Seismic Streamer Orientation via Buoyancy Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic surveys in marine environments face challenges due to drag forces and increased background noise caused by vertical seismic streamers, which hinder the movement of water vehicles and affect data acquisition.
Innovation Solution
A seismic acquisition system utilizing unmanned water vehicles equipped with seismic streamers and buoyancy compensation mechanisms, reel mechanisms, or underwater devices to orient and manage the streamers between vertical and horizontal directions, reducing drag and noise during data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vertical seismic streamers are deployed from water vehicles, then measurement precision and ghost signal removal are improved, but drag force increases and vehicle mobility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the streamer orientation changeable between vertical and horizontal positions. The streamer can be dynamically repositioned from a vertical configuration (which provides superior measurement precision and ghost signal removal) to a horizontal configuration (which reduces drag force and allows the vehicle to overcome obstacles). This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between measurement quality and vehicle mobility.
2Measurement precision
If vertical seismic streamers are deployed from water vehicles, then ghost signal removal is improved, but background noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts streamer orientation to balance ghost signal removal with background noise reduction. When high measurement precision is needed, the streamer is positioned vertically for optimal ghost signal removal. When the vehicle encounters strong currents or obstacles, the streamer is repositioned horizontally to minimize drag-induced background noise, thus resolving the contradiction between ghost signal removal and noise reduction.
3Measurement precision
If vertical seismic streamers are deployed, then data acquisition quality is improved, but vehicle ability to move through marine environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic streamer orientation control that allows the vehicle to switch between vertical streamer configuration (for high data acquisition quality) and horizontal streamer configuration (for enhanced mobility). This enables the vehicle to navigate through complex marine environments including obstacles and strong currents while maintaining the capability to acquire high-quality seismic data when conditions permit.
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
Enhances the efficiency of seismic data acquisition by minimizing drag forces and background noise, allowing for effective orientation and re-orientation of streamers to maintain optimal data recording positions, thereby improving data quality and reducing operational challenges.
Implementation Method 1
a buoyancy compensation mechanism coupled to the at least one seismic streamer, where the buoyancy compensation mechanism is configured to orient the at least one seismic streamer between a generally vertical direction and a generally horizontal direction through a water column
Data Source
AI summary
A seismic acquisition system. The seismic acquisition system may include at least one unmanned water vehicle. The seismic acquisition system may also include at least one seismic streamer coupled to the at least one unmanned water vehicle, where the at least one seismic streamer has one or more seismic sensors coupled thereto for recording seismic data in a survey area. The seismic acquisition system may further include a buoyancy compensation mechanism coupled to the at least one seismic streamer, where the buoyancy compensation mechanism is configured to orient the at least one seismic streamer between a generally vertical direction and a generally horizontal direction through a water column.