Seismic Vessel Steering via Position Offset Shifting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for steering seismic vessels during marine surveys are inefficient due to delays and oscillations, making it challenging to accurately position source arrays and streamers along pre-determined tracks, especially in dynamic ocean conditions, which affects the accuracy and repeatability of seismic data acquisition.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates an offset between the past and current positions of a steered point associated with the seismic equipment, allowing the vessel to adjust its track by shifting the pre-plot track with a cross-line component of this offset, thereby maintaining the equipment on a desired trajectory without relying on complex force models or current measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual vessel steering system is used to follow pre-determined tracks, then the seismic equipment can be positioned according to pre-planned surveys, but delays and oscillations occur in maintaining accurate position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical steering with an automated computer-controlled system that calculates vessel position and determines steering commands electronically, eliminating manual reaction delays and achieving faster, more consistent positioning responses
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the actual position of the seismic equipment relative to the pre-determined track and automatically adjusts steering commands based on the calculated offset, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains accurate positioning without manual intervention
2Measurement precision
If complex force models and environmental data are used to distinguish steering effects from environmental factors, then more accurate positioning can be achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for positioning - the offset between actual equipment position and pre-determined track - and uses this simplified parameter to generate steering commands, eliminating the need for complex force models and detailed environmental data while maintaining positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the observed position offset itself as the control signal, allowing the navigation system to automatically adjust without requiring external environmental measurements or complex mathematical models to interpret the causes of position deviations
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for steering a vessel during a marine acquisition campaign. The method includes obtaining a pre-plot track of a steered point, wherein the steered point is associated with an equipment spread towed by the vessel; calculating an offset between a past position of the vessel and a current position of the steered point; and steering the vessel along a vessel track, wherein the vessel track is calculated by shifting the pre-plot track of the steered point with at least a cross-line component of the offset.