Tailbuoy stabilization device and method
AssigneeCgg Services SAS
InventorMarc LESCHEVIN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and methods for stabilizing a tailbuoy attached to a streamer towed during a marine survey are provided. The tailbuoy includes a floating body configured to be connected to the streamer, and a keel attached to the floating body. The keel is configured to stabilize a motion of the tailbuoy along a towing direction while in a working state, and to be switched between the working state in which the keel is partially submerged and a retracted state in which the keel is removed from water.
Claims20
A tailbuoy configured to be attached to a streamer towed by a vessel, the tailbuoy comprising:
- a floating body configured to be connected to the streamer;
- and
- a keel attached to the floating body and configured
- to stabilize a motion of the tailbuoy along a towing direction while in a working state, and
- to be switched between the working state in which the keel is partially submerged and a retracted state in which the keel is removed from water.
A marine survey system, comprising:
- at least one streamer configured to be towed, carrying survey equipment and having a distal end connected to a tailbuoy that includes:
- a floating body configured to be connected to the streamer;
- and
- a keel attached to the floating body and configured to stabilize motion of the tailbuoy along the towing direction while in a working state, the keel being configured to be switched between the working state in which the keel is partially submerged and a retracted state in which the keel is removed from water.
A method comprising:
- storing the tailbuoy on a deck of a vessel, the retractable keel being folded up near a mast of a floating body of the tailbuoy;
- releasing the tailbuoy in the water while removing any impediment preventing the retractable keel to rotate around a horizontal axis supported by the floating body;
- and
- rotating the retractable keel until a substantially flat member thereof becomes partially submerged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.