Systems and methods for seismic streamer positioning
AssigneeWesternGeco L.L.C.
InventorsStig Solheim, Kenneth Welker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for determining position of one or more seismic streamers are disclosed. One system embodiment includes a seismic streamer towed by a towing vessel at a first depth; at least one positioning streamer towed by the towing vessel at a second depth different than the first depth; and an acoustic ranging system between the seismic and positioning streamers It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
Claims24
A system comprising:
- (a) a seismic streamer towed by a towing vessel at a first depth;
- (b) at least one positioning streamer towed by the towing vessel at a second depth different than the first depth;
- and
- (c) a acoustic ranging system comprising a transmitter and a receiver, one of the transmitter and receiver positioned in the seismic streamer and the other positioned in the positioning streamer.
The system of claim 12, comprising one of the positioning streamers at the first depth and all other positioning streamers at depths different than the first depth.
A system comprising:
- (a) two or more seismic streamers towed by a towing vessel at a first depth;
- (b) at least one positioning streamer towed by the towing vessel, the positioning streamer positioned laterally outside of the seismic streamer;
- and
- (c) a acoustic ranging system comprising a transmitter and a receiver, one of the transmitter and receiver positioned in at least one of the seismic streamers and the other positioned in the positioning streamer.
A system for acquiring marine seismic data, the system comprising:
- (a) a seismic source;
- (b) a plurality of seismic streamers of equal length towed at a first depth by a towing vessel, the seismic streamers having sufficient acoustic sources and receivers to form at least one acoustic positioning network there between;
- (c) one or more positioning streamers towed at a second depth less than the first depth, the positioning streamers each having acoustic energy sources and receivers, or dual functioning transducers, spaced along their length, the positioning streamers each having a length substantially equal to the length of the seismic streamers, each having tail buoys attached thereto positioned near a quarter point between a midpoint and tail of the seismic streamers, and having buoys positioned near a quarter point between the midpoint and the towing vessel.
A method comprising:
- (a) towing a seismic streamer at a first depth using a towing vessel;
- (b) towing at least one positioning streamer at a second depth different from the first depth;
- (c) performing acoustic ranging between the seismic streamer and at least one positioning streamer;
- and
- (d) selecting the first and the second depths such that there is adequate acoustic energy for the acoustic ranging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.