Marine Electromagnetic Receiver Streamer with Inline Cross-Line Voltage Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current marine controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveying techniques face challenges in efficiently covering large areas with dense receiver spacing due to complex deployment and positioning requirements, which limits the effectiveness of hydrocarbon reservoir identification in marine environments.
Innovation Solution
A receiver streamer system comprising multiple laterally spaced streamers with paired electrodes for measuring inline and cross-line voltages, allowing for efficient data acquisition of electromagnetic signals across the subsurface formations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple remote receivers are located on the seafloor to obtain signals related to subsurface electrical resistivity distribution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and deployment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver system is segmented into multiple independent receiver units distributed along the streamer cable. Each receiver unit can independently measure electromagnetic signals at its specific location, allowing the system to cover large areas with dense spacing without requiring a single complex centralized deployment system.
Solution Approach 2:
The streamer cable serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for the receiver units, enables electrical connection for signal transmission, and acts as a positioning reference. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate deployment and positioning systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If dense receiver spacing is implemented to improve hydrocarbon reservoir identification effectiveness, then measurement precision is improved, but deployment complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple receiver units are merged onto a single streamer cable structure, allowing them to be deployed simultaneously as one integrated unit rather than individually. This combining approach maintains dense spacing for improved hydrocarbon reservoir identification while significantly simplifying the deployment operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver units are arranged in a linear dimension along the streamer cable, transforming the deployment problem from a two-dimensional seafloor positioning challenge into a one-dimensional linear deployment task. This dimensional simplification makes dense spacing achievable with reduced operational complexity.
3Productivity
If multiple streamers with paired electrodes are used for simultaneous inline and cross-line voltage measurements, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple streamers are configured to operate simultaneously and continuously, with paired electrodes on different streamers enabling concurrent inline and cross-line voltage measurements. This continuous parallel operation maximizes productivity by acquiring multiple datasets at the same time rather than sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement functions are segmented into separate streamer units, each handling specific measurement tasks (inline or cross-line). This segmentation allows independent optimization and operation of each streamer while maintaining overall system productivity, reducing the complexity burden by distributing functionality across modular units.
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
Enables more efficient determination of electrical resistivity distribution in the subsurface by allowing simultaneous inline and cross-line voltage measurements, improving the ability to identify hydrocarbon reservoirs over large areas with reduced complexity in deployment.
Implementation Method 1
The EM source emits either or both a time varying electric field and a time varying magnetic field, which propagate outwardly into the overlying seawater and downwardly into the formations below the water bottom. The receivers most commonly used detect and record the induced electric field at or near the water bottom.
Data Source
AI summary
A receiver streamer system for marine electromagnetic surveying includes a first streamer, and a second streamer disposed substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first streamer. A first pair of electrodes is associated with the first streamer and a second pair of electrodes is associated with the second streamer. Each of the first and second pairs of electrodes is functionally associated with a voltage measuring circuit configured to measure voltage along an inline direction. At least one electrode on each of the first and second streamers is configured and associated with a voltage measuring circuit to make voltage measurements in a cross-line direction.