Method and apparatus for regulating underwater seismic source pressure
AssigneeSercel
InventorsPaul WENTZLER, Maxime BENANIBA, Jérémy AZNAR, Robert FOERTSCH
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure regulator for controlling a pressure supplied by an umbilical to a seismic source includes a frame configured to be located downstream from the umbilical and upstream from the seismic source; a dome piston valve supported by the frame and configured to receive compressed air with an input pressure Pin and to output compressed air with an output pressure Pout, smaller than the input pressure Pin; a pilot valve supported by the frame and configured to control the output pressure Pout; and wherein the pilot valve and the dome piston valve are configured to prevent a release of the compressed air into the ambient.
Claims20
A pressure regulator for controlling a pressure supplied by an umbilical to a seismic source, the pressure regulator comprising:
- a frame configured to be located downstream from the umbilical and upstream from the seismic source;
- a dome piston valve supported by the frame and configured to receive compressed air with an input pressure Pin and to output compressed air with an output pressure Pout, smaller than the input pressure Pin;
- and
- a pilot valve supported by the frame and configured to control the output pressure Pout,
- wherein the pilot valve and the dome piston valve are configured to prevent a release of the compressed air into the ambient.
A seismic survey system for generating seismic data underwater, the system comprising:
- a first umbilical configured to be connected with a first end to a manifold on a vessel and with a second end to a pressure regulator;
- the pressure regulator configured to be connected downstream from the first umbilical and upstream from a first seismic source, the pressure regulator being configured to receive compressed air having an input pressure Pin and to output compressed air having an output pressure Pout, smaller than the input pressure Pin;
- and
- the first seismic source configured to generate seismic waves underwater.
A method for generating seismic data with a first marine seismic source, the method comprising:
- connecting a pressure regulator between a first umbilical and the first seismic source;
- deploying the first umbilical, pressure regulator, and the first seismic source in water;
- supplying compressed air having an input pressure, through the first umbilical, to the pressure regulator;
- supplying compressed air having an output pressure, smaller than the input pressure, from the pressure regulator to the first seismic source;
- and
- firing the first seismic source to discharge the compressed air having the output pressure into the water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.