초록 ▼

A method for moving seismic streamers or acoustic energy sources through water in marine geophysical operations. The equipment can be deployed or retrieved from one or more vessels, and two or more tow vehicles maneuver seismic streamers through the water independently of a seismic vessel. Manned or

A method for moving seismic streamers or acoustic energy sources through water in marine geophysical operations. The equipment can be deployed or retrieved from one or more vessels, and two or more tow vehicles maneuver seismic streamers through the water independently of a seismic vessel. Manned or unmanned tow vehicles can tow the streamers ahead of, behind, or to the side of a seismic vessel, or can form an array independent of the seismic vessel. Tow vehicles can be located at both ends to change the tow direction. The invention is particularly useful in customizing an array configuration, in reorienting the array at the end of each survey line, and permits deployment of receivers and sources in different combinations. By decoupling the tow vehicles and streamers from the source vessel, turning time at the survey region borders and the possibility of streamer entanglement is significantly reduced.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [13.]13. A system for moving seismic cable through water, comprising:a source vessel at a selected positioned in the water, said source vessel moving in a selected course in a first direction through the water;a plurality of seismic assets deployed in the water at a selected p

[ What is claimed is:] [13.]13. A system for moving seismic cable through water, comprising:a source vessel at a selected positioned in the water, said source vessel moving in a selected course in a first direction through the water;a plurality of seismic assets deployed in the water at a selected position, wherein a first end of each seismic asset is attached to a separate primary powered tow vessel capable of independent movement through the water relative to movement of the source vessel, wherein each primary powered tow vessel moves each seismic asset in a selected course through the water, wherein each primary powered tow vessel to change the course of each seismic asset through the water, operating a plurality of secondary powered tow vessels each attached to a second end of each seismic asset to selectively control movement of each seismic asset second end through the water; andsaid primary and secondary tow vessels capable of reversing the travel direction of the seismic assets, whereby the primary and secondary tow vessels are operable so that when the primary tow vessel is operated, the primary tow vessel pulls the cable and the secondary tow vessel through the water in a first direction and when the secondary tow vessel is operated, the secondary tow vessel pulls the cable and the primary tow vessel through the water in a second direction.