Unmanned Seismic Source Vessel Layout for Lower Tow Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional marine seismic surveys face limitations in source towing and deployment due to increased drag, turbulence, and vibrational effects caused by long, heavy pneumatic connections and umbilical cabling, which raise operational costs and restrict the number of source configurations that can be used in a given survey area.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned marine vessel system with a hull providing buoyancy and a seismic source configured to generate seismic energy, using an on-board compressor to provide compressed air to the source, eliminating the need for external pneumatic connections and reducing drag by using shorter, thinner source lines oriented parallel to the water flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If long, heavy pneumatic connections and umbilical cabling are used to tow seismic sources, then the seismic source array can be deployed, but drag, turbulence, and vibrational effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the seismic source array into multiple independent unmanned marine vessels, each capable of autonomous operation. This segmentation eliminates the need for long continuous umbilical cabling, as each vessel carries its own pneumatic connections and can operate independently or in coordinated groups, thereby reducing overall drag and turbulence in the water column.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-vessel towing configuration to a multi-vessel distributed array. By spreading seismic sources across multiple unmanned vessels operating in different spatial positions and depths, the system achieves flexible array configurations without requiring long horizontal cabling runs, thus reducing drag and vibrational effects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If long, heavy pneumatic connections are used to tow seismic sources, then the seismic source array can be deployed, but tow stresses increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the seismic source array into multiple independent unmanned vessels, each with its own pneumatic connections and power systems, the patent eliminates the need for long continuous umbilical cabling. This reduces the cumulative tow stresses that would otherwise be imposed on a single long cable system connecting all seismic sources to the mother ship.
3Productivity
If conventional source towing methods are used, then seismic sources can be deployed, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each unmanned marine vessel is equipped with its own on-board compressor, power generation capability, and control systems, enabling autonomous operation without requiring continuous support from the mother ship. This self-service capability eliminates the need for long umbilical cabling and reduces operational costs associated with towing and managing extensive cable systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the pneumatic compression and power generation functions from the mother ship and places them on-board each unmanned vessel. This extraction eliminates the need for long pneumatic connections and power cabling, reducing drag, turbulence, and operational costs while maintaining seismic source deployment capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If long umbilical cabling is used to tow seismic sources, then the seismic source array can be deployed, but the number of source configurations is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the seismic source array into multiple independent unmanned vessels, each capable of autonomous navigation and operation. This segmentation removes the constraint of long umbilical cabling, allowing flexible configuration of seismic sources in various spatial arrangements and depths without the complexity of managing extensive cable systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The unmanned vessels are equipped with dynamic position holding and navigation capabilities, allowing the seismic source array configuration to be dynamically adjusted during surveys. This enables flexible reconfiguration of source arrays without the physical constraints of fixed-length umbilical cabling, simplifying deployment while increasing configurational versatility.
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 approach reduces drag and tow stresses, allowing for more flexible and efficient seismic source array deployment, enabling wider source array configurations with reduced operational costs and improved survey efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a hull system configured to provide buoyancy in a body of water
Implementation Method 2
one or more seismic sources configured to generate seismic energy... the seismic source configured to generate the seismic energy based at least in part on the compressed air
Data Source
AI summary
A vessel system includes a hull configured to provide buoyancy, one or more seismic sources configured to generate seismic energy, and a deployment apparatus configured to deploy the seismic sources from the hull to a water body or water column. A control system can be configured to operate the deployment apparatus, in order to deploy the seismic sources.