Curved Marine Sparker Source Arrays
AssigneePGS Geophysical AS
InventorRobert Alexis Peregrin Fernihough
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A marine seismic source includes plural impulsive source elements arranged in a three- dimensional pattern having a width in an x direction, a length in a y direction, and a depth in a z direction, wherein the x, y, and z directions are mutually orthogonal. The source elements may be configured to be towed in a body of water such that the x direction corresponds to a crossline direction, the y direction corresponds to an inline direction, and the z direction corresponds to a vertical direction. The pattern of source elements has at least one vertical cross sectional profile that defines a curve, which widens the range of angles over which the source emits acoustic energy at higher frequencies. In some embodiments, the source elements may include marine sparker source elements.
Claims26
A marine seismic source, comprising:
- a plurality of impulsive source elements arranged in a three-dimensional pattern having a width from a left extent to a right extent of the pattern in an x direction, a length from a front extent to a rear extent of the pattern in a y direction, and a depth from an upper extent to a lower extent of the pattern in a z direction, wherein the x, y, and z directions are mutually orthogonal;
- wherein the plural source elements are configured to be towed in a body of water in a manner such that a vertical cross sectional profile of the pattern defines a curve.
A marine seismic source, comprising:
- a plurality of impulsive source elements arranged in a three-dimensional pattern having a width from a left extent to a right extent of the pattern in an x direction, a length from a front extent to a rear extent of the pattern in a y direction, and a depth from an upper extent to a lower extent of the pattern in a z direction, wherein the x, y, and z directions are mutually orthogonal;
- wherein the plural source elements are configured to be towed in a body of water such that the x direction corresponds to a crossline direction, the y direction corresponds to an inline direction, and the z direction corresponds to a vertical direction such that the positive z direction points downward into the body of water;
- and
- wherein the pattern is symmetrical about a vertical axis and defines a convex curve in all vertical cross sectional profiles passing therethrough.
A method of manufacturing a geophysical data product, comprising:
- towing a plurality of impulsive source elements in a body of water in a manner such that:the source elements are arranged in a three-dimensional pattern;
- anda vertical cross sectional profile of the pattern defines a curve;
- causing an activation of the plural source elements;
- receiving, with one or more geophysical sensors, signals responsive to the activation;
- and recording the signals in one or more non-transitory computer readable media, thereby completing the manufacture of the geophysical data product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.