Segmented Marine Seismic Winch for Independent Cable Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing winch arrangement for marine seismic cables, where the lead-in and sensor cables are stored on a common winch, hinders maintenance and repair of the lead-in cable and is inefficient for changing sensor cable lengths, while the two-winch solution increases costs and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A winch system with separate compartments for the lead-in and sensor cables, allowing independent deployment and recovery, and a slip ring box for power and data connections, integrated into a single winch structure that rotates as a common unit, eliminating the need for additional winches and space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common winch is used for both lead-in cable and sensor cable, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of repair and maintenance capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single winch drum is segmented into two separate cable compartments: a first cable compartment for the lead-in cable and a second cable compartment for the sensor cable. This segmentation allows independent access to each cable type while maintaining a unified winch structure, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and maintenance accessibility.
2Area of stationary object
If a common winch is used for both cables, then the space requirements are reduced, but the productivity of cable length change deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The winch drum is divided into distinct compartments for lead-in cable and sensor cable, enabling independent deployment and recovery operations. This segmentation allows sensor cable length to be changed efficiently without affecting the lead-in cable, achieving high productivity within limited deck space.
Solution Approach 2:
The winch system enables dynamic, independent control of each cable compartment, allowing the sensor cable to be deployed or recovered separately from the lead-in cable. This dynamic capability significantly improves the efficiency of changing sensor cable lengths while maintaining a compact single-winch structure.
3Ease of repair
If separate winches are used for sensor cable and lead-in cable, then the ease of repair and operational flexibility are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Two separate winches are merged into a single winch unit with two distinct cable compartments. The lead-in cable compartment and sensor cable compartment are integrated into one rotating drum structure, providing the maintenance advantages of separate winches while eliminating the complexity and cost of dual independent winch systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate winches are used for sensor cable and lead-in cable, then the operational flexibility is improved, but the area of stationary object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functionality of two separate winches into a single integrated winch unit with separate compartments for each cable type. This merging maintains the operational flexibility and adaptability of having separate cable management while significantly reducing the deck space requirement compared to two independent winch installations.
Data Source
AI summary
A seismic data acquisition system comprising a composite marine seismic cable and a winch, the composite marine seismic cable comprising a sensor cable and a lead-in cable for providing electrical connections to the sensor cable, and the winch comprising a first cable compartment for the lead-in cable and a second cable compartment for the sensor cable, wherein the lead-in cable and the sensor cable may be deployed or recovered independently of each other. There is also a method of deploying a composite seismic cable comprising a lead-in cable and a sensor cable.