Streamer Jacket Roughness Restoration via Localized Soft Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Marine seismic streamers suffer from mechanical damage and bio-fouling due to increased roughness, which leads to premature failure, as permanent antifouling coatings do not effectively address higher roughness patches and are impractical to repair or replace.

Innovation Solution

Methods and apparatuses are developed to identify and treat rough patches on streamer jackets by applying micro-crack-filling substances or polishing soft coatings to restore low roughness, including the use of self-healing materials to maintain surface smoothness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a permanent outer layer with antifouling properties is applied to the streamer, then bio-fouling is reduced on average, but roughness patches still occur and cannot be repaired

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebio-foulingVSAvoidrepairability of roughness patches

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a soft coating specifically to roughness patches rather than the entire streamer surface. This localized treatment addresses the specific problem areas while preserving the permanent antifouling coating in other regions. The soft coating is applied only where roughness exceeds a threshold, creating different functional zones on the streamer surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines a permanent antifouling outer layer with a soft coating material that has different properties. The soft coating is specifically selected to be softer than the permanent layer, allowing it to fill micro-cracks and smooth roughness patches. This composite structure leverages the antifouling properties of the permanent layer while using the soft layer's deformability to repair surface defects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If the streamer is deployed for long periods to increase productivity, then more seismic data is collected, but mechanical damage and bio-fouling increase roughness and reduce reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseismic data collection efficiencyVSAvoidstreamer operational reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The soft coating material is designed to self-heal by filling micro-cracks and smoothing roughness patches through its softness and deformability. This self-service mechanism automatically repairs damage without requiring external intervention during deployment, allowing the streamer to maintain reliability during extended operational periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The soft coating is applied in advance to prevent roughness patches from developing. By pre-coating the streamer surface with a material that can accommodate and heal micro-cracks, the system prevents the formation of roughness patches that would otherwise attract bio-fouling and compromise reliability during long-term deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If the permanent outer layer is made more durable to resist mechanical damage, then strength is improved, but roughness patches become harder to repair

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to mechanical damageVSAvoidroughness patch repairability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the soft coating specifically to roughness patches rather than the entire streamer surface. This localized treatment addresses the specific problem areas while preserving the durable permanent coating in other regions. The soft coating is applied only where roughness exceeds a threshold, creating different functional zones on the streamer surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

The proposed solutions effectively prolong the life cycle of streamers by reducing bio-fouling and mechanical damage, maintaining low roughness and preventing premature failure.

Implementation Method 1

applying a substance to cover the patch that has a property of filling micro-cracks and smoothing surface irregularities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFilling and smoothing:

Implementation Method 2

polishing a soft coating to restore a lower roughness on the patch while redeploying the streamer in water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolishing: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS9377560B2Method for restoring low roughness of outer surface of underwater seismic survey device

Publication Date: 2016.06.28 SERCEL SAS

AI summary

Various methods preserve or restore the low roughness throughout an outer shell of a device (e.g., a streamer) used underwater for seismic surveys, by applying various substances that fill micro-cracks, are easy to polish or are self-healing. Apparatuses used to implement these methods may be used shortly before the devices are deployed in water, for example, having the device passing through such an apparatus as it is moved to be deployed in water.