Back to results
US 2010/0246323 A1Published application
System and method for towing acoustic source arrays
AssigneeWesternGeco L.L.C.
InventorAre Johan Berstad
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique facilitates the production of acoustic pulses used in marine seismic surveys. A source array system comprises a plurality of acoustic sources suspended from a float in a plurality of layers positioned at different vertical levels. A bridle is coupled to the plurality of layers to enable towing of the source array system. The bridle is constructed and connected in a manner such that the arrangement of acoustic sources substantially retains its nominal shape during towing.
Claims23
A system used to produce acoustic pulses for a marine seismic survey, comprising:
- an acoustic source array system having:
- a float;
- a first layer of acoustic sources suspended below the float;
- a second layer of acoustic sources suspended below the first layer;
- and
- a bridle having a first bridle line and a second bridle line together at a tow connection end, the first bridle line extending from the tow connection end to the first layer and the second bridle line extending from the tow connection end to the second layer, wherein the lengths of the first bridle line and the second bridle line are selected such that pulling the source array by the tow connection end forces the tow connection end to a vertical level below the vertical level of the first layer and above the vertical level of the second layer.
3 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a plurality of acoustic sources suspended from a float in two layers positioned at two different vertical levels;
- a tow line;
- and
- a bridle having:
- a first bridle line connected between an end portion of the tow line and an upper layer of the two layers;
- and a second bridle line connected between the end portion and a lower layer of the two layers, the bridle being arranged so that pulling on the tow line forces the end portion of the towline to a vertical level between the different vertical levels of the two layers.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- suspending a plurality of acoustic sources from a float in a plurality of layers that are vertically separated to form an acoustic source array;
- coupling a bridle to the plurality of layers;
- and
- connecting a towline to the bridle at a location that will retain a desired shape of the acoustic source array when towed.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- constructing an acoustic source array with a float layer, a first acoustic source layer suspended from the float layer at a vertical distance D1 below the float layer, and a second acoustic source layer suspended below the first acoustic source layer at a vertical distance D2 below the first acoustic source layer, wherein D1 and D2 are non-zero values;
- coupling bridle lines to the first acoustic source layer and the second acoustic source layer;
- and
- joining opposite ends of the bridle lines at a tow point horizontally disposed from the first and second acoustic source layers and vertically positioned a distance E1 below the level of the first acoustic source layer and a distance E2 above the level of the second source layer, wherein E1 and E2 are non-zero values that sum to equal D2.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.