Seismic Cable Handling System with Adjustable Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seismic cable deployment and retrieval techniques often damage optical sensors or interfere with devices, necessitating advanced methods for handling seismic cable with sensor stations during oil and gas exploration.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a mobile unit with a reel and winch assembly, including adjustable cable guides and a radio frequency identification unit, facilitates the deployment and retrieval of seismic cable with sensor stations, ensuring alignment, protection, and accurate positioning of sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual unwinding or conventional cable distribution devices are used, then cable deployment is possible, but optical sensors may be damaged or interfere with distribution devices
Solution Approach 1:
The cable distribution system is divided into multiple cable guides with individual passageways, each designed to handle specific portions of the cable and sensor stations separately. This segmentation allows the cable and sensors to be guided through distinct paths that prevent interference and damage during deployment
Solution Approach 2:
Cable guides serve as intermediary components between the cable reel and the deployment location. These guides provide protected passageways that mediate the interaction between the cable/sensors and the distribution system, preventing direct contact that could cause damage or interference
2Productivity
If conventional cable distribution devices are used, then cable can be distributed, but optical sensors may interfere with the devices
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the cable guide system have different local qualities - some passageways are designed with specific dimensions, orientations, and protection features tailored to the local requirements of cable deployment. This allows optimal handling of sensors in different locations without uniform design constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The cable guide system is designed to be adaptable and dynamic during deployment. The guides can accommodate varying cable positions and sensor configurations, adjusting their guidance function dynamically to prevent interference while maintaining continuous distribution operation
3Manufacturing precision
If adjustable cable guides are implemented, then precise alignment and guidance of sensors is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guides are designed as multi-functional components that simultaneously provide alignment, guidance, protection, and positioning functions. This universality reduces the need for separate specialized devices for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving precise sensor alignment
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for handling seismic cable having sensor stations thereon is provided. The seismic cable is positionable about the seismic field for measuring seismic parameters of a subsurface structure. The system includes a mobile unit, a reel and a winch assembly. The mobile unit is positionable about the seismic field, and has a platform. The reel is supportable on the platform with the seismic cable disposable about the reel. The winch assembly is carried by the mobile unit and includes a plurality of cable guides. At least one of the cable guides has a passageway with an adjustable dimension for aligning and guiding the seismic cable and the sensor stations passing therethrough.