Ocean bottom seismic sensor cable system including torque-relieving swivel

a seismic sensor and torque-relieving technology, applied in seismology, seismology, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of obc to kink, obc to assume, expensive repair or replacement of the cable,

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-09-21
PGS AMERICA INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, there is a tendency of such shallower depth OBCs to assume the shape of the winch or reel on which the OBC is wound under tension.
In such cases, the loops may cause the OBC to kink when tension is reapplied as the OBC is retrieved from the water bottom.
Kinking may damage the cable, thus necessitating expensive repair or replacement of the cable.
Frequently, such torque will result in cable loops being formed.
While such loo

Method used

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  • Ocean bottom seismic sensor cable system including torque-relieving swivel
  • Ocean bottom seismic sensor cable system including torque-relieving swivel
  • Ocean bottom seismic sensor cable system including torque-relieving swivel

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0022] One embodiment of an ocean bottom cable (OBC) system according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 as it would be deployed in a body of water 10. A cable handling vessel 12, which may in some embodiments include seismic data recording equipment 15 of any type known in the art, moves in a selected direction along the surface 11 of the water 10. A winch, reel or similar spooling device, shown generally at 14 is disposed on the cable handling vessel 12 such that an OBC 18 can be deployed from the cable handling vessel 12, typically from its aft end. The winch 14 can be any type known in the art for deployment of marine seismic sensor cables, has a selected length of OBC 18 spooled thereon. The winch 14 extends the OBC 18 into the water 10 as the cable handling vessel 12 moves along the selected direction. The rate of unspooling and the speed of the cable handling vessel 12 are selected such that the OBC 18 eventually rests on the water bottom 16 in a substantially straight line ...

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Abstract

An ocean bottom cable system includes: a cable adapted to be extended from a vessel at the surface of a body of water to the bottom of a body of water. The cable includes at least one electrical conductor or at least one optical fiber. A plurality of sensor units is disposed at spaced apart locations along the cable; and at least one swivel is disposed in the cable between the vessel and at least one of the sensor units. The swivel is adapted to enable relative rotation thereby relieving torsional stress between ends of the cable coupled thereto, and is adapted to transmit axial force along the cable therethrough.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The invention relates generally to the field of ocean bottom cable (OBC) seismic survey systems. More specifically, the invention is related to devices for improving the efficiency of deployment and retrieval of OBCs, and for reducing damage to OBCs during deployment and retrieval. [0005] 2. Background Art [0006] Seismic surveying performed in bodies of water (marine seismic surveying), such as lakes or the ocean, includes surveying performed with ocean bottom cables. [0007] An ocean bottom cable (OBC) normally includes one or more electrical and / or optical conductors extending along the length of the cable and sensors, or sensor “units”, coupled with or disposed along the cable at spaced apart locations. The sensor units typically include one or more particle motion senso...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G01V1/38
CPCG01V1/201H02G1/10G01V1/38G01V1/3817
Inventor GEORGE, NICHOLAS C.SEMB, OLE-FREDRIK
Owner PGS AMERICA INC
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