# US 2018/0321407 A1 · Marine survey apparatus, system, and method with a rigid structure

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2018/0321407 A1
- Document ID: US20180321407A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/967,716
- Filed: 2018-05-01
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-04
- Assignees: PGS Geophysical AS
- Applicants: PGS Geophysical AS
- Inventors: Karl Petter Elvestad; Thomas M. Hvesser
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180321407A1

## CPC

- G01V 1/3826: {dynamic steering, e.g. by paravanes or birds}
- B63B 21/663: {Fairings}
- G01V 1/02: Generating seismic energy {(G01V1/003 takes precedence)}
- G01V 1/38: specially adapted for water-covered areas (G01V1/28 takes precedence)
- G01V 1/3808: {Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design}
- G01V 1/3817: {Positioning of seismic devices}
- G01V 1/3843: {Deployment of seismic devices, e.g. of streamers (equipment for marine deployment in general B63B)}
- 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

Seismic source element modules can each include a seismic source element. Spacer modules can each have a hydrofoil shape. A first end of the spacer modules can be coupled to a respective first one of the seismic source element modules. A second end of the spacer modules can be coupled to a respective second one of the seismic source element modules. The source element modules and the spacer modules can collectively form a rigid structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A marine survey apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of seismic source element modules each including a seismic source element; and
a plurality of spacer modules each having a hydrofoil shape and, at a first end, being coupled to a respective first one of the plurality of seismic source element modules and, at a second end, being coupled to a respective second one of the plurality of seismic source element modules;
wherein the plurality of source element modules and the plurality of spacer modules collectively form a rigid structure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tow line winch module coupled to the rigid structure, the tow line winch module including a tow line winch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 1, wherein an end of the rigid structure further includes a support attachment point configured to be coupled to a line from a support float.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 3, wherein an opposite end of the rigid structure is configured to be coupled to an umbilical from a marine survey vessel; and
wherein the opposite end includes an opening configured to receive a power cable, an air cable, and a communication cable from the umbilical.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a hollow channel internal to the rigid structure that runs along a length of the rigid structure and that is defined by respective solid surfaces in each of the plurality of spacer modules and the plurality of seismic source element modules.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of spacer modules includes a tow line attachment point oriented forward from a leading edge of the hydrofoil shape to an exterior of the at least one spacer module.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of spacer modules includes a pair of tow line attachment points on opposite sides of an exterior of the at least one spacer module such that differential tension between the pair of tow line attachment points causes the at least one spacer module to rotate while being towed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of spacer modules includes a hinged trailing edge configured to operate as a rudder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacer modules and the plurality of seismic source element modules are individually attachable and removable from one another.

### Claim 10

A marine survey system, comprising:
a rigid structure including:
a plurality of spacer modules each having a hydrofoil shape; and
a plurality of seismic source element modules each coupled to at least one of the plurality of spacer modules;
a tow line winch coupled to the rigid structure and to a plurality of tow lines such that operation of the tow line winch changes an amount by which the plurality of tow lines are extended to change an orientation of the rigid structure between vertical and approximately horizontal;
a support float coupled to a first end of the rigid structure; and
an umbilical coupled to the rigid structure, wherein the umbilical includes a bridle coupled to the plurality of tow lines, and wherein the umbilical includes a power cable coupled to the tow line winch.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The marine survey system of claim 10, wherein the umbilical is coupled to a second end of the rigid structure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The marine survey system of claim 10, wherein the tow line winch and the plurality of tow lines are configured such that operation of the tow line winch to increase the amount by which the plurality of tow lines are extended changes the orientation of the rigid structure away from vertical and toward horizontal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The marine survey system of claim 10, wherein the tow line winch and the plurality of tow lines are configured such that operation of the tow line winch to decrease the amount by which the plurality of tow lines are extended changes the orientation of the rigid structure away from horizontal and toward vertical.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The marine survey system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of tow lines are coupled to the tow line which through a corresponding plurality of openings in the rigid structure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The marine survey system of claim 10, wherein the umbilical includes an air cable coupled to a plurality of seismic source elements in the plurality of seismic source element modules.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The marine survey system of claim 10, wherein the support float includes a depth control device coupled to the rigid structure and configured to control a depth of the rigid structure; and
wherein the power cable or a different power cable from the umbilical is coupled to and configured to provide power to the depth control device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The marine survey system of claim 10, wherein the support float includes a position control device; and
wherein the power cable or a different power cable from the umbilical is coupled to and configured to provide power to the position control device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The marine survey system of claim 10, wherein an end of the umbilical coupled to the second end of the rigid structure is sufficiently heavy to urge the second end of the rigid structure to remain vertically below the support float while being towed at marine survey speeds.

### Claim 19

A method for deploying a marine survey system, comprising:
deploying the marine survey system into a fluid volume from a marine survey vessel in an approximately horizontal orientation; and
operating a tow line winch on the marine survey system to retract a plurality of tow lines coupled to an umbilical of the marine survey system and to a rigid structure of the marine survey system until the rigid structure is in a vertical orientation.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein operating the tow line winch includes powering the tow winch via the umbilical.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the method further includes adjusting a depth of the rigid structure via operation of a depth control device on a support float coupled to the rigid structure.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the method further includes steering the rigid structure by operation of a position control device on the support float.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the method further includes powering the depth control device and the position control device via the umbilical.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the method further includes steering the rigid structure by applying differential tension to a pair of tow lines coupled to opposite sides of the rigid structure.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the method further includes steering the rigid structure via operation of a hinged trailing edge of at least a portion of the rigid structure.

### Claim 26

A method for recovering a marine survey system, comprising:
operating a tow line winch on the marine survey system to extend a plurality of tow lines coupled to an umbilical of the marine survey system and to a rigid structure of the marine survey system until the rigid structure moves from a vertical orientation to an approximately horizontal orientation; and
recovering the marine survey system from a fluid volume onto a marine survey vessel in the approximately horizontal orientation.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein recovering the marine survey system comprises retracting the umbilical.

### Claim 28

A marine survey apparatus, comprising:
a first seismic source element module including a first seismic source element;
a second seismic source element module including a second seismic source element; and
a hydrofoil shaped member coupled between the first and the second seismic source element modules;
wherein the first and the second seismic source element modules and the hydrofoil shaped member collectively form a rigid structure.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 28, wherein the hydrofoil shaped member is coupled to the first and the second seismic source element modules.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 28, further including a spar coupled to and between the first and the second seismic source element modules;
wherein the hydrofoil shaped member is coupled to the spar.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 30, wherein the hydrofoil shaped member is not directly connected to the first seismic source element module.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 30, further including:
a third seismic source element module including a third seismic source element; and
a different hydrofoil shaped member coupled between the second and the third seismic source element modules;
wherein the first, the second, and the third seismic source element modules, the hydrofoil shaped member, and the different hydrofoil shaped member collectively form a rigid structure.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 32, wherein the different hydrofoil shaped member is coupled to the spar and to the second and the third seismic source element modules via the spar.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 32, further including a different spar coupled to and between the second and the third seismic source element modules;
wherein the third seismic source element module is coupled to the different spar and to the second seismic source element module via the different spar.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The marine survey apparatus of claim 34, wherein the spar is coupled to the different spar.