Methods and systems for streamer depth profile control
AssigneePGS Geophysical AS
InventorsMattias Südow, Einar Nielsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling depth profiles of marine geophysical sensor streamers as they are towed in a body of water. An embodiment discloses a method for marine geophysical surveying, the method comprising: towing a geophysical sensor streamer in a body of water having a surface and a floor, the geophysical sensor streamer being coupled to a survey vessel by a lead-in cable, the lead-in cable having a length that extends from the survey vessel; adjusting the length of the lead-in cable to cause a forward end of the geophysical sensor streamer to follow a depth profile; and deflecting the geophysical sensor streamer in the vertical plane at one or more spaced apart locations.
Claims25
A method for marine geophysical surveying, comprising:
- towing a geophysical sensor streamer in a body of water having a surface and a floor, the geophysical sensor streamer being coupled to a survey vessel by a lead-in cable, the lead-in cable having a length that extends from the survey vessel;
- adjusting the length of the lead-in cable to cause a forward end of the geophysical sensor streamer to follow a depth profile, wherein the depth profile of the forward end tracks the topography of the floor of the body of water;
- and
- deflecting the geophysical sensor streamer in the vertical plane at one or more spaced apart locations.
A method for marine geophysical surveying, comprising:
- towing a geophysical sensor streamer in a body of water having a surface and a floor, the geophysical sensor streamer being coupled to a survey vessel by a lead-in cable, the lead-in cable having a length that extends from the survey vessel;
- adjusting the length of the lead-in cable in response to changes in the topography of the floor of the body of water;
- and
- deflecting the geophysical sensor streamer in the vertical plane at one or more spaced apart locations.
A marine geophysical survey system, comprising:
- a survey vessel;
- a winch disposed on the survey vessel;
- a geophysical sensor streamer;
- a lead-in cable coupled at one end to the geophysical sensor streamer and at the other end to the winch;
- lateral force and depth control devices disposed at spaced apart locations on the geophysical sensor streamer;
- and
- a depth control system configured to send signals to cause the winch to adjust the length of the lead-in cable to cause a forward end of the geophysical sensor streamer to follow a depth profile, wherein the depth profile of the forward end tracks the topography of a water floor above which the geophysical streamer is to be towed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.