Seismic Sensor Holder with Segmented Gaps for Gel Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seismic streamers face challenges in maintaining gel continuity and coupling, leading to increased flow noise and reduced effectiveness in seismic data acquisition, particularly in marine environments.
Innovation Solution
The seismic streamer design incorporates a sensor holder with a reduced cross-sectional area and strategically placed gaps and apertures to enhance gel continuity and coupling, using a denser shock-absorbing gel to retain sensors and reduce noise, while a buoyant, thermoreversible filler gel maintains streamer buoyancy and allows for improved gel distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional sensor holders with larger cross-sectional area are used, then sensor retention is improved, but gel continuity and coupling are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor holder is segmented with multiple gaps and apertures distributed throughout its structure. These openings divide the holder into multiple sections while maintaining overall structural integrity, allowing gel to flow through and around the sensor effectively while still providing adequate retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder design implements local quality by having different regions with varying degrees of openness. Areas closer to the sensor provide stronger retention forces, while regions further away have more gaps to facilitate gel flow. The cross-sectional area is reduced specifically in gel-flow paths while maintaining strength where needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sensor holder cross-sectional area is reduced to increase gel continuity, then flow noise is reduced, but sensor retention may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The holder design balances static retention requirements with dynamic gel flow needs. The gaps and apertures are sized and positioned to allow gel to dynamically respond to flow conditions while maintaining sufficient static structural support for sensor retention during towing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite approach combining the holder structure with gel material properties. The holder provides mechanical retention while the gel provides acoustic coupling and noise damping, with the holder design optimized to facilitate rather than hinder the gel's functional properties.
3Reliability
If gaps and apertures are added to sensor holder, then gel flow and continuity are improved, but holder structural integrity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than adding a single large opening, the holder is segmented with multiple smaller gaps and apertures distributed throughout. This segmentation maintains structural integrity better than a single large opening while still providing adequate pathways for gel flow and coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The gaps and apertures are positioned in three-dimensional space to create multiple gel flow paths. By utilizing different spatial dimensions and orientations for the openings, the design maintains structural strength in critical planes while providing adequate gel access from multiple directions.
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 significantly reduces flow noise and enhances data quality by increasing gel continuity and coupling around seismic sensors, improving the accuracy of subterranean geological formation imaging and hydrocarbon deposit identification.
Implementation Method 1
using a denser shock-absorbing gel to retain sensors and reduce noise
Implementation Method 2
a buoyant, thermoreversible filler gel maintains streamer buoyancy
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a streamer having one or more sensor holders for retaining seismic sensors therein. The sensor holders have a reduced cross-sectional area to increase gel continuity and coupling through the streamer.