Methods and apparatus for handling of sensor capsules
AssigneeMagseis AS
InventorsJan B. GATEMAN, Nils P. GATEMAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for handling of sensor capsules and their inner components during deployment and retrieval of a seismic cable into the sea by a vessel where the seismic cable includes seismic node casings to contain the sensor capsules when the seismic cable is in the sea. The method includes the following steps: withdrawing a sensor capsule from a sensor capsule storage; withdrawing a battery unit from a battery unit storage; withdrawing a control unit from a docking station; combining the control unit and battery unit into a control/battery unit; inserting the control/battery unit into the sensor capsule and closing the sensor capsule; and loading the sensor capsule into a seismic node casing.
Claims15
A method for handling sensor capsules and inner components of the sensor capsules during deployment of a seismic cable into a sea by a vessel, the seismic cable comprising seismic node casings containing the sensor capsules when the seismic cable is in the sea, the method comprising the following steps:
- i) withdrawing one of the sensor capsules from a sensor capsule storage;
- ii) withdrawing a battery unit from a battery unit storage;
- iii) withdrawing a control unit from a docking station;
- iv) combining the control unit and battery unit into a control/battery unit;
- v) inserting the control/battery unit into the sensor capsule and closing the sensor capsule;
- and
- vi) loading the sensor capsule into a seismic node casing.
A method for handling of sensor capsules and inner components of the sensor capsules during retrieval of a seismic cable from a sea by a vessel, the seismic cable comprising seismic node casings containing the sensor capsules when the seismic cable is in the sea, the method comprising the following steps:
- i) unloading a sensor capsule from a seismic node casing;
- ii) opening the sensor capsule and removing a control/battery unit from the sensor capsule;
- iii) dividing the control/battery unit into a control unit and a battery unit;
- iv) placing the control/battery unit in a docking station for communication with a control system;
- v) placing the battery unit in a battery unit storage;
- and
- vi) placing the sensor capsule in a sensor capsule storage.
An apparatus for handling of sensor capsules and inner components of the sensor capsules during deployment of a seismic cable into a sea by a vessel, the seismic cable comprising seismic node casings for containing the sensor capsules when the seismic cable is in the sea, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one robot for:
- i) withdrawing a sensor capsule from a sensor capsule storage;
- ii) withdrawing a battery unit from a battery unit storage;
- iii) withdrawing a control unit from a docking station;
- iv) combining the control unit and battery unit (42) into a control/battery unit;
- and
- v) inserting the control/battery unit into the sensor capsule and closing the sensor capsule.
An apparatus for handling of sensor capsules their inner components of the sensor capsules during retrieval of a seismic cable from a sea by a vessel, the seismic cable comprising seismic node casings containing the sensor capsules when the seismic cable is in the sea, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one robot for:
- i) opening the sensor capsule and removing a control/battery unit from the sensor capsule;
- ii) dividing the control/battery unit into a control unit and a battery unit;
- iii) placing the control unit in a docking station for communication with a control system;
- iv) placing the battery unit in a battery unit storage;
- and
- v) placing the sensor capsule in a sensor capsule storage.
15-20. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.