Seismic node deployment system
AssigneeION Geophysical Corporation
InventorsJohn McCauley Swinford, Timothy A. Dudley, Per Birger Nakken, Fredrik Buch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seismic node deployment system comprises a cable supply with one or more seismic nodes configured for coupling to the cable at one or more attachment locations for deployment to a water column. A node attachment system is configured to drive a portion of the cable into periodic or reciprocal motion so that the attachment speed is substantially reduced relative to the speed at which the cable is deployed.
Claims25
A seismic node deployment system comprising:
- a cable supply configured to provide a cable for attachment of one or more seismic nodes, the one or more seismic nodes configured for deployment to a water column along the cable;
- a coupling apparatus configured to drive the cable, wherein an attachment speed of the cable adjacent the coupling apparatus is reduced for attachment of the one or more seismic nodes relative to a deployment speed at which the cable is deployed to the water column.
A method of seismic node deployment on a cable, the method comprising
- paying out an end of a cable into a water column;
- driving a section of the cable in motion with respect to the end paying out into the water column, wherein a speed of the section is periodically reduced relative to the end of the cable paying out into the water column;
- coupling a seismic node to the section when the speed is reduced;
- and
- deploying the seismic node into the water column on the cable.
A seismic node deployment system comprising:
- a cable supply configured to provide a cable;
- one or more seismic nodes configured for coupling to the cable at an attachment location for deployment to a water column;
- a node coupling device configured to attach and detach the seismic nodes to the cable;
- a node attachment system configured to drive a first portion of the cable in periodic motion between the cable supply and the node coupling device and to drive a second portion of the cable in a periodic motion between the node coupling device and the water column;
- wherein a speed of the cable is substantially reduced adjacent the attachment location relative to a speed of the cable as it is deployed to the water column, or as it is retrieved from the water column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.