# US 2014/0153360 A1 · Head-float and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153360 A1 - Document ID: US20140153360A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/063,329 - Filed: 2013-10-25 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Cgg Services SAS - Applicants: Cgg Services SA - Inventors: Helene TONCHIA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153360A1 ## CPC - G01V 1/38: specially adapted for water-covered areas (G01V1/28 takes precedence) - B63B 21/66: Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables ({paravanes for dragging fishing nets A01K73/02; } salvaging underwater vessels or objects B63C7/00; towed underwater vessels B63G8/42) - G01V 1/3835: {measuring position, e.g. by GPS or acoustically} - G01V 1/3843: {Deployment of seismic devices, e.g. of streamers (equipment for marine deployment in general B63B)} - B63B 22/04: {Fixations or other} anchoring arrangements - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract Method and streamer/source head-float system for connecting to a head portion of a streamer or to a lead-in or providing information about a source. The system includes a head-buoy configured to float in water and connected through a cable to the head portion of the streamer or to the lead-in; a head-float configured to float in water; a connector connecting the head-float to the head-buoy; and positioning equipment attached to the head-float and configured to determine a position of the streamer or the source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A streamer head-float system connected to a head portion of a streamer or to a lead-in, the system comprising: a head-buoy configured to float in water and connected through a cable to the head portion of the streamer or to the lead-in; a head-float configured to float in water; a connector connecting the head-float to the head-buoy; and positioning equipment on the head-float and configured to determine a position of the streamer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein both the head-buoy and the head-float are configured to float at the water surface and the connector is a detachable connectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the connector includes first and second connecting parts configured to disconnect from each other to separate the head-buoy from the head-float. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the head-buoy further comprises: an actuator device configured to actuate the cable to adjust the given depth of the streamer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the head-buoy further comprises: a battery connected to the actuator device and configured to actuate the actuator device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning equipment comprises: an acoustic system configured to determine a position of the streamer relative to adjacent streamers; and/or a global positioning system configured to determine an absolute position of the streamer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the head-float further comprises: a power supply configured to generate energy; and a data transmission device configured to exchange data with a vessel that tows the streamer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the power supply is one of a battery, a solar panel, a fuel cell, a wave energy converter, or a hydro-generator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the head-float further comprises: a hydro-generator configured to generate energy by rotating a propeller; and a protection grid for protecting the propeller from debris and/or marine animals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the protection grid is configured to move relative to a body of the head-float to clean the protection grid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising: a controller for sensing a power produced by the hydro-generator and for controlling a movement of the protection grid based on the sensed power. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the head-float is not directly attached to the streamer or the lead-in and the head-buoy is free of any positioning equipment. ### Claim 13 A head-float associated with a head portion of a streamer or a lead-in towed underwater, the head-float comprising: a body configured to float in water; a connector connecting the head-float to a head-buoy; and positioning equipment attached to the head-float and configured to determine a position of the streamer or a position of a source, wherein the head-float does not provide floatation to the streamer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The head-float of claim 13, wherein the head-buoy is free of any positioning equipment and the head-buoy is configured to connect through a cable to the head portion of the streamer or to the lead-in. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the connector includes first and second connecting parts configured to disconnect from each other to separate the head-buoy from the head-float. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The head-float of claim 13, wherein the positioning equipment comprises: an acoustic system configured to determine a position of the streamer relative to adjacent streamers; and/or a global positioning system configured to determine an absolute position of the streamer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The head-float of claim 16, further comprising: a power supply configured to generate energy; and a data transmission device configured to exchange data with a vessel that tows the streamer. ### Claim 18 A method for performing a seismic survey, the method comprising: towing a streamer; connecting a head-buoy to a head portion of the streamer or to a lead-in; towing with the head-buoy a head-float configured to float in water; and determining a position of the streamer with positioning equipment attached to the head-float. ### Claim 19 A method for replacing a head-float while being deployed on the water for a marine seismic survey, the method comprising: towing a streamer; connecting a head buoy to a head portion of the streamer or to a lead-in; towing with the head buoy the head-float, wherein the head-float is configured to float in water; and detaching the head-float from the head buoy for maintenance. ### Claim 20 A head-float for providing position information associated with a seismic source towed underwater, the head-float comprising: a body configured to float in water; a connector connecting the head-float to a float of the seismic source; and positioning equipment attached to the head-float and configured to determine a position of the seismic source or a seismic streamer.