IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0634169
(2009-12-09)
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등록번호 |
US-9151859
(2015-10-06)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- CGGVERITAS SERVICES (U.S.) INC.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Patent Portfolio Builders PLLC
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A system for a more efficient towing of a marine seismic array comprising one or more diverters attached to each lead-in cable. Because each lead-in cable has its own diverter, the need for dedicated towing ropes and taglines between lead-in cables is eliminated, thereby reducing the overall drag an
A system for a more efficient towing of a marine seismic array comprising one or more diverters attached to each lead-in cable. Because each lead-in cable has its own diverter, the need for dedicated towing ropes and taglines between lead-in cables is eliminated, thereby reducing the overall drag and fuel consumption. The diverters of the present invention are directly attached to the respective lead-in cables and are submerged, eliminating the need for taglines and additional flotation. The diverter of the present invention comprises of either a single span-wise hydro foil or two foil sections and is steerable. Similarly, the diverters of the present invention can be installed on the umbilical cables of seismic source subarrays to obtain the same benefits. As such, at least one diverter of the present invention can be attached directly to at least one umbilical cable of the seismic source subarray.
대표청구항
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1. A marine seismic array, comprising: seismic streamers;cables, each of said cables having a first end engaged with a seismic vessel and a second end attached to one of said seismic streamers; andone or more diverters directly attached to each of said cables,wherein a first number of diverters are
1. A marine seismic array, comprising: seismic streamers;cables, each of said cables having a first end engaged with a seismic vessel and a second end attached to one of said seismic streamers; andone or more diverters directly attached to each of said cables,wherein a first number of diverters are attached to a first cable among the cables, and a second number of diverters are attached to a second cable among the cables, the first number being a smallest number of the diverters attached to one of the cables, the second number being a largest number of the diverters attached to another one of the cables and the second number being different from the first number, andat least one cable among the cables has attached an intermediate number of diverters that is between the first number and the second number. 2. The marine seismic array of claim 1 wherein each of said one or more diverters is submerged under water such that not to require a dedicated surface reference float. 3. The marine seismic array of claim 1, wherein at least one diverter among said one or more diverters is capable of executing a 180 degree roll around said cable such that, after said roll, said at least one diverter generates lift in a lateral direction that is opposite to an initial orientation of said at least one diverter. 4. The marine seismic array of claim 1 wherein at least one diverter among said one or more diverters comprises a single hydrofoil. 5. The marine seismic array of claim 4, wherein said single hydrofoil includes a substantially rectangular foil body, and said at least one diverter further comprises: a first pod attached to a first end of said foil body; anda second pod attached to a second end of said foil body, wherein said foil body is bent outward at said first and second ends. 6. The marine seismic array of claim 4, wherein said at least one diverter is directly attached to said each of said cables through an attachment means. 7. The marine seismic array of claim 6, wherein said attachment means comprises: at least one swivel clamp affixed to said each of said cables; andat least one leg, wherein a first end of said at least one leg is attached to said at least one diverter and a second end of said at least one leg is attached to said at least one swivel clamp. 8. The marine seismic array of claim 7, wherein said attachment means further comprises: a restraint means, wherein a first end of said restraint means is attached to said at least one diverter and a second end of said restraint means is attached to a second swivel clamp. 9. The marine seismic array of claim 7, wherein a tail of said at least one single hydrofoil diverter is attached to said each of said cables through a second swivel clamp. 10. The marine seismic array of claim 7, wherein a length of said at least one leg is adjustable such that an angle of attack of said at least one diverter is controlled by adjusting said length. 11. The marine seismic array of claim 10 wherein the length of said at least one leg is adjusted remotely. 12. The marine seismic array of claim 10, wherein the length of said at least one leg is automatically adjusted to maintain a desired lateral position of said at least one diverter. 13. The marine seismic array of claim 7, wherein an angle of attack of said at least one diverter is controlled by adjusting a location where said at least one leg is attached to said each of said one or more diverters along a chord of said at least one diverter. 14. The marine seismic array of claim 13, wherein the location where said at least one leg is attached to said at least one diverter is remotely controlled. 15. The marine seismic array of claim 13, wherein the location where said at least one leg is attached to said at least one diverter automatically moves along the chord of said at least one diverter to maintain a desired lateral position of said at least one diverter. 16. The marine seismic array of claim 1, wherein at least one diverter among said one or more diverters comprises: an upper foil section and a lower foil section, where said at least one diverter is directly attached to one of said cables at a junction between said upper and lower foil sections. 17. The marine seismic array of claim 16, wherein said at least one diverter further comprises: a first aileron attached to a tail of said upper foil section; anda second aileron attached to a tail of said lower foil section, wherein an angle of attack of said at least one diverter is controlled by adjusting at least one of said first and second ailerons. 18. The marine seismic array of claim 17 wherein at least one of said first and second ailerons is controlled remotely. 19. The marine seismic array of claim 17 wherein at least one of said first and second ailerons automatically adjusts the angle of attack of said at least one diverter to maintain a desired lateral position of said at least one diverter. 20. The marine seismic array of claim 16, further comprising: one or more struts having a first end and a second end; andat least one tail wing, wherein the first end of said one or more struts is attached to said at least one tail wing and the second end of said one or more struts is attached to a tail of at least one of said upper and lower foil sections. 21. The marine seismic array of claim 20 wherein said at least one tail wing is controlled remotely. 22. The marine seismic array of claim 20 wherein said at least one tail wing automatically adjusts the angle of attack of said at least one diverter to maintain a desired lateral position of said diverter. 23. The marine seismic array of claim 16 wherein at least one of said upper and lower foil sections comprises: a plurality of centers of yaw rotation, wherein each of said centers of yaw rotation, if selected, sets a different angle of attack of said at least one diverter. 24. The marine seismic array of claim 1, wherein the second cable is an outboard cable. 25. The marine seismic array of claim 1, wherein said one or more diverters are positioned closer to the second end of said each of the cables than to the first end thereof. 26. A marine seismic source subarray comprising: seismic sources;cables, each of said cables having a first end engaged with a seismic vessel and a second end attached to one of said seismic sources; andone or more diverters attached to each of said cables,wherein a first number of the diverters are attached to a first cable among the cables, and a second number of diverters are attached to a second cable among the cables, the first number being a smallest number of the diverters attached to one of the cables and the second number being a largest being number of the diverters attached to one of the cables, andat least one cable among the cables having attached an intermediate number of diverters that is between the first number and the second number. 27. The marine seismic source subarray of claim 26 wherein at least one diverter among said one or more diverters is submerged under water such that said at least one diverter does not require a dedicated surface reference float. 28. The marine seismic source subarray of claim 26, wherein at least one diverter among said one or more diverters comprises a single hydrofoil. 29. The marine seismic source subarray of claim 28, wherein said at least one diverter is directly attached to said each of said cables through an attachment means. 30. The marine seismic source subarray of claim 26, wherein at least one diverter among said one or more diverters comprises: an upper foil section and a lower foil section, wherein said at least one diverter is directly attached to each of said cables at a junction between said upper and lower foil sections. 31. A method for towing equipment related to a marine seismic survey, comprising: attaching plural cables having a first end engaged with a seismic vessel and a second end attached to a seismic streamer or to a seismic sourceattaching one or more diverters directly to each of plural cables, each of said plural cables,wherein a first number of diverters are attached to a first cable among the cables, and a second number of diverters are attached to a second cable among the cables, the first number being a smallest number of the diverters attached to one of the cables, the second number being a largest being number of the diverters attached to one of the cables and the second number being different from the first number, anda cable among the cables has attached an intermediate number of diverters that is between the first number and the second number. 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising: adjusting said one or more diverters to produce a near-zero lift; anddirecting said at least one diverter among said one or more diverters to execute a 180 degree roll such that after said roll, at least one of said plural cables directly attached to said at least one diverter is moved laterally opposite to an initial direction. 33. The marine seismic array of claim 1, wherein no ropes link the seismic streamers and/or seismic sources to maintain an intended geometry while towed. 34. The marine seismic array of claim 1, wherein the one or more diverters are individually adjustable. 35. The marine seismic source subarray of claim 26, wherein no towrope or towline is attached between the cables to maintain lateral separations of the seismic streamers.
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