical connection for towing the sources through the water. To minimize bending of the supply lines, connectors having angular portions connect the sources to the supply lines. Further, the sources can be arranged such that source connection interfaces for receiving power, hydraulic fluid, or data point alternately in opposing directions. During use, the sources, e.g., air guns, are supported at a predetermined depth beneath the water's surface by a floatation buoy. Upon activation, the sources of a cluster each release individual air bubbles into the water. Because the air guns are relatively densely packed, the individual air bubbles coalesce into a single bubble that produces the desired acoustical signal.
A towable marine acoustic source apparatus, comprising:
The apparatus of claim (1) wherein said longitudinal axes of said acoustic sources are one of (a) generally parallel to the water surface, and (b) generally perpendicular to the water surface.
The apparatus of claim (1) wherein said protective tube comprises:
The apparatus of claim (1) wherein said first cluster comprises at least two air guns.
The apparatus of claim (4) wherein said air guns each have a connection interface adapted for receiving one of gas, electrical power, and data;
The apparatus of claim (4) wherein said air guns each have a connection interface adapted for receiving one of gas, electrical power, said connection interfaces being oriented in substantially the same direction.
The apparatus of claim (4) wherein said air guns each have a connection interface adapted to receive one of gas, electrical power, and data signals from a supply line;
The apparatus of claim (4) wherein said coupling has a first and second mating shell.
The apparatus of claim (4) wherein said air guns each include ports, and wherein said first cluster is further defined by said air gun ports being aligned in substantially along a first plane.
The apparatus of claim (9) further comprising a second cluster of at least two air guns, said second cluster air guns each having ports aligned substantially along a second plane that is substantially parallel to said first plane.
The apparatus of claim (4) wherein said air guns each have a pre-defined center, said air guns having a center-to-center spacing is no greater than about Ds, where Ds is calculated by the equation:
The apparatus of claim (4) wherein said air guns each have a pre-defined center, said air guns having a center-to-center spacing that is no less than (Dc−(Dc)(50%)), where Dc is calculated by the equation:
A towable marine acoustic source apparatus deployable from a service vessel having a tow line that includes a termination, the apparatus comprising:
The apparatus of claim (13) wherein said harness comprises a collar associated with each source and a plurality of linking members, said linking member providing a mechanical connection between each collar.
The apparatus of claim (13) wherein said longitudinal axes of said acoustic sources are one of (a) generally parallel to the water surface, and (b) generally perpendicular to the water surface.
The apparatus of claim (13) wherein said cluster comprises at least two air guns.
The apparatus of claim (16) wherein said air guns each have a connection interface adapted for receiving one of gas, electrical power, and data;
The apparatus of claim (16) wherein said air guns each have a connection interface adapted for receiving one of gas, electrical power, said connection interfaces being oriented in substantially the same direction.
The apparatus of claim (16) wherein said longitudinal axes of said acoustic sources are one of (a) generally parallel to the water surface, and (b) generally perpendicular to the water surface.
The apparatus of claim (16) wherein said air guns each include ports, and wherein said first cluster is further defined by said air gun ports being aligned in substantially along a first plane.
The apparatus of claim (20) further comprising a second cluster of at least two air guns, said second cluster air guns each having ports aligned substantially along a second plane that is substantially parallel to said first plane.
The apparatus of claim (16) wherein said air guns each have a pre-defined center, said air guns having a center-to-center spacing is no greater than about Ds, where Ds is calculated by the equation:
The apparatus of claim (16) wherein said air guns each have a pre-defined center, said air guns having a center-to-center spacing that is no less than (Dc−(Dc)(50%)), where Dc is calculated by the equation:
A method of performing a marine seismic survey, comprising:
The method of claim (24) further comprising aligning the longitudinal axes of the acoustic sources in one of (a) generally parallel to the water surface, and (b) generally perpendicular to the water surface.
The method of claim (24) wherein the acoustic sources include at least two air guns each having a longitudinal axis, and a connection interface adapted for receiving one of gas, electrical power, and data.
The method of claim (26) further comprising:
The method of claim (26) further comprising orienting the connection interfaces of the air guns in substantially the same direction.
The method of claim (26) further comprising aligning the longitudinal axes of the acoustic sources in one of (a) generally parallel to the water surface, and (b) generally perpendicular to the water surface.
The method of claim (26) wherein the air guns each have a pre-defined center, the air guns having a center-to-center spacing is no greater than about Ds, where Ds is calculated by the equation:
The method of claim (26) wherein the air guns each have a pre-determined center and the air guns having a center-to-center spacing no less than (Dc−(Dc)(50%)), where Dc is calculated by the equation:
The method of claim (26) wherein the air guns each include ports, and further comprising aligning the air gun ports substantially along a first plane.
The method of claim (32) further comprising forming a second cluster of at least two air guns each having ports;
A method of performing a marine seismic survey, comprising:
The method of claim (34) wherein said connecting step includes fastening a collar on each source, and linking each collar to the termination.
The method of claim (34) wherein the acoustic sources include at least two air guns each having a longitudinal axis, and a connection interface adapted for receiving one of gas, electrical power, and data.
The method of claim (36) further comprising aligning the longitudinal axes of the acoustic sources in one of (a) generally parallel to the water surface, and (b) generally perpendicular to the water surface.
The method of claim (36) further comprising orienting the connection interfaces of a first set of air guns in a first direction;
The method of claim (36) further comprising orienting the connection interfaces of the air guns in substantially the same direction.
The method of claim (36) wherein the air guns each have a pre-defined center, the air guns having a center-to-center spacing is no greater than about Ds, where Ds is calculated by the equation:
The method of claim (36) wherein the air guns each have a pre-determined center and the air guns having a center-to-center spacing in a range that is no less than (Dc−(Dc)(50%)), where Dc is calculated by the equation:
The method of claim (36) wherein the air guns each include ports, and further comprising aligning the air gun ports generally along a first plane.
The method of claim (42) further comprising forming a second cluster of at least two air guns each having ports;
A marine acoustic source system, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.