Particle motion sensor mounting for marine seismic sensor streamers

A marine seismic streamer, comprising:

• a jacket substantially covering an exterior of the streamer;
• at least one strength member disposed along the length of the jacket;
• a sensor mount disposed at a selected location along the jacket;
• and
• at least one particle motion sensors suspended within the sensor mount by at least one biasing device, a mass of the particle motion sensor and a force rate of the biasing device selected such that a resonant frequency of the particle motion sensor within the sensor mount is within a predetermined range, and wherein the sensor mount is configured such that motion of the jacket, the sensor mount and the strength member is substantially isolated from the particle motion sensor, wherein the sensor mount comprises end plates at each longitudinal end of the sensor mount, the sensor mount end plates substantially sealing an interior of the jacket, and wherein the particle motion sensor is at least one of (a) directly exposed to an environment outside the jacket, and (b) surrounded by a membrane, the membrane having flexibility and thickness selected to substantially isolate motion of the streamer from a fluid disposed within the membrane.

A marine seismic survey system, comprising:

• a plurality of laterally spaced apart streamers configured to be towed by a vessel, each streamer including:
• a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer,
• at least one strength member disposed along the length of the jacket,
• a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart sensor mounts disposed at selected locations along the jacket, and
• a particle motion sensor suspended within each sensor mount by at least one biasing device, a mass of the particle motion sensor and a force rate of the biasing device selected such that a resonant frequency of the particle motion sensor within the sensor mount is within a predetermined range, and wherein each sensor mount is configured such that motion of the jacket, the sensor mount and the strength member is substantially isolated from the respective particle motion sensor, wherein:
• each jacket is filled with a first liquid having a density selected such that each jacket is substantially neutrally buoyant when suspended in a body of water;
• and
• each sensor mount is disposed inside the jacket and is filled with a second liquid having a density selected such that the sensor mount is substantially neutrally buoyant in the first liquid.

A marine seismic survey system, comprising:

• a plurality of laterally spaced apart streamers configured to be towed by a vessel, each streamer including:
• a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer,
• at least one strength member disposed along the length of the jacket,
• a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart sensor mounts disposed at selected locations along the jacket, and
• a particle motion sensor suspended within each sensor mount by at least one biasing device, a mass of the particle motion sensor and a force rate of the biasing device selected such that a resonant frequency of the particle motion sensor within the sensor mount is within a predetermined range, and wherein each sensor mount is configured such that motion of the jacket, the sensor mount and the strength member is substantially isolated from the respective particle motion sensor, wherein each sensor mount comprises end plates at each longitudinal end of the sensor mount, the sensor mount end plates substantially sealing an interior of the jacket, and wherein each particle motion sensor is at least one of (a) directly exposed to an environment outside the jacket, and (b) surrounded by a membrane, the membrane having flexibility and thickness selected to substantially isolate motion of the streamer from a fluid disposed within the membrane.