Marine Seismic tow system

A method for moving seismic cable through water, comprising:

• positioning a source vessel at a selected position in the water;
• moving said source vessel in a selected course in a first direction through the water;
• deploying a plurality of seismic assets in the water at selected position, wherein a first end of each seismic asset is attached to a separate primary powered tow vessel capable of independent movement through the water relative to movement of the source vessel;
• operating each primary powered tow vessel to move each seismic asset in a selected course through the water;
• controlling operation of each primary powered tow vessel to change the course of each seismic asset through the water, operating a plurality of secondary powered tow vessels each attached to a second end of each seismic asset to selectively control movement of each seismic asset second end through the water;
• operating said primary and secondary tow vessels thereby reversing the travel direction of the seismic assets, whereby the primary and secondary tow vessels are operated so that when the primary tow vessel is operated, the primary tow vessel pulls the cable and the secondary tow vessel through the water in a first direction and when the secondary tow vessel is operated, the secondary tow vessel pulls the cable and the primary tow vessel through the water in a second direction.

A marine seismic towing system for moving seismic cables through water, comprising:

• a source vessel at a first selected position in the water;
• a first seismic cable having a first end fore of the source vessel and a second end in the water at a second selected position relative to said source vessel, wherein the first end of said cable is attached to a primary powered tow vessel capable of independent movement relative to said source vessel through the water, wherein said primary powered tow vessel is attached to said cable to pull said first end in a selected first direction through the water while said second end is attached to a secondary powered tow vessel, wherein said secondary powered tow vessel selectively providing no propulsion;
• and
• said secondary powered tow vessel is selectively operable to maneuver the cable in the water in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A system for moving seismic cable through water, comprising:

• a source vessel at a selected positioned in the water, said source vessel moving in a selected course in a first direction through the water;
• a plurality of seismic assets deployed in the water at a selected position, wherein a first end of each seismic asset is attached to a separate primary powered tow vessel capable of independent movement through the water relative to movement of the source vessel, wherein each primary powered tow vessel moves each seismic asset in a selected course through the water, wherein each primary powered tow vessel to change the course of each seismic asset through the water, operating a plurality of secondary powered tow vessels each attached to a second end of each seismic asset to selectively control movement of each seismic asset second end through the water;
• and
• said primary and secondary tow vessels capable of reversing the travel direction of the seismic assets, whereby the primary and secondary tow vessels are operable so that when the primary tow vessel is operated, the primary tow vessel pulls the cable and the secondary tow vessel through the water in a first direction and when the secondary tow vessel is operated, the secondary tow vessel pulls the cable and the primary tow vessel through the water in a second direction.