Floating body middle transition joint and flexible floating body structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a floating body middle transition joint and a flexible floating body structure, the floating body middle transition joint is made of a polyurethane material, so that compared with a floating body middle transition joint made of aluminum alloy in the prior art, the floating body middle transition joint has the advantages that the service life of the floating body middle transition joint is prolonged, and air leakage faults caused by corrosion are reduced. The floating body middle transition joint comprises a transition joint body, the middle of the transition joint body is fixedly connected with a partition plate dividing the transition joint body into a left part and a right part, and inflation holes are formed in the portions, on the two sides of the partition plate, of the transition joint body respectively. Due to the arrangement of the partition plates, the cavities formed by the transition joint body and the floating body pipes on the two sides of the transition joint body are not communicated, and the arrangement has the advantages that even if one cavity breaks down, if air leakage is caused by tiny damage, the buoyancy of the other cavity cannot be affected, and therefore the basic floating function of the floating body array can be guaranteed; and due to the arrangement of the inflation holes, the corresponding cavities can be conveniently inflated.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of floating body structure, and particularly relates to a floating body intermediate transition section and a flexible floating body structure. BACKGROUND

[0002] In marine seismic exploration acquisition operation, the array floating body is an important carrier of the air gun array as a shooting source. In the array floating body, the flexible floating body structure plays a key role, which enables the air gun array to float at a specific depth, provides buoyancy for the air gun array, and is used for suspending the air gun, and can also achieve the purpose of inflating the flexible floating body pipe and suspending acoustic, GPS and other devices.

[0003] The flexible floating body structure includes a floating body head, a floating body pipe, a floating body section, a hanging rig and the like. Usually, the floating body sections of one array are composed of 6 intermediate transition sections, 1 intermediate transition section with RGPS and 1 floating body tail section, the floating body pipe is connected between two intermediate transition sections, is a cylindrical sectional storage air bag, floats on the water surface during operation, and provides upward buoyancy for the array and the underwater terminal of the streamer cable through the depth rope, so as to maintain the array at a certain depth. In daily work, the floating body pipe and the floating body intermediate transition section are key spare parts for providing buoyancy, and if the air pressure in the floating body pipe is insufficient or the intermediate transition section leaks or is damaged, the operation production will be directly affected, and even the underwater array equipment will be lost.

[0004] The existing floating body intermediate transition section is an aluminum cylindrical structure. The aluminum material is easily oxidized and corroded by seawater and air in daily operation, so that the aluminum floating body intermediate transition section will be uneven after long-term use due to corrosion, which will cause the floating body pipe to leak or be filled with water. When the leakage reaches a certain degree, the problem of insufficient buoyancy will occur, which will change the array form and affect the operation quality. At this time, the floating body intermediate transition section needs to be inflated or replaced, and it takes about 1 hour to replace one transition section, so there is a problem of seriously affecting the operation efficiency of the fleet, and the service life of the aluminum floating body section is about 1 year, which has the shortcoming of short service life. SUMMARY

[0005] In order to solve all or part of the above problems, the present application aims to provide a floating body intermediate transition section and a flexible floating body structure. The floating body intermediate transition section of the present application is made of polyurethane material which is resistant to seawater corrosion and air oxidation, thereby avoiding corrosion and prolonging the service life of the floating body intermediate transition section.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present application, a floating body intermediate transition section is provided, which is made of polyurethane material.

[0007] Furthermore, the intermediate transition section of the float includes a transition section body, and a partition that divides the transition section body into left and right parts is fixedly connected to the middle of the transition section body. Inflation holes are respectively provided on the transition section body on both sides of the partition.

[0008] Furthermore, support plates are fixedly connected to the transition section bodies on both sides of the partition, and each support plate is provided with a vent hole.

[0009] Furthermore, a connecting air pipe is provided in the transition section body on both sides of the partition, and each connecting air pipe is connected to the corresponding air inlet and air outlet.

[0010] Furthermore, protrusions are provided on the outer surfaces of the transition section body on both sides of the partition, and end protrusions are provided at both ends of the transition section body.

[0011] Furthermore, each of the air inlets has a groove on its transition section body, and the partition plate has a weight reduction groove on its outer wall.

[0012] Furthermore, the surface wear depth of the intermediate transition section of the float after 10,000 frictional collisions is less than 0.5 mm, the energy of each frictional collision is 0.1 KJ, the mass loss after 1,000 hours of seawater immersion corrosion is less than 0.3%, and the acoustic reflectivity after the collision is less than 5%.

[0013] The present invention also provides a flexible floating body structure, including any of the floating body intermediate transition sections described above.

[0014] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the floating intermediate transition section and flexible floating structure provided by the present invention have the following beneficial effects: The intermediate transition section of the float in this invention is made of polyurethane material that is resistant to seawater corrosion and air oxidation, thereby avoiding corrosion, extending the service life of the intermediate transition section of the float, and reducing air leakage failures caused by corrosion. The intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in this invention reduces the overall load of the array by about 30%, thereby enhancing the effective buoyancy of the float and enabling the air gun array to be maintained more stably at the preset depth, thereby improving the reliability of seismic exploration data acquisition. Currently, each vessel needs to replace about 10 intermediate transition sections of the floating body annually due to corrosion damage, with each replacement taking 1 hour. By adopting the intermediate transition section of the floating body of this invention, each vessel will save 10 hours of operation time per year, thereby reducing the replacement frequency, reducing the labor time loss caused by replacing parts, and improving the fleet operation efficiency. The floating intermediate transition section made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention has significant economic advantages compared with the prior art, and can reduce data rework rate, avoid underwater array loss, and thus reduce hidden costs. The intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in this invention can adapt to complex operating environments, improving operational stability and data quality. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a floating intermediate transition section according to an embodiment of the present invention; The attached figures are labeled as follows: transition section body 01, partition plate 02, air hole 03, protrusion 04, groove 05, weight reduction groove 06, vent hole 07, support plate 08, end protrusion 09. Detailed Implementation

[0016] To better understand the purpose, structure, and function of this invention, a detailed description of a floating intermediate transition section of this invention is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] The purpose of this invention is to provide a floating body intermediate transition section to solve the problems of existing aluminum alloy floating body intermediate transition sections, such as susceptibility to corrosion, easy leakage of air and water into the floating body tube due to corrosion, serious impact on operation quality and efficiency, and short service life (about 1 year).

[0018] Specifically, the intermediate transition section of the float in this embodiment of the invention is made of polyurethane material.

[0019] Polyurethane material is corrosion-resistant. The intermediate transition section of the float in this embodiment of the invention can completely resist seawater corrosion and air oxidation, thus fundamentally solving the problem of air leakage in the float tube caused by surface corrosion. Polyurethane material is weather-resistant. The intermediate transition section of the float in this embodiment of the invention can maintain its shape stability in the range of -50℃ to 150℃, thus adapting to the drastic temperature changes in marine operations. Polyurethane material is lightweight. The weight of a single intermediate transition section of the float in this embodiment of the invention is reduced to 15.5 kg, which is 6.7 kg less than that of aluminum alloy. The total weight of a single row of float sections (8 transition sections) is reduced by 53.6 kg, thus significantly reducing the array load and improving the net buoyancy. Polyurethane material is wear-resistant. The surface of the intermediate transition section of the float in this embodiment of the invention is smooth and impact-resistant, thereby reducing frictional wear with the float tube and steel strip and extending the service life of the float tube.

[0020] The experimental data for the intermediate transition sections of the float made of polyurethane, 304 stainless steel, and aluminum alloy are shown in Table 1 below in terms of corrosion resistance and impact testing. Table 1: Experimental data on corrosion resistance and impact tests of intermediate transition sections of floats made of different materials.

[0021] According to Table 1, the surface wear depth of the intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in the embodiment of the present invention is less than 0.5 mm after 10,000 frictional collisions, where the energy of each frictional collision is 0.1 KJ; while the surface scratch depth of the intermediate transition section of the float made of 304 stainless steel is 1-2 mm under the same experimental conditions, and fatigue cracks have been initiated in the intermediate transition section of the float; the intermediate transition section of the float made of aluminum alloy has obvious surface indentation under the same experimental conditions, and the strength of the intermediate transition section of the float has decreased by 18% compared with that before the collision.

[0022] According to Table 1, the mass loss of the intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in the embodiment of the present invention after 1000 hours of seawater immersion corrosion is less than 0.3%, and the salinity of the seawater at this location is between 33% and 37%. However, the intermediate transition section of the float made of 304 stainless steel showed local pitting corrosion with a depth of 0.1-0.3 mm under the same experimental conditions. The intermediate transition section of the float made of aluminum alloy showed complete surface pulverization under the same experimental conditions, and the mass loss was 8%-10% compared with that before immersion corrosion.

[0023] According to Table 1, the acoustic wave reflectivity of the intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention is less than 5% after collision. This acoustic wave reflectivity after collision is understood as the magnitude of the characteristic of sound waves reflecting on the surface of the colliding object, that is, there is no interference signal after collision of the intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention. However, the acoustic wave reflectivity of the intermediate transition section of the float made of 304 stainless steel is 30%-40% after collision under the same experimental conditions, that is, there is strong reflection interference after collision of the intermediate transition section of the float made of 304 stainless steel. The acoustic wave reflectivity of the intermediate transition section of the float made of aluminum alloy is 20%-25% after collision under the same experimental conditions, that is, there is reflection interference after collision of the intermediate transition section of the float made of aluminum alloy.

[0024] According to Table 1, based on an array of float sections comprising 8 intermediate float transition sections, the weight of each array formed by the intermediate float transition sections made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention is 124 kg; the weight of each array formed by the intermediate float transition sections made of 304 stainless steel is 209.3 kg; and the weight of each array formed by the intermediate float transition sections made of aluminum alloy is 177.6 kg.

[0025] According to Table 1, the buoyancy reserve of the intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in the embodiments of the present invention is +12.8 kg; while the buoyancy reserve of the intermediate transition section of the float made of 304 stainless steel is -8.5 kg; and the buoyancy reserve of the intermediate transition section of the float made of aluminum alloy is -3.2 kg.

[0026] The intermediate transition section of the float, made of polyurethane, in this embodiment of the invention solves the failure problem caused by corrosion. Specifically, existing intermediate transition sections made of aluminum alloy are prone to oxidation and corrosion in seawater and air environments, which can lead to air leakage and water ingress into the float tube, resulting in insufficient buoyancy and / or abnormal array morphology. This embodiment of the invention, by using polyurethane material that is resistant to seawater corrosion and air oxidation, fundamentally avoids corrosion, extends the service life of the intermediate transition section of the float, and reduces air leakage failures caused by corrosion.

[0027] The intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention improves the buoyancy and stability of the array. Specifically, the weight of a single intermediate transition section of the float in this embodiment of the invention is approximately 15.5 kg, which is significantly lighter than that of aluminum alloy (22.2 kg). Taking an array of float sections including 8 intermediate transition sections as an example, the intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention can reduce the weight by 53.6 kg compared with the existing intermediate transition section of the float made of aluminum alloy, reducing the overall load of the array by approximately 30%, thereby enhancing the effective buoyancy of the float and allowing the air gun array to be maintained more stably at the preset depth, thus improving the reliability of seismic exploration data acquisition.

[0028] The floating intermediate transition section made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention reduces operating costs and labor intensity. Specifically: on the one hand, the manufacturing cost of the floating intermediate transition section of this embodiment is about 300 yuan lower each than that of aluminum alloy; on the other hand, the corrosion resistance of the floating intermediate transition section of this embodiment significantly extends its service life, which is about 3 years, far exceeding the 1-year service life of existing aluminum alloy sections. Existing floating intermediate transition sections need to be replaced about 10 times a year due to corrosion damage, and each replacement takes 1 hour. After adopting the floating intermediate transition section of this embodiment, a single vessel will save 10 hours of operating time per year, thereby reducing the replacement frequency, reducing labor time losses caused by component replacement, and improving fleet operating efficiency.

[0029] The floating intermediate transition section made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention has significant economic advantages compared with the prior art. Specifically, the cost of a single transition section in the prior art is relatively high, while the cost of a single section is reduced by about 300 yuan after adopting the floating intermediate transition section of this embodiment of the invention. The prior art suffers from abnormal array morphology due to air leakage, requiring rework to collect data, which increases the time spent on ineffective operations, and in extreme cases (array loss), it may cause equipment losses of nearly one million yuan. However, the floating intermediate transition section of this embodiment of the invention provides stable buoyancy and no risk of corrosion, which can reduce the data rework rate, avoid the loss of underwater arrays, and thus reduce hidden costs.

[0030] The intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention can adapt to complex operating environments. Specifically, the polyurethane material has wear-resistant and high and low temperature resistance (no deformation at -50℃ to 150℃), which can adapt to the changing temperature, friction and other environmental conditions in marine operations, ensuring that the intermediate transition section of the float maintains structural stability and functional integrity during long-term use, and further ensuring the safe operation of the air gun array.

[0031] The intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention improves operational stability and data quality. Because the polyurethane intermediate transition section does not corrode and become uneven, it avoids air leakage or water ingress in the float tube caused by transition section issues. Stable air pressure in the float tube ensures that the float always provides sufficient buoyancy, maintaining the stable underwater configuration of the air gun array. In marine seismic exploration, a stable array configuration is crucial for obtaining accurate and reliable seismic data. Seismic waves generated by the air gun propagate in seawater. If the array experiences inconsistent buoyancy, it will interfere with the propagation path and reception of the seismic waves, leading to data deviations or noise. The intermediate transition section of the float made of polyurethane in this embodiment of the invention effectively reduces such interference, making the acquired data more reliable and providing a solid data foundation for subsequent geological structure analysis and resource exploration.

[0032] In the marine environment, seawater contains various corrosive ions, and aluminum alloys are prone to electrochemical reactions with these ions, leading to corrosion. This invention employs polyurethane material to manufacture the intermediate transition section of the float. Polyurethane has a unique chemical structure and excellent corrosion resistance. It also possesses wear resistance and resistance to high and low temperatures (no deformation at -50℃ to 150℃), adapting to the varying temperature and friction conditions encountered in marine operations. This effectively prevents oxidation and corrosion of the intermediate transition section by seawater and air, ensuring structural stability and functional integrity during long-term use. This extends the service life of the intermediate transition section in this invention and further guarantees the safe operation of the air gun array.

[0033] Among them, for the intermediate transition section of the floating body in the embodiment of the present invention, such asFigure 1 As shown, it includes a transition section body 01. A partition 02 is fixedly connected to the middle of the transition section body 01, which divides the transition section body 01 into left and right parts. An air hole 03 is provided on the transition section body 01 on both sides of the partition 02. An air nozzle is connected to the air hole 03 to facilitate air inflation.

[0034] In the embodiment of the present invention, when the intermediate transition section of the float is specifically connected to form an array, two transition section bodies 01 are connected by a float tube, and each transition section body 01 is connected to a float tube on both sides. After connection, due to the presence of the partition 02, the two adjacent transition section bodies 01 and the float tube between them form a closed cavity, preventing the two cavities formed by the same transition section body 01 from communicating; that is, the partition 02 separates the two chambers on both sides of the transition section body 01, making them two independent chambers. The two air inlets 03 on both sides of the partition 02 are used to inflate the corresponding chambers. Regarding the transition section body 01 and the float tube, for example, the float tube is sleeved on the outside of the transition section body 01 in this embodiment of the present invention, and the outside of the float tube is tightened with a steel strip to prevent air leakage. Accordingly, in specific implementations, the size of the float tube needs to match the size of its adjacent transition section body 01.

[0035] In this embodiment of the invention, the partition 02 is configured such that the transition section body 01 and the chambers formed by the float tubes on both sides are not connected. The advantage of this configuration is that even if one chamber malfunctions, such as causing air leakage due to minor damage, it will not affect the buoyancy of the other chamber. That is, the other chamber can still maintain a certain buoyancy, thereby ensuring the basic floating function of the float array. In addition, each chamber in this embodiment of the invention is equipped with an independent inflation port 03, which facilitates separate inflation operations. The inflation nozzle at the inflation port 03 facilitates inflation of the corresponding chamber through the inflation nozzle, which is made of 316 stainless steel.

[0036] Among them, the transition section body 01 on both sides of the partition 02 is fixedly connected with a support plate 08, and each support plate 08 is provided with a vent hole 07.

[0037] The support plate 08 is provided to prevent deformation of the transition section body 01, so that the float tube can fit tightly with the transition section body 01 after the steel strip is tightened. The vent hole 07 is provided so that the gas injected through the air hole 03 can enter the space where the float tube is located through the vent hole 07 on the support plate 08, that is, to allow the gas to fill the chambers formed by the transition section body 01 on both sides of the float tube.

[0038] Among them, a connecting air pipe is provided in the transition section body 01 on both sides of the partition 02, and each connecting air pipe is connected to the corresponding air inlet 03 and air outlet 07.

[0039] In this embodiment, protrusions 04 are provided on the outer surface of the transition section body 01 on both sides of the partition 02, and end protrusions 09 are provided at both ends of the transition section body 01. The protrusions 04 and end protrusions 09 are provided to cooperate with the steel strip in a tightening manner to ensure the connection strength between the transition section body 01 and the float tube, while avoiding air leakage due to the small pits in the aluminum alloy.

[0040] Each transition section body 01 at each inflation port 03 is provided with a groove 05, and the outer wall of the transition section body 01 at the partition 02 is provided with a weight reduction groove 06. The groove 05 is used to place, for example, an air nozzle for inflating the chambers inside the inflation port 03, and the weight reduction groove 06 is used to reduce the weight of the intermediate transition section of the float, thereby reducing the weight of the array.

[0041] For the intermediate transition section of the float body in this embodiment of the invention, which consists of a transition section body 01, a partition plate 02, a support plate 08, and a protrusion 04, it is specifically manufactured by integral molding of polyurethane material. Specifically, in this embodiment, the length of the transition section body 01 is, for example, 550 mm, the diameter at the end protrusion 09 is, for example, 455 mm, the thickness of the support plate 08 is, for example, 20 mm, and the length of the weight-reducing groove 06 along the length direction of the transition section body is, for example, equal to the thickness of the partition plate 02, and the thickness of the partition plate 02 is, for example, 50 mm.

[0042] This invention also provides a flexible floating structure, which includes a floating intermediate transition section according to any of the above embodiments.

[0043] It should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, the technical or scientific terms used in this application should have the ordinary meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0044] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0045] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of the present invention. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A floating intermediate transition section, characterized in that, The intermediate transition section of the float is made of polyurethane material.

2. The intermediate transition section of the floating body according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intermediate transition section of the float includes a transition section body, and a partition plate is fixedly connected to the middle of the transition section body to divide the transition section body into left and right parts. Inflation holes are respectively provided on the transition section body on both sides of the partition plate.

3. The intermediate transition section of the floating body according to claim 2, characterized in that, Support plates are fixedly connected to the transition sections on both sides of the partition, and each support plate is provided with a vent hole.

4. The intermediate transition section of the floating body according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the transition sections on both sides of the partition is provided with a connecting air pipe, and each connecting air pipe is connected to the corresponding inflation hole and the ventilation hole.

5. The intermediate transition section of the floating body according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outer surfaces of the transition section bodies on both sides of the partition are provided with protrusions, and the two ends of the transition section bodies are also provided with end protrusions.

6. The intermediate transition section of the floating body according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the air inlets has a groove on the transition section body, and the partition plate has a weight reduction groove on the outer wall of the transition section body.

7. The intermediate transition section of the floating body according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface wear depth of the intermediate transition section of the float after 10,000 frictional collisions is less than 0.5 mm, the energy of each frictional collision is 0.1 KJ, the mass loss after 1,000 hours of seawater immersion corrosion is less than 0.3%, and the sound wave reflectivity after the collision is less than 5%.

8. A flexible floating structure, characterized in that, Includes the intermediate transition section of the floating body as described in any one of claims 1-7.

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