Multi-vessel coil shooting for full-azimuth seismic acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional marine seismic data acquisition methods face challenges in achieving high-quality, long-offset, full-azimuth surveys, especially in structurally complex areas with strong currents and obstructions, leading to inefficient data collection and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving multiple vessels with a seismic receiver array and sources, where vessels travel along curved paths to acquire wide- or rich-azimuth data using a multi-vessel, coil shooting technique, allowing for improved data distribution and reduced redundancy in azimuths, thus enhancing imaging and cost efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high trace density and closely spaced streamers are used to achieve high density surveys, then data quality and coverage are improved, but the risk of entangling and damaging streamer cables and equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved, spiral, or coil-shaped survey paths instead of traditional straight-line towing patterns. This curvature allows streamers to be steered away from obstructions and reduces the likelihood of cable entanglement while maintaining close spacing for high-density data acquisition. The curved paths enable vessels to navigate around infrastructure and obstructions without compromising survey density.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vessels are used to acquire wide-azimuth towed streamer survey data, then azimuth diversity and data quality are improved, but operational complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved and spiral survey paths that naturally provide wide-azimuth coverage as vessels navigate through the survey area. The coil shooting pattern ensures that seismic waves are recorded from multiple angles without requiring complex multi-vessel coordination, thereby achieving azimuth diversity with simplified operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes single vessels perform multiple functions by equipping them with both streamers and sources, or by having vessels alternately tow streamers and deploy sources during curved paths. This multi-functionality reduces the number of vessels needed while maintaining wide-azimuth data acquisition capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If conventional linear survey paths are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but data distribution and azimuth coverage are insufficient for structurally complex areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces linear survey paths with curved, spiral, and coil-shaped trajectories. These curved paths provide superior data distribution and azimuth coverage, especially in structurally complex areas with salt domes and faults, while remaining operationally manageable through automated vessel guidance systems.
4Productivity
If streamer vessels and source vessels operate in close proximity to achieve high-density surveys, then survey efficiency is improved, but the risk of streamer cable entanglement and equipment damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses curved and spiral survey paths that naturally separate streamer vessels and source vessels in space and time. The coil shooting pattern ensures that sources are deployed and streamers are towed along different trajectories, reducing the probability of cable entanglement while maintaining close proximity for efficient data acquisition.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for efficiently acquiring full-azimuth towed streamer survey data are described. The methods use multiple vessels to perform coil shooting.