Seismic Source Shared Reservoir Baffle Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seismic source technologies for marine seismic surveys face limitations in generating effective seismic energy for subsurface structure imaging, particularly in achieving desired frequency ranges and avoiding noise interference, due to limitations in bubble period and frequency generation.
Innovation Solution
A seismic source system with a shared reservoir and multiple firing heads, where the reservoir is divided into sub-chambers by a baffle to ensure equalized pressure and controlled air release, allowing for synchronized or staggered firing to generate seismic energy, and a towing configuration that includes a shared-reservoir seismic source array system with specific firing sequences and separation distances to achieve desired seismic energy characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single reservoir is used to supply compressed gas to multiple firing heads, then device complexity is reduced, but pressure equalization and controlled air release become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The single reservoir is divided into multiple sub-chambers separated by baffles, allowing independent pressure control for each firing head while maintaining a unified reservoir structure. This segmentation enables precise pressure equalization and controlled air release to each firing head.
Solution Approach 2:
Baffles are introduced as intermediary structures within the reservoir to facilitate pressure equalization between sub-chambers and to control the flow of compressed gas to each firing head, solving the pressure control difficulty without increasing external device complexity.
2Device complexity
If firing heads are positioned closer together, then device compactness is improved, but noise interference and unwanted acoustic interactions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions firing heads at the ends of the reservoir along the longitudinal axis, utilizing the spatial dimension of the reservoir to maximize separation distance. This arrangement maintains compactness in the overall device while preventing noise interference through adequate spacing in the longitudinal dimension.
3Power
If compressed gas is released rapidly to generate strong seismic energy, then seismic energy generation is improved, but bubble period and frequency control become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by controlling the release of compressed gas in controlled bursts from each sub-chamber. The baffle structure enables regulated, periodic gas release that generates strong seismic energy while maintaining control over bubble period and frequency through the timing and duration of each gas discharge pulse.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the parameters of compressed gas release (pressure, volume, timing) from each sub-chamber, the system achieves strong seismic energy generation while maintaining precise control over bubble period and frequency. The baffle structure enables independent parameter control for each firing head.
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
The system enhances seismic energy generation by achieving desired frequency ranges and reducing noise interference, improving subsurface structure imaging quality and resolution.
Implementation Method 1
releasing a first portion of the compressed gas from the reservoir to form a first gas bubble in a seismic medium
Implementation Method 2
form a first gas bubble in a seismic medium
Implementation Method 3
the reservoir is divided into sub-chambers by a baffle to ensure equalized pressure
Implementation Method 4
The seismic energy generated by the sources propagates down through the water column in the form of acoustic waves
Implementation Method 5
acoustic waves, which can penetrate the seafloor and reflect from subsurface structures
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments herein describe a seismic source that includes at least two firing heads connected to a shared reservoir of compressed gas. When underwater, a controller can instruct the firing heads to fire at the same time or at different times to create gas bubbles that generate seismic energy for identifying structures underneath a body of water. If the firing heads fire at the same, the resulting gas bubble may coalesce to form a single bubble, depending on the size of the respective bubbles and the separation distance between the firing heads. In one embodiment, the firing heads are attached at opposite ends of the shared reservoir (although this is not a requirement). The length of the reservoir, which dictates in part the separation distance of the firing heads, can be set so that gas bubbles generated by the firing heads at substantially the same time coalesce.