초록 ▼

A control device or “bird” for controlling the position of a marine seismic streamer is provided with an elongate, partly flexible body which is designed to be electrically and mechanically connected in series with a streamer. In its preferred form, the bird has two opposed wings which

A control device or “bird” for controlling the position of a marine seismic streamer is provided with an elongate, partly flexible body which is designed to be electrically and mechanically connected in series with a streamer. In its preferred form, the bird has two opposed wings which are independently controllable in order to control the streamer's lateral position as well as its depth.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for controlling the position of a marine seismic streamer moving through a body of water; comprising: independently and separately adjusting the angular position of each of two control surfaces on a control device to achieve a desired depth of the control device, whe

What is claimed is: 1. A method for controlling the position of a marine seismic streamer moving through a body of water; comprising: independently and separately adjusting the angular position of each of two control surfaces on a control device to achieve a desired depth of the control device, wherein the control device is attached to the seismic streamer. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a depth of the control device; determining a lateral position of the control device; and determining the independent adjustments from the determined depth and lateral position. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces of the control device to achieve a desired depth further comprises: determining the depth of the control device; comparing the determined depth of the control device to the desired depth of the control device; and independently rotating the control surfaces of the control device according to the depth comparison, wherein rotating the position of the control surfaces changes the lift produced at the control surfaces as the seismic streamer moves through the water. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control surfaces are attached to opposite sides of the control device. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control surfaces are attached to the control device with quick-release attachments. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing electrical power to the control device via an electrical connection to an electrical power line included with the seismic streamer. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing control signals to the control device via a control connection to a control cable included with the seismic streamer. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the two control surfaces rotate about a common axis. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces on the control device to achieve a desired lateral position of the control device. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces of the control device to achieve a desired lateral position further comprises: determining the lateral position of the control device; comparing the determined lateral position of the control device to the desired lateral position of the control device; independently rotating the control surfaces of the control device according to the lateral position comparison, wherein independently rotating the position of the control surfaces changes the lateral forces produced at control surfaces as the seismic streamer moves through the water. 11. A method for controlling the position of a marine seismic streamer, comprising: independently and separately adjusting each of two control surfaces on a control device to achieve a desired lateral position of the control device, wherein the control device is attached to the seismic streamer. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining a depth of the control device; determining a lateral position of the control device; and determining the independent adjustments from the determined depth and lateral position. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces of the control device to achieve a desired lateral position further comprises: determining the lateral position of the control device; comparing the determined lateral position of the control device to the desired lateral position of the control device; and independently rotating the control surfaces of the control device according to the lateral position comparison, wherein independently rotating the position of the control surfaces changes the lateral forces produced at the control surfaces as the seismic streamer moves through the water. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the control surfaces are attached to opposite sides of the control device. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the control surfaces are attached to the control device with quick-release attachments. 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing electrical power to the control device via an electrical connection to an electrical power line included with the seismic streamer. 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing control signals to the control device via a control connection to a control cable included with the seismic streamer. 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising: independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces on the control device to achieve a desired depth of the control device. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces of the control device to achieve a desired depth further comprises: determining the depth of the control device; comparing the determined depth of the control device to the desired depth of the control device; independently rotating the control surfaces of the control device according to the depth comparison, wherein independently rotating the position of the control surfaces changes the lift produced at the control surfaces as the seismic streamer moves through the water. 20. A method for controlling the position of a marine seismic streamer, comprising: independently adjusting with respect to one another each of two control surfaces on a control device to achieve a desired lateral position of the control device, wherein the control device is attached to the seismic streamer. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces of the control device to achieve a desired lateral position further comprises: determining the lateral position of the control device; comparing the determined lateral position of the control device to the desired lateral position of the control device; and independently rotating the control surfaces of the control device according to the lateral position comparison, wherein independently rotating the position of the control surfaces changes the lateral forces produced at the control surfaces as the seismic streamer moves through the water. 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the control surfaces are attached to opposite sides of the control device. 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the control surfaces are attached to the control device with quick-release attachments. 24. The method of claim 20, further comprising: providing electrical power to the control device via an electrical connection to an electrical power line included with the seismic streamer. 25. The method of claim 20, further comprising: providing control signals to the control device via a control connection to a control cable included with the seismic streamer. 26. The method of claim 20, further comprising: independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces on the control device to achieve a desired depth of the control device. 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising: determining a depth of the control device; determining a lateral position of the control device; and determining the independent adjustments from the determined depth and lateral position. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces of the control device to achieve a desired depth further comprises: determining the depth of the control device; comparing the determined depth of the control device to the desired depth of the control device; independently rotating the control surfaces of the control device according to the depth comparison, wherein independently rotating the position of the control surfaces changes the lift produced at the control surfaces as the seismic streamer moves through the water. 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces of the control device to achieve a desired depth further comprises: determining the lateral position of the control device; comparing the determined lateral position of the control device to the desired lateral position of the control device; independently rotating the control surfaces of the control device according to the lateral position comparison, wherein independently rotating the position of the control surfaces changes the lift produced at the control surfaces as the seismic streamer moves through the water. 30. A method for controlling the position of a marine seismic streamer, comprising: independently adjusting with respect to one another each of two control surfaces on a control device to achieve a desired depth of the control device, wherein the control device is attached to the seismic streamer. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of independently adjusting each of the two control surfaces of the control device to achieve a desired depth further comprises: determining the depth of the control device; comparing the determined depth of the control device to the desired depth of the control device; and independently rotating the control surfaces of the control device according to the depth comparison, wherein independently rotating the position of the control surfaces changes the lateral forces produced at the control surfaces as the seismic streamer moves through the water. 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the control surfaces are attached to opposite sides of the control device. 33. The method of claim 30, wherein the control surfaces are attached to the control device with quick-release attachments. 34. The method of claim 30, further comprising: providing electrical power to the control device via an electrical connection to an electrical power line included with the seismic streamer. 35. The method of claim 30, further comprising: providing control signals to the control device via a control connection to a control cable included with the seismic streamer.