Marine Seismic Streamer Steering for Full-Azimuth Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional marine seismic data acquisition methods face challenges in efficiently surveying structurally complex areas with strong currents, obstructions, and difficult near-surface conditions, leading to imaging difficulties and increased costs due to the need for high trace density and closely spaced streamers, which can result in entanglement and damage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves deploying a marine seismic spread with smart streamer steering and positioning of source-only and source-streamer tow vessels to acquire wide- and/or full azimuth seismic surveys without repeating paths, using streamer steering devices and controllers to navigate turns and optimize data collection, allowing for simultaneous shooting and recording during turns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high trace density and closely spaced streamers are used to improve imaging quality in structurally complex areas, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and risk of entanglement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic streamer steering during vessel turns, allowing the streamers to be actively positioned and adjusted in real-time rather than maintaining fixed spacing. This dynamic control enables closely spaced streamers to be deployed without entanglement by continuously monitoring and adjusting their positions during acquisition operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback control through continuous monitoring of streamer positions and vessel orientation during turns. The streamer steering devices receive feedback about their actual positions and adjust accordingly to maintain optimal spacing and avoid entanglement, enabling high trace density acquisition with controlled complexity.
2Measurement precision
If conventional survey methods are used to image faults and reservoir sands in structurally complex areas, then measurement precision may be improved, but loss of time and acquisition cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous data acquisition during vessel turns by implementing smart streamer steering that maintains streamer positioning throughout the maneuver. This eliminates the need to stop acquisition during turns, allowing continuous useful action and reducing total acquisition time while maintaining imaging capability in structurally complex areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning and steering preparation before enters turns, pre-configuring the streamers for the upcoming maneuver. This preliminary action ensures that streamers are properly positioned and controlled before the turn begins, enabling seamless continuous acquisition without interruption or time loss.
3Measurement precision
If streamers are closely spaced to improve imaging resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but object-generated harmful factors (entanglement and damage) increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive mechanical streamer spacing with active electronic control systems. Instead of relying on fixed mechanical spacing that is prone to entanglement, the system uses electronic steering devices controlled by sensors and algorithms to actively maintain streamer positions, substituting mechanical passivity with electronic activity to eliminate entanglement risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The streamer steering system operates autonomously to maintain proper streamer spacing and avoid entanglement. The system self-regulates streamer positions through feedback control without requiring external intervention, allowing closely spaced streamers to operate safely and independently, reducing the risk of entanglement and damage.
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
This approach reduces acquisition time and cost while improving seismic imaging efficiency by enabling the collection of wide- and/or full azimuth data during curvilinear paths, reducing the need for repeated path traversal and minimizing noise and entanglement issues.
Implementation Method 1
shooting at least one source and recording reflections using at least some of the receivers from the sub-sea geologic feature
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for efficiently acquiring towed streamer marine seismic data are described. One method and system comprises positioning a plurality of source-only tow vessels and one or more source-streamer tow vessels to acquire a wide- and/or full-azimuth seismic survey without need for the spread to repeat a path once traversed. Another method and system allows surveying a sub-sea geologic feature using a marine seismic spread, the spread smartly negotiating at least one turn during the surveying, and shooting and recording during the turn. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, allowing a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).