Seismic cable with adjustable buoyancy
AssigneeFairfield Industries Incorporated
InventorsJAMES N. THOMPSON, Etienne Marc, Richard Campbell, Richard E. Nye
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for a seismic cable is described. In one embodiment, the seismic cable includes a first cable segment and a second cable segment coupled together by a connector that prevents transmission of power and data signals between the first cable segment and the second cable segment. Each cable segment includes an inner jacket defining a hollow core, a braided strength fiber surrounding the inner jacket, and an outer jacket circumferentially surrounding the braided strength fiber, wherein the connector isolates the first and second cable segments.
Claims25
A seismic cable, comprising:
- a first cable segment and a second cable segment coupled together by a connector that prevents transmission of power and data signals between the first cable segment and the second cable segment, wherein each cable segment comprises:
- an inner jacket defining a hollow core;
- a braided strength fiber surrounding the inner jacket;
- and
- an outer jacket circumferentially surrounding the braided strength fiber.
A seismic cable, comprising:
- a first cable segment and a second cable segment having terminating ends coupled together by a connector that prevents transmission of power and data signals between the first cable segment and the second cable segment, wherein each cable segment comprises:
- an inner jacket defining a hollow core;
- a metallic material having a specific gravity greater than 1.2 disposed within the hollow core;
- a braided strength fiber surrounding the inner jacket;
- and
- an outer jacket circumferentially surrounding the braided strength fiber.
A method for performing a seismic survey in a water column, the method comprising:
- providing a length of flexible cable from a cable storage device disposed on a vessel to a cable handling device adjacent the cable storage device;
- wherein the flexible cable comprises a specific gravity that is greater than a specific gravity of water in the water column;
- routing the flexible cable to pass adjacent a workstation disposed on the vessel;
- deploying a free end of the flexible cable into the water column;
- attaching at least one of a plurality of seismic sensor units to the cable as the cable passes the workstation;
- and
- controlling the motion of the vessel and the rotational speed of the cable handling device to allow the flexible cable to rest on the bottom of the water column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.