Acoustic Control Device for Marine Seismic Cable Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current control devices for marine seismic instrumented cables face challenges such as inaccurate positioning, entanglement, and increased costs due to external compasses and transmitter/receiver units, which are vulnerable to damage and require frequent calibration and replacement.
Innovation Solution
A control device with integrated smart wings and acoustic transmitter/receiver elements, allowing for accurate position determination and ranging, featuring wireless/contact-less communication and energy transmission, and a compact design with fewer parts, reducing the need for external components and minimizing noise interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external compasses and transmitter/receiver units are used for position control, then positioning capability is provided, but reliability decreases due to vulnerability to damage and entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the acoustic transmitter and receiver units directly into the control device body, eliminating separate external components. This merging ensures that positioning components are protected from damage and entanglement while maintaining positioning capability through the integrated acoustic means.
2Measurement precision
If external compasses and transmitter/receiver units are used, then positioning function is achieved, but device complexity increases and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (control, positioning, acoustic transmission) into a single integrated control device body. This eliminates the need for separate external compasses and transmitter/receiver units, reducing device complexity and maintenance requirements while preserving positioning accuracy.
3Productivity
If instrument cables are towed for extended periods, then survey coverage increases, but entanglement risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs acoustic means to continuously determine the position and orientation of the control device relative to the towed instrument cable. This feedback enables real-time monitoring and adjustment, allowing the system to detect and prevent entanglement conditions while maintaining extended survey coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device incorporates adjustable control surfaces that can dynamically change orientation and position to counteract lateral forces and maintain cable alignment. This dynamic adjustment prevents entanglement during extended towing operations while preserving survey productivity.
4Ease of operation
If control surfaces are made adjustable for attitude control, then positioning control improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates control surfaces directly into the control device body, combining the control function with the positioning function. This merging provides attitude control capability while minimizing additional complexity by eliminating separate control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides improved accuracy and reduced maintenance costs by enabling precise control of instrumented cables, minimizing entanglement, and maintaining system stability with detachable units that can be easily calibrated and replaced, while reducing noise interference and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
acoustic means arranged to or integrated in one or more wings of the control device... acoustic transmitter/receiver elements arranged to or integrated in one or more wings of the control device
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
Control device (10, 50) for controlling the position of an instrumented cable towed in water, such as a marine seismic streamer, and/or an instrumented towed cable array (streamer array) with the possibility of controlling the individual instrumented cables both with in shape and position in relation to other instrumented cables and by that counteract cross currents and/or other dynamic forces which affect a towed array behind a seismic survey vessel, which control device (10, 50) is provided with one or more acoustic means, such as acoustic transmitter/receiver elements (40), arranged to or integrated in the wings (11, 52), main body (12, 53) or motor and drive gear housings (51) of the control device for determination of position and distance.