# US 2014/0196653 A1 · Tailbuoy stabilization device and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196653 A1 - Document ID: US20140196653A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/070,891 - Filed: 2013-11-04 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16 - Assignees: Cgg Services SAS - Applicants: Cgg Services SA - Inventors: Marc LESCHEVIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196653A1 ## CPC - B63B 21/56: Towing or pushing equipment (tugs B63B35/66; towing arrangements for water sports use B63B34/60) - 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) - B63B 22/18: having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether - G01V 1/3808: {Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design} - G01V 1/3826: {dynamic steering, e.g. by paravanes or birds} - 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) - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tailbuoy of claim 1, wherein the keel includes a substantially flat member that, while in the working state, is partially submerged and has a small area (L×t) perpendicular to the towing direction and a large area (L×W) parallel to the towing direction and to gravity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tailbuoy of claim 2, wherein the keel has a pair of lateral wings attached to the substantially flat member, the lateral wings being mounted to be substantially perpendicular to the large area of the substantially flat member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tailbuoy of claim 3, wherein an angle of the lateral wings with the towing direction is adjustable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The tailbuoy of claim 2, wherein the keel has a ballast element mounted on the substantially flat member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The tailbuoy of claim 2, wherein the ballast element is mounted on a portion of the substantially flat member that sinks deepest when the keel is partially submerged. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tailbuoy of claim 1, wherein the keel is attached to the floating body at a first location on the floating body, the first location being substantially opposite to a second location on the floating body at which the floating body is connected to the streamer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tailbuoy of claim 1, wherein the keel is configured to rotate around an axis supported by the floating body, to be folded up near a mast of the floating body when the keel is in the retracted state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tailbuoy of claim 8, wherein, in the retracted state, the keel is secured with a pin against the mast. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tailbuoy of claim 1, further comprising a positioning equipment mounted on a floating body's mast. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tailbuoy of claim 10, wherein the positioning equipment is configured to indicate tailbuoy's position relative to the vessel. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The marine survey system of claim 12, wherein the streamer has a variable depth profile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The marine survey system of claim 12, wherein the keel includes a substantially flat member that, while in the working state, is partially submerged and has a small area (L×t) perpendicular to the towing direction and a large area (L×W) parallel to the towing direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The marine survey system of claim 14, wherein the keel has a pair of lateral wings attached to the substantially flat member, the lateral wings are substantially perpendicular to substantially flat member's sides having the large area , and an angle of the lateral wings with the towing direction is adjustable. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The marine survey system of claim 12, wherein the keel has a ballast element mounted on the substantially flat member such that to be located below a center of gravity of the tailbuoy when the substantially flat member is partially submerged. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The marine survey system of claim 12, wherein the keel is configured to rotate around an axis supported by the floating body, to be folded up near a mast of the floating body while the keel is in the retracted state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The marine survey system of claim 17, wherein, the keel is secured with a pin against the mast while the keel is in the retracted state. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the retractable keel rotates at least partially due to a ballast incorporated in the substantially flat body.