Particle motion vector measurement in a towed, marine seismic cable

An apparatus comprising:

• a streamer;
• a plurality of acoustic sensors distributed along the streamer;
• and
• a plurality of particle motion sensors distributed along the streamer, at least one particle motion sensor being symmetric about its longitudinal axis and having a center of gravity coincident with its volumetric center.

An apparatus comprising:

• a streamer;
• a plurality of acoustic sensors distributed along the streamer;
• and
• a plurality of particle motion sensors distributed along the streamer, at least one particle motion sensor being symmetric about its longitudinal axis, having a center of gravity coincident with its volumetric center, and including:
• an accelerometer capable of sensing a particle motion vector from a change in position thereof;
• and
• a packing material in which the sensing element is positioned.

A particle motion sensor for use in a streamer, the particle motion sensor comprising:

• a packing material;
• and
• a micro electro-mechanical system accelerometer disposed within the packing material;
• wherein the particle motion sensor is symmetric about its longitudinal axis and has a center of gravity coincident with its volumetric center.

A particle motion sensor for measuring seismic wavefield in water, comprising:

• a sensing element capable of sensing a particle motion vector from a change in position thereof;
• and
• a packing material in which the sensing element is positioned;
• wherein the sensing element is a velocity meter or an accelerometer comprising a micro electro-mechanical system and the particle motion sensor is symmetric about its longitudinal axis and has a center of gravity coincident with its volumetric center.