Apparatus for marine shear wave prospecting
AssigneeConoco Inc.
InventorsDelbert W. Fair, Graydon L. Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An underwater vibrator is specifically adapted for generating a shear wave in a seabed and includes a frame; locomotion apparatus attached to the frame for moving the vibrator over the seabed; and cable means connected between a surface support vessel and the vibrator. The vibrator also includes buoyancy and apparatus for selectively controlling the buoyancy along with apparatus for selectively engaging the seabed with the vibrator. Apparatus is also carried by the vibrator for viewing the location of the vibrator under the water which includes lights and television equipment.
Claims19
An underwater vibrator for use in a body of water having a surface and a seabed, comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) locomotion means confined within said frame and attached to said frame for moving said frame over said seabed;
- (c) cable means connected between a surface support means on the surface of said water and said underwater shear wave vibrator;
- (d) buoyancy means attached to said frame means;
- (e) means for selectively controlling said buoyancy means;
- (f) vibrator means attached to said frame and disposed under said frame;
- (g) hydraulic lift means positioned normal to the surface of said frame, slidably mounted through said frame, and attached to said vibrator means for engaging and disengaging said vibrator means from said seabed;
- and
- (h) means carried by said cable means for controlling said hydraulic lift means, said vibrator means, said buoyancy means, and said locomotion means.
In an undersea vibrator apparatus controlled by a surface support vehicle, said vibrator apparatus having a frame, vibrator means attached to said frame or selectively engaging the seabed to generate a seismic signal therein, locomotion means attached to said frame for moving said frame in said sea, and flotation means for selectively adjusting the buoyancy of said vibrator apparatus, an emergency flotation system comprising:
- (a) a reservoir;
- (b) a compressed gas storage means;
- (c) a valve means;
- (d) means coupling said compressed gas storage means through said valve means to said reservoir;
- and
- (e) means for opening said valve means to communicate gas from said compressed gas means to said reservoir for increasing the flotation of said vibrator apparatus.
An underwater shear wave vibrator for use in a body of water having a surface and a seabed, comprising:
- (a) a frame having an upper surface and sides horizontally disposed;
- (b) locomotion means attached on opposite sides of said frame and having means for contacting the seabed and moving said frame over said seabed;
- (c) cable means connected between a surface support means on the surface of said water and said underwater shear wave vibrator;
- (d) buoyancy means adapted to contain water, attached to said frame means;
- (e) means for selectively controlling the quantity of water in said buoyancy means;
- (f) shear wave vibrator means attached to said frame and disposed under said frame;
- (g) hydraulic lift means positioned normal to the surface of said frame, slidably mounted through said frame, and attached to said vibrator means;
- (h) horizontal frame positioning means attached to said frame;
- and
- (i) means carried by said cable means for controlling said hydraulic positioning means, said vibrator means, said buoyancy means, said horizontal positioning means, said locomotion means and said data monitoring means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.