Seismic Streamer Orientation Control via Deflecting Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Marine geophysical survey systems face challenges in maintaining the precise spatial distribution and orientation of geophysical sensor streamers due to crosscurrents and other water interactions, which affect the quality of subsurface data collection.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize positioning devices and deflecting devices along the streamers to receive information on crosscurrents and automatically adjust the streamer orientation to maintain a desired feather angle, reducing the forces exerted by these devices and improving data quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If streamers are towed through water without active orientation control, then the system is simpler and requires less energy, but the streamer orientation becomes unstable due to crosscurrents and water interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The streamer control system uses self-service by allowing the streamer to passively align with crosscurrents through its natural hydrodynamic properties. The streamer's flexibility and interaction with water currents enable it to automatically adjust its orientation without requiring active control mechanisms, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters such as streamer feather angle and lateral position dynamically in response to crosscurrent conditions. By adjusting these parameters based on real-time environmental factors, the system maintains stable orientation and survey coverage without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If streamer orientation is actively controlled to maintain desired feather angle, then data quality improves, but energy consumption increases due to continuous adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The control system employs periodic action by adjusting streamer orientation at specific intervals or in response to periodic crosscurrent variations rather than continuous adjustment. This approach maintains measurement precision by correcting orientation deviations while reducing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary continuous control actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes energy consumption by changing orientation parameters only when necessary to maintain data quality. By monitoring crosscurrent conditions and adjusting feather angle and lateral position selectively, the system achieves high measurement precision while minimizing the energy required for active control.
3Productivity
If multiple streamers are towed in close proximity for 3D/4D surveys, then survey coverage and data quality improve, but interference between streamers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by controlling the lateral position and orientation of each individual streamer independently according to its specific location in the array. This ensures that each streamer maintains its optimal position and feather angle, thereby improving survey coverage while minimizing interference between adjacent streamers through localized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses dynamics by continuously adjusting streamer positions and orientations in real-time based on changing crosscurrent conditions. This dynamic control maintains optimal spacing and orientation between multiple streamers, ensuring high survey coverage while adapting to environmental changes that could cause interference.
4Measurement precision
If streamer lateral position is adjusted to counteract crosscurrents, then survey coverage accuracy improves, but the forces on positioning devices increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the trade-off between survey coverage accuracy and force on positioning devices by changing lateral position parameters selectively. Rather than maintaining fixed positions against all crosscurrents, the system adjusts lateral positions to achieve sufficient survey coverage accuracy while allowing positions to drift within acceptable margins to reduce forces on positioning devices.
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 solution enhances the accuracy and quality of geophysical data collection by maintaining optimal streamer orientation despite crosscurrents, reducing noise and turbulence, and ensuring consistent survey coverage.
Implementation Method 1
receiving information regarding forces exerted by the deflecting devices and automatically determining a desired streamer feather angle based on the received information
Data Source
AI summary
In the field of marine geophysical surveying, systems and methods for controlling the spatial distribution or orientation of a geophysical sensor streamer or an array of geophysical sensor streamers towed behind a survey vessel are provided. Various techniques for changing the spatial distribution or orientation of such geophysical sensor streamers in response to changing conditions are provided. For example, crosscurrent conditions may be determined based on configuration data received from positioning devices along the length of a streamer, and a new desired orientation for the streamer may be determined based on the crosscurrent conditions. The new desired orientation may include a new desired feather angle for the streamer.