Single Streamer Layout for Multi-Baseline Marine Geophysical Surveys
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 4D marine geophysical surveying methods require reconfiguring streamer layouts between different areas, which is time-consuming, costly, and poses safety risks, as they need to replicate specific streamer and source activation positions from baseline surveys, often using multiple streamer layouts with different cross-line spacings and numbers of streamers.
Innovation Solution
A single streamer layout is designed to replicate multiple baseline surveys by strategically positioning and offsetting streamers and sources, allowing a single monitor survey to cover areas with different streamer layouts without reconfiguration, using a subset of streamers and source arrays to match both layouts, and employing source steering to maintain accurate activation positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple streamer layouts are used to replicate different baseline surveys, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase due to reconfiguration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A single streamer layout is designed to serve multiple baseline survey configurations by strategically positioning streamers at specific cross-line offsets. The layout can replicate different baseline surveys (e.g., 25-meter and 50-meter spacing) through selective use of streamers and source arrays, eliminating the need for physical reconfiguration while maintaining measurement precision for each survey type.
Solution Approach 2:
The streamer layout is pre-configured with streamers positioned at multiple possible offsets from the vessel centerline during deployment. This preliminary positioning allows the same physical layout to be used for different baseline surveys by simply adjusting which streamers and source arrays are activated, rather than reconfiguring the layout between surveys.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple streamer layouts are reconfigured between areas, then adaptability to different baseline surveys is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex reconfiguration procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The single streamer layout incorporates streamers positioned at multiple cross-line offsets, enabling it to adapt to different baseline survey configurations (e.g., varying streamer spacings and survey areas) without physical reconfiguration. Operators can select which streamers and source arrays to use based on the specific survey requirements, simplifying operations while maintaining versatility.
3Manufacturing precision
If streamer layouts are reconfigured between surveys, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but loss of substance increases due to safety risks and operational disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The streamer layout is pre-deployed with all streamers positioned at their respective cross-line offsets before the survey begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need for disruptive reconfiguration operations between surveys, reducing safety risks and operational disruptions while maintaining the ability to achieve precise streamer positioning for different survey types through selective activation.
Data Source
AI summary
Numerous techniques and apparatus are disclosed relating to the performance of 4D marine geophysical surveys over at least first and second areas covered, respectively, by first and second preexisting baseline surveys. Performing the monitor surveys may include deploying a monitor survey streamer layout that can be used to repeat streamer positions of both the first and the second preexisting baseline surveys, and using the monitor survey streamer layout to perform the monitor survey over the first and second areas in a manner that repeats all streamer positions of the first preexisting baseline survey when over the first area, and that repeats all streamer positions of the second preexisting baseline survey when over the second area. Streamer layouts corresponding to the first and second preexisting baseline surveys may differ in at least one of the following characteristics: streamer separation or total number of streamers.