Small Ship 3D Seismic Streamer Positioning with Support Rods
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D seismic exploration using small ships faces challenges in maintaining constant relative positions and tension of short streamers due to tidal currents, leading to imprecise data acquisition.
Innovation Solution
The use of a seismic exploration apparatus with a seismic source towed by a small ship, featuring a pair of support rods with GPS devices and connection rod parts to maintain streamer tension and position, along with a resisting plate to provide resistance against water flow, ensuring regular intervals and precise data acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If short streamers (about 10m) are used for 3D seismic exploration on a small ship, then the ship size and operational cost are reduced, but the streamers cannot maintain constant relative positions due to lack of tension in tidal currents
Solution Approach 1:
A support rod structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the ship and the streamers. The support rod extends from the ship's stern and provides a stable mounting point for the streamers, acting as a mediator that transfers and stabilizes their positions against tidal currents and ship motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The streamers are pre-tensioned and fixed to the support rod structure before the seismic survey begins. This preliminary positioning and tensioning ensures that the streamers maintain their relative positions throughout the survey, preventing drift caused by tidal currents during data acquisition.
2Manufacturing precision
If long streamers (about 100m) are used to maintain tension in tidal currents, then streamer position stability is improved, but the ship size and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The streamer system is segmented into multiple shorter streamers (e.g., three 10m streamers) arranged in a specific configuration rather than using a single long streamer. This segmentation allows each streamer to be independently managed and tensioned, achieving position stability without requiring excessive length that would increase overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The streamers are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration with vertical and horizontal separation rather than simply extending horizontally. This dimensional arrangement creates natural tension and geometric stability, allowing short streamers to maintain their positions without requiring the length of traditional single-streamer systems.
3Measurement precision
If multiple rows of streamers are deployed for 3D exploration, then data quality is improved, but the requirement for very large vessels increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple streamers are arranged in a vertical stack configuration rather than only horizontal rows. This vertical dimension allows multiple streamers to be deployed from a compact support structure on a small ship, achieving the multi-streamer geometry needed for 3D seismic imaging without requiring a large vessel to accommodate extensive horizontal deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The support rod structure serves multiple functions: it provides mounting for multiple streamers, maintains their relative positions, and adapts to the limited space on small vessels. This multi-functional design enables 3D seismic exploration capability on vessel types that would otherwise be unsuitable for such operations.
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 configuration allows for precise and economical acquisition of 3D seismic data, enabling exploration in areas inaccessible to large vessels and improving data quality compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
GPS devices attached to the support rods for checking the position of the streamers
Implementation Method 2
a resisting plate to provide resistance against water flow
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for 3D seismic exploration for use in a small ship. The apparatus includes a seismic source towed by the small ship from a rear side thereof, a pair of support rods connected to the rear side and horizontally arranged in two rows behind the seismic source in the direction extending from a sailing direction of the ship, and a plurality of streamers arranged between the support rods in the sailing direction of the ship.