Seabed Coupling Plate Water Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seismic nodes experience cavitation and distortion of seabed sediments due to high-velocity water flow during deployment, affecting acoustic coupling with the seabed.

Innovation Solution

The seismic node design incorporates a coupling plate with a plurality of chamfered holes on its bottom surface and side openings to route water vertically, reducing cavitation and enhancing seismic coupling by compacting sediments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional radial grooves are used on the coupling plate, then water can be channeled during deployment, but high-velocity water flow causes cavitation and distortion of seabed sediments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater flow velocityVSAvoidcavitation and sediment distortion

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling plate is segmented into multiple functional zones with different hole patterns. The center region has a first pattern of holes while the outer region has a second pattern of holes, allowing different flow control strategies in different areas to reduce overall water flow velocity and prevent cavitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the coupling plate have locally optimized hole patterns tailored to their specific functions. The central holes are optimized for initial water displacement while outer holes are optimized for sustained flow control, creating local quality variations that collectively reduce harmful water flow velocities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If water is channeled rapidly during node deployment, then deployment speed is maintained, but acoustic coupling with the seabed is distorted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidacoustic coupling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling plate performs preliminary water displacement action through its structured hole patterns before the node fully contacts the seabed. This preliminary action controls water ejection velocity and direction, preventing cavitation and sediment distortion that would compromise acoustic coupling reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful high-velocity water flow into a beneficial controlled flow pattern. By using the hole patterns to guide water ejection, the system transforms what would be cavitation-causing rapid flow into a controlled flow that maintains deployment efficiency while protecting acoustic coupling integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Quantity of substance

If the coupling plate has large opening area for water ejection, then water can be expelled quickly, but cavitation occurs in the seabed sediments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater ejection volumeVSAvoidcavitation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The total water ejection area is segmented into multiple smaller holes distributed across the coupling plate surface. This segmentation allows the same total water volume to be ejected through numerous small openings rather than few large ones, reducing flow velocity and preventing cavitation while maintaining effective water displacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 design effectively channels water at lower speeds, minimizing seabed disturbance and improving acoustic coupling, leading to more reliable seismic data acquisition.

Implementation Method 1

the radial flow may cause cavitation and temporary shear thinning of the seabed sediments

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCavitation: Cavitation

Implementation Method 2

decrease the potential of cavitation and fluidization of the seismic sediment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluidization: Fluidisation

Implementation Method 3

increase the seismic coupling of the node to the seabed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSeismic coupling:

Data Source

PatentUS10514473B2Seabed coupling plate for an ocean bottom seismic node

Publication Date: 2019.12.24 PXGEO UK LTD

AI summary

Systems, methods, and apparatuses related to coupling an autonomous seismic node to the seabed. In one embodiment, the node may comprise a plurality of holes on a bottom surface of the node and a plurality of openings on one or more sides and/or surfaces of the node. The bottom surface may comprise a coupling plate that is coupled to the node and/or coupled to a housing or casing that substantially surrounds a pressure node housing. The node may be configured to route water vertically from the bottom holes through the side openings and/or upper holes to decrease the potential of cavitation and fluidization of the seismic sediment and increase the seismic coupling of the node to the seabed.