| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 367017000 | Hydromechanical | 54 |
| 20080205192 | Deflector Devices - A deflector device ( | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080212406 | METHOD FOR LATERALLY STEERING STREAMER CABLES - A device and a method for laterally steering a streamer cable towed underwater behind a seismic survey vessel. The device includes a cable-steering assembly rotatably attached to a streamer cable. The assembly includes a body to which one or more wings are mounted. The wings are arranged to pivot about pivot axes. The assembly is ballasted so that the pivot axes of the wings are largely in a vertical plane. A conventional cable-leveling bird is converted to one version of a cable-steering device by ballasting to maintain the pivot axes of the bird's wings largely vertical. With an orientation sensor for sensing the orientation of the wings, the cable-steering device adjusts the angle of the wings to provide a sideward component of force to steer the streamer. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080253225 | Seismic Cable Positioning Using Coupled Inertial System Units - An apparatus and a method of its use in a marine seismic survey are disclosed. The apparatus includes a seismic survey object ( | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080316859 | Methods for Controlling Marine Seismic Equipment Orientation During Acquisition of Marine Seismic Data - Methods are described for actively steering a towed marine seismic component using one or more actively controllable control members; reducing the actively steering of the control members during duration of a time window of recording seismic reflections from a sub-surface geological feature of interest; and resuming the actively steering of the control members after the time window. The marine seismic component may be a streamer, a source, or both. Other methods allow measuring initial orientation of a streamer based on measuring static control surface angle of a control surface of an inline steerable bird. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, and allow a reader to ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b). | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090092004 | MARINE SEISMIC STREAMER STEERING APPARATUS - Marine seismic streamer steering apparatus are described having an elongate body, at least a portion of which is positioned eccentric of a marine seismic streamer, the apparatus having stability features selected from: one or more lateral steering control surfaces providing a center of lift approximately through a vertical streamer axis; one or more buoyancy elements providing a center of buoyancy through the same or a different vertical axis approximately through the center of the streamer; and combinations thereof. The apparatus have improved stability and avoid heeling during use. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090238035 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR POSITIONING OF MARINE SEISMIC STREAMERS - A method of controlling a streamer positioning device ( | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090245019 | Method and system for determining geodetic positions of towed marine sensor array components - A method for determining positions of geophysical sensor streamers includes towing laterally spaced apart streamers maintained in relative relationship therebetween by paravanes proximate their forward ends. The streamers include spaced apart acoustic transmitters and acoustic receivers. The paravanes each include an acoustic transmitter or receiver. Signals are sent from the acoustic transmitters and are received at the acoustic receivers. Geodetic position signals are detected at each paravane. The identities of the transmitters of the received acoustic signals are determined to determine travel times of the received acoustic signals. The travel times are converted to distances between the identified transmitters and the receivers. Relative positions of the streamers are determined from the distances. The relative positions of the streamers are combined with the detected geodetic position signals to determine geodetic positions of the streamers. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090279385 | Control System for Positioning Marine Seismic Streamers - A method of controlling a streamer positioning device ( | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100103771 | PROVIDING A SURVEY CARRIER STRUCTURE HAVING EQUIDISTANT SURVEY SENSORS - A marine survey carrier structure includes sensor assemblies each containing a corresponding set of survey sensors, and an equipment assembly in-line with two of the sensor assemblies. The equipment assembly contains at least one survey sensor to enable the survey sensors along a length of the marine survey carrier structure to be regularly spaced. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100118645 | COIL SHOOTING MODE - The technique disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for controlling streamer steering devices to maintain a coil streamer shape that gives coverage for a coil shooting plan. The technique uses solved positions and a target coil streamer shape identified in the shooting plan to determine steering instructions to the streamer steering devices along the streamer. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100149910 | SEISMIC ARRAY TOWING SYSTEM - 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. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100182871 | Steering System and Method for Use in Seismic Survey Applications - A technique facilitates the steering of seismic survey related devices during seismic survey applications. A steering device is provided with a wing pivotably mounted to a body via a pivot member. As the steering device is moved through a liquid, the liquid acts against the wing and creates a torque about the pivot member which varies according to the angle of attack of the steering device. The steering device further comprises at least one feature designed to change the torque that would otherwise act on the pivot member. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100214869 | Apparatus and Methods for Controlling Position of Marine Seismic Sources - Apparatus and methods are described for remotely controlling position of marine seismic equipment. One apparatus comprises a source connected to a tow member; and an adjustment mechanism connected to the source and the tow member, the adjustment mechanism adapted to actively manipulate an angle of attack of the source. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100238762 | Method and Apparatus For Evaluating Submarine Formations - A method and apparatus for evaluating submarine formations, such as geological formations located generally under a body of water. Multiple hydrofoils ( | 09-23-2010 |
| 20110103179 | Hydrodynamic depressor for marine sensor streamer arrays - A hydrodynamic foil system for a sensor streamer array includes at least two tow ropes each coupled at one end to a survey vessel and at the other end to a paravane. the paravanes configured to provide lateral outward force as the vessel and paravanes are moved through a body of water. A spreader cable is coupled to each of the paravanes. A plurality of laterally spaced apart sensor streamers coupled at forward ends thereof to the spreader cable. A plurality of foils is disposed on the spreader cables. The foils configured to provide hydrodynamic lift in a vertical direction as the spreader cables are moved through the water. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110255367 | Active Steering for Marine Seismic Sources - A seismic survey system having a source array ( | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110305106 | MARINE SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION USING DESIGNED NON-UNIFORM STREAMER SPACING - The invention relates to an arrangement for seismic streamers used in the acquisition of seismic data in a marine environment where the spacing between each adjacent pair of streamers is not all the same. Some streamer spacings and/or receiver spacings are larger and some are smaller to provide a higher quality wavefield reconstruction when covering a larger total area or for a similar total area of seismic data acquisition while providing a wavefield that is optimally sampled by the receivers so that the wavefield reconstruction is suitable for subsurface imaging needs. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120026828 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR POSITIONING AN INSTRUMENTED CABLE TOWED IN WATER - Control device ( | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120218858 | METHOD AND DEVICE TO ACQUIRE SEISMIC DATA - Streamer and method for deploying the streamer for seismic data acquisition related to a subsurface of a body of water. The method includes a step of releasing into the body of water, from a vessel, a body having a predetermined length together with plural detectors provided along the body; a step of towing the body and the plural detectors such that the plural detectors are submerged; and a step of configuring plural birds provided along the body, to float at a predetermined depth from a surface of the water such that a first portion of the body has a curved profile while being towed underwater. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120224454 | METHOD AND DEVICE TO ACQUIRE MARINE SEISMIC DATA - The invention concerns a method to acquire seismic waves by means of a streamer towed by a vessel and comprising a plurality of seismic receivers. The streamer comprises a head portion that is slanted relative to the water surface and a tail portion having at least one section with a different slant. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20130215713 | CONNECTING DEVICE FOR WIDE TOW SURVEY - Marine seismic survey using an array ( | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130242695 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEGHOSTING SEISMIC DATA - Apparatus, computer instructions and method for deghosting seismic data related to a subsurface of a body of water. The method includes inputting data recorded by detectors that are towed by a vessel, the data being associated with waves travelling from the subsurface to the detectors; applying a migration procedure to the data to determine a first image of the subsurface; applying a mirror migration procedure to the data to determine a second image of the subsurface; joint deconvoluting the first image and the second image for deghosting a reflectivity of the subsurface; and generating a final image of the subsurface based on the deghosted reflectivity of the joint deconvoluting step. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130272090 | Towing Methods and Systems for Geophysical Surveys - Disclosed are methods and systems for towing one or more electromagnetic sensor streamers from deflectors in an additional geophysical sensor streamer spread. An embodiment discloses a marine geophysical survey system, comprising: a survey vessel; an electromagnetic sensor streamer; and a geophysical sensor streamer spread configured to be towed by the survey vessel, wherein the geophysical sensor streamer spread comprises: sensor streamers configured to be laterally spaced apart from one another; and deflectors adapted to spread the sensor streamers substantially transversely in relation to a direction of motion of the survey vessel, wherein the electromagnetic sensor streamer is configured to be towed from at least one of the deflectors. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130294194 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEA CURRENT AIDED, ENHANCED AZIMUTH SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION - A system of designing and acquiring 3D marine seismic surveys such that the prevailing sea current is parallel or orthogonal to a major axis of the area to be surveyed. By steering the vessel and towed seismic source and receiver arrays through the water, heading into the sea current at some significant angle away from the sea current direction, then the resultant movement of the seismic source and receiver arrays will result in a much richer sampling and measurement of the earth's sub-surface by virtue of increasing the range of source-to-receiver azimuths available. By adopting this method, the final 3D seismic image of the subsurface will be more accurate and will be correctly focussed. Also line change times may be reduced significantly and the overall carbon footprint of the seismic survey may be lessened. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130322207 | METHOD AND DEVICE TO ACQUIRE MARINE SEISMIC DATA - The invention concerns a method to acquire seismic waves by means of a streamer towed by a vessel and comprising a plurality of seismic receivers. The streamer comprises a head portion that is slanted relative to the water surface and a tail portion having at least one section with a different slant. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20140029380 | ACTIVE STEERING FOR MARINE SEISMIC SOURCES - A seismic survey system having a source array ( | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140078862 | STREAMER SPREAD WITH REDUCED DRAG - A method and a marine front-end gear for connecting a set of streamers to a towing vessel. The front-end gear includes ropes for connecting a first sub-set of streamers to the vessel; lead-ins for connecting a second sub-set of streamers to the vessel; and a back loop cable electrically connected between tails of first and second adjacent streamers. The first streamer belongs to the first sub-set of streamers and the second streamer belongs to the second sub-set of streamers, and streamers of the first sub-set are interspersed with streamers of the second sub-set. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140185409 | Rigid Protracted Geophysical Equipment Comprising Control Surfaces - Disclosed are rigid protracted geophysical equipment that comprise control surfaces and associated methods of use in marine geophysical surveys. An apparatus for use in a marine geophysical survey comprising: rigid protracted geophysical equipment having a ratio of length to a largest dimension of width or height of about 1000:1 or more, wherein the rigid protracted geophysical equipment comprises control surfaces for controlling movement of the rigid protracted geophysical equipment when towed through a body of water. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140204705 | FOLDABLE WING BIRD FOR MARINE SEISMIC SURVEY SYSTEMS - A bird for a streamer or source of marine seismic survey system has a body configured to be attached to the streamer or source, and a wing connected to the body and having an active surface used to control depth and/or lateral position of the body. The wing is configured to be changed between an operational state in which the active surface is extended away from the body, and a folded state in which the active surface is folded close to the body. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140204706 | FAST FASTENING ANTIFOULING TAPE OR SUBSTRATE USEABLE IN MARINE SEISMIC SURVEYS - A streamer usable underwater for a marine seismic survey has a portion adjacent to a protuberance covered by an adhesive antifouling tape or substrate. The tape, which may be made of copper or copper alloy is configured to be fast fastened, may be applied when the streamer is deployed and may be covered by a protective jacket during recovery. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140204707 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING SOURCE ARRAY GEOMETRY - Methods related to controlling a source array while performing a seismic survey to achieve an intended source signature. A current three dimensional arrangement of the individual seismic sources is compared with a target 3D arrangement. In view of the comparison, position of at least one of the individual seismic sources is adjusted so that the adjusted 3D arrangement of the individual seismic sources to substantially match the target 3D arrangement. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140241119 | FAR-FIELD DETECTION DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD - A far-field detection apparatus for measuring a far-field signature of a seismic source includes a main tow cable, a depth control device, sensor lines, at least two deflectors and seismic sensors. The depth control device is attached to the main tow cable. Each of the sensor lines has a first end attached to the main tow cable. Each of the deflectors is attached to a second end of the sensor lines, respectively. The deflectors are configured to generate forces pulling the sensor lines away from the main tow cable. The seismic sensors are attached between the first end and the second end of each of the sensor lines. The seismic sensors are configured to measure seismic waves generated by the seismic source. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140241120 | MARINE SEISMIC APPARATUS WITH MARINE GROWTH RETARDANT AND METHODS THEREFOR - Embodiments describe methods, devices and systems for marine seismic surveying which prevent or inhibit marine growth thereon. Towed seismic array elements which can become fouled given their presence in the water for extended time periods are coated with a hydrophobic coating, e.g., a superhydrophobic nanocoating applied manually via an aerosol can or brush. Application of the hydrophobic coating can be performed on board the towing vessel, or even potentially in the water. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140241121 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF HYDROGENERATORS - Systems and methods are provided for generating power by a hydrogenerator which can be attached to a portion of a towed marine streamer. A hydrogenerator includes: a stator configured to impart a spin to water which flows through the stator, wherein the stator is inline with and fluidly coupled to a propeller; the propeller configured to receive water which has passed through the stator, wherein the propeller is connected to a generator; the propeller configured to spin; and the generator configured to output power for use by components attached to the towed marine streamer. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140247692 | DEFLECTOR FOR MARINE SEISMIC SURVEY SYSTEM - A deflector is configured to be attached to a cable towed by a vessel. The deflector includes a foil configured to provide a lift force; first and second bulbs attached to opposite ends of the foil; and a joint attached to the foil and configured to receive the cable. The first and second bulbs are offset by a predetermined distance from a plane that extends through the foil, and at least one of the first and second bulbs has a longitudinal axis that makes an angle (θ) with a cord of the foil, the cord extending in the plane. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140269177 | WING FOR WIDE TOW OF GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY SOURCES - Techniques are disclosed relating to wide towing of marine survey signal sources. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a signal source and a wing coupled to the signal source. In this embodiment, the wing is configured to impart a force to the signal source when towed through a body of water by a survey vessel. In this embodiment, the force includes a lateral component and a vertical component. The wing may be configured to impart the force based on a shape of the wing and an orientation of the wing. The wing may extend over at least a third of a length of a keel of the apparatus. At least a majority of a top surface of the wing may be oriented within 20 degrees of parallel to a surface of the body of water. The wing may include a plurality of wing sections. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140269178 | AUTOMATED LATERAL CONTROL OF SEISMIC STREAMERS - In the field of marine geophysical surveying, systems and methods for controlling the spatial distribution or orientation of a geophysical sensor streamer or an array of geophysical sensor streamers towed behind a survey vessel are provided. Various techniques for changing the spatial distribution or orientation of such geophysical sensor streamers in response to changing conditions are provided. For example, crosscurrent conditions may be determined based on configuration data received from positioning devices along the length of a streamer, and a new desired orientation for the streamer may be determined based on the crosscurrent conditions. The new desired orientation may include a new desired feather angle for the streamer. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140286126 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR POSITIONING OF MARINE SEISMIC STREAMERS - A method of controlling a streamer positioning device ( | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140321238 | REMOTELY OPERATED MODULAR POSITIONING VEHICLE AND METHOD - Method and marine acoustic source array for generating an acoustic wave in a body of water. The marine acoustic source array includes first and second external source sub-arrays, each sub-array including one or more individual source elements; a first actuator device connected to the first external source sub-array; and a second actuator device connected to the second external source sub-array. The first actuator device has a corresponding cable configured to connect to a first lead-in, and the second actuator device has a corresponding cable configured to connect to a second lead-in such that a position of the source array as a whole is controllable along a line substantially perpendicular to a path of the source array. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140334258 | DISPOSABLE ANTIFOULING COVERS FOR GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY EQUIPMENT - Disposable antifouling covers for geophysical survey equipment. At least of example embodiments are methods including deploying marine geophysical survey equipment. The deploying may include: installing a disposable antifouling cover of plastic material on a portion of the marine geophysical survey equipment, wherein the disposable antifouling cover occludes a majority of an exterior surface of the portion of the marine geophysical survey equipment; and placing the marine geophysical survey equipment in a body of water. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140347956 | TOWABLE AND STEERABLE MARINE SEISMIC SOURCE ARRANGEMENT - A towable and steerable elongated float for a marine seismic source arrangement for use in making a seismic survey at sea, having first attachment means at a lower or bottom part of a float body for allowing at least one seismic source to be suspended from the float, and second attachment means on a fore part of the float body for attachment of a strength taking source towing line or umbilical. The float body comprises first and second elongated steering foils being attached to and spaced from respective port and starboard sides of the fore part of said float body by respective support arrangement. The steering foils have respective longitudinal steering foil axes being oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the float body and so as to be substantially perpendicular to a sea surface when in use, the elongated steering foils having respective first and second chord axes. Controlling means control an angle of at least one of the first and second chord axis with respect to the float body longitudinal axis. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140376329 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING MARINE FOULING - Systems and methods are provided for a marine seismic streamer usable underwater for marine seismic surveys. The marine seismic streamer includes: a lead-in section; at least one bird section; at least one data acquisition module; and at least one vibration module configured to vibrate the marine seismic streamer, wherein the lead-in section, the at least one bird section, the at least one data acquisition module and the at least one vibration module are connected together to form the marine seismic streamer. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150098303 | Operation Managing System for Driving a Navigation Control Device According to a Degraded Operating Mode - An operation managing system is provided for managing the operation of a navigation control device. The navigation control device is adapted for controlling the depth and/or the lateral position of a towed acoustic linear antenna and including a body to which is attached a set of wings. The operation managing system operates the navigation control device according to a degraded operating mode, by acting on at least one non-released and motorized wing when detecting that at least one wing of the set of wings has been released or must be released. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150138919 | METHODS FOR CONTROLLING TOWED MARINE SENSOR ARRAY GEOMETRY - A method for towing a streamer array includes moving a vessel along a body of water. Streamers are towed by vessel. A relative position is determined at selected points along each streamer with respect to the vessel. At least one of the streamers is deflected at at least one longitudinal position along the streamer in response to the determined positions to maintain the streamers in a selected geometry. The selected geometry is related to one of survey vessel heading, energy source trajectory, previously plotted sensor trajectory and a lateral separation related to distance from the towing vessel. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150323692 | SEISMIC CABLE AND MODULAR SEISMIC SYSTEM - A method for seismic surveying includes positioning a first vessel equipped with first air gun and a first towline at a first selected position and positioning a second vessel equipped with a second air gun and a second towline at a second selected position. The method also includes attaching a transverse tow wire having a paravane fastened at each end to the first towline and the second towline, attaching a streamer cable to the transverse tow wire, and firing at least one of the first air gun and the second air gun and receiving seismic data using the streamer cable. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150331129 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF A CONTROLLABLE TAIL BUOY - Controllable tail buoy. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: towing a sensor streamer and tail buoy through water, the sensor streamer defining a proximal end and a distal end with the tail buoy coupled to the distal end, and the towing with the sensor streamer and the tail buoy submerged; and during the towing controlling depth of the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy; and steering the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20160103236 | SENSOR TOWING BY MARINE VESSELS - A system. At least some illustrative embodiments are a system including a first survey vessel and a first tow line coupled to the first survey vessel. A first sensor streamer is coupled to the first tow line. Also includes are a second survey vessel and a second tow line coupled to the second survey vessel. A second sensor streamer is coupled to the second tow line and a pulling line is connected between the first tow line and the second tow line. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160103237 | System and Method for Accurate Positioning of Control Devices for Instrumented Cables - Method and system for high-accurate position determination of control devices arranged in connection with instrumented cables towed behind a survey vessel by at least one autonomous surface vessel provided with acoustic communication means, where the control devices are provided with acoustic elements, and where the acoustic communication means and acoustic elements are used for accurate positioning of the surface vessel above the control device. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160109588 | SEISMIC DETECTION LINE HAVING IDENTIFIED ELEMENT AND METHOD - A seismic detection line includes one or more identified element(s) arranged in a string, and a telemetry link connecting the element(s) along the string to convey seismic data from at least one of the element(s) to a data recorder and identification data to a topology controller. Each of the element(s) includes a respective first identification unit connected to the telemetry link to provide a respective first identifier to the topology controller. A seismic detection system also includes a processor that queries the identified element(s) for their respective identifiers, determines an arrangement of the seismic detection line using the received identifiers, and presents an indication of the determined arrangement. A method of operating a seismic detection line includes transmitting a query along the telemetry link, detecting whether the respective identifier of one of the element(s) was received or not, repeating until termination, and determining and indicating the arrangement. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160187518 | METHOD FOR STEERING A TOWED ACOUSTIC LINEAR ANTENNA - A method and apparatus are provided for steering a first acoustic linear antenna belonging to a plurality of acoustic linear antennas towed by a vessel. A plurality of navigation control devices are arranged along the plurality of linear antennas in order to act at least laterally on the position of the linear antennas. At least one of the navigation control devices arranged along the first acoustic linear antenna performs steps of: obtaining a local measurement of a feather angle or of a parameter linked to the feather angle, the local measurement being associated with the at least one of the navigation control devices arranged along the first acoustic linear antenna; computing a lateral force, as a function of the obtained local measurement; and applying the computed lateral force. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160195626 | Method and System for Determining the Position of Control Devices on a Seismic Instrumented Towed Cable | 07-07-2016 |
| 20170233040 | RIBBON FOIL DEPRESSOR | 08-17-2017 |
| 20170235003 | SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION FOR COMPRESSIVE SENSING RECONSTRUCTION | 08-17-2017 |
| 20170235004 | STREAMER EQUIPMENT TENSION CONTROL | 08-17-2017 |
