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US 9,606,252 B2Granted
Low-frequency magnetic reluctance marine seismic source
AssigneePGS Geophysical AS
InventorsMattias Oscarsson, Oeystein Traetten, Rune Voldsbekk, Rune Toennessen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure is related to marine seismic sources, for example marine seismic sources known in the art as benders. Some embodiments of this disclosure use magnetic reluctance forces to produce seismic energy. For example, pole pieces may be attached to one or more plates of a marine seismic source, and a wire coil may induce an attractive force between the pole pieces to cause deformation of the plates to produce seismic energy. Such marine seismic sources may be components of a marine seismic survey system, and may be used in a method of marine seismic surveying. Methods of making marine seismic sources are also disclosed.
Claims21
An apparatus, comprising:
- a marine seismic source that includes:
- a first plate that defines a first central axis and a first outer edge, the first outer edge is circular;
- a second plate that defines a second central axis and a second outer edge, the second outer edge is circular, the first central axis is coaxial with the second central axis, and the first plate is parallel to the second plate;
- a hoop disposed between the first and second plates at the outer edges of the first and second plates;
- an interior cavity defined between the first plate, the second plate, and the hoop;
- a first pole piece coupled to the first plate, the first pole piece within the interior cavity;
- a first groove defined in the first pole piece;
- a second pole piece coupled to the second plate, the second pole piece within the interior cavity;
- a wire coil disposed in the first groove between the first and second plates such that the first and second pole pieces are configured to attract one another when an electric current is passed through the wire coil such that the first and second plates bend toward each other along the coaxial first and second central axis.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- actuating a marine seismic source to produce seismic energy, wherein the marine seismic source includes:
- a first plate that defines a first central axis and a first outer edge, the first outer edge is circular;
- a second plate that defines a second central axis and a second outer edge, the second outer edge is circular, the first central axis is coaxial with the second central axis, and the first plate is parallel to the second plate;
- a hoop disposed between the first and second plates at the outer edges of the first and second plates;
- an interior cavity defined between the first plate, the second plate, and the hoop;
- a first pole piece coupled to the first plate, the first pole piece within the interior cavity;
- a first groove defined in the first pole piece;
- a second pole piece coupled to the second plate, the second pole piece within the interior cavity;
- a wire coil disposed in the first groove between the first and second plates such that the first and second pole pieces are configured to attract one another when an electric current is passed through the wire coil such that the first and second plates bend toward each other along the coaxial first and second central axis;
- and
- detecting the seismic energy.
8 more elements
A marine seismic source, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a plurality of benders disposed within the housing, wherein each bender in the plurality of benders includes:
- a first plate that defines a first central axis and a first outer edge, the first outer edge is circular;
- a second plate that defines a second central axis and a second outer edge, the second outer edge is circular, the first central axis is coaxial with the second central axis, and the first plate is parallel to the second plate;
- a hoop disposed between the first and second plates at the outer edges of the first and second plates;
- an interior cavity defined between the first plate, the second plate, and the hoop;
- a first pole piece coupled to the first plate, the first pole piece within the interior cavity;
- a first groove defined in the first pole piece;
- a second pole piece coupled to the second plate, the second pole piece within the interior cavity;
- a wire coil disposed in the first groove between the first and second plates such that the first and second pole pieces are configured to attract one another when an electric current is passed through the wire coil such that the first and second plates bend toward each other along the coaxial first and second central axis.
8 more elements
A marine seismic source, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a plurality of benders disposed within the housing, wherein each bender in the plurality of benders includes:
- a hoop;
- a first plate attached to the hoop and having a first pole piece attached thereto;
- a second plate attached to the hoop and having a second pole piece attached thereto;
- and
- a wire coil disposed between the first and second pole pieces such that, in response to a current being passed through the wire coil, an attractive force between the first and second pole pieces is induced;
- wherein, for at least one bender in the plurality of benders, respective inner areas for the first and second pole pieces are within 5% of respective outer areas for the first and second pole pieces.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.