Piston Integrated Variable Mass Load

A system comprising:

• a frame;
• a marine vibrator comprising:
• a containment housing;
• a fixture coupled to the containment housing;
• a first piston plate;
• a first driver coupled to the fixture and the first piston plate, wherein the first driver is configured to move the first piston plate back and forth;
• a first pair of mechanical spring elements coupled to the first piston plate and the fixture, wherein the first pair of mechanical spring elements are positioned on opposite sides of the first driver from one another;
• a first container coupled to an exterior surface of the first piston plate, wherein the first container is configured to hold a variable mass load, wherein the first container is coupled to the frame by one or more connecting springs, wherein the connecting springs are attached to tab elements of the first container;
• a second piston plate;
• a second driver coupled to the fixture and the second piston plate, wherein the second driver is configured to move the second piston plate back and forth;
• a second pair of mechanical spring elements coupled to the second piston plate and the fixture, wherein the second pair of mechanical spring elements are positioned on opposite sides of the second driver from one another;
• and
• a second container coupled to an exterior surface of the second piston plate, wherein the second container is configured to hold a variable mass load.

A method comprising:

• towing a marine vibrator in a body of water in conjunction with a marine seismic survey;
• triggering the marine vibrator to cause one or more piston plates in the marine vibrator to move back and forth wherein one or more mechanical spring elements exert a biasing force against the one or more piston plates, the one or more mechanical spring elements being coupled to the one or more piston plates and a fixture in the marine vibrator;
• and
• optimizing a resonance frequency, wherein the optimizing a resonance frequency comprises varying a mass load on the one or more piston plates, wherein the varying the mass load comprises selectively filling compartments of the marine vibrator at different depths.