CA1238533A - Flotation apparatus for marine seismic exploration - Google Patents
Flotation apparatus for marine seismic explorationInfo
- Publication number
- CA1238533A CA1238533A CA000492056A CA492056A CA1238533A CA 1238533 A CA1238533 A CA 1238533A CA 000492056 A CA000492056 A CA 000492056A CA 492056 A CA492056 A CA 492056A CA 1238533 A CA1238533 A CA 1238533A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- floatation
- marine
- frame
- vessel
- line
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
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- Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
Abstract
FLOATATION APPARATUS FOR
MARINE SEISMIC EXPLORATION
ABSTRACT
A floatation apparatus is disclosed wherein a buoy for maintaining the near surface position of marine equipment is mounted on a hydrodynamically advantageous V-shaped frame to reduce frictional drag associated with towing surface equipment.
MARINE SEISMIC EXPLORATION
ABSTRACT
A floatation apparatus is disclosed wherein a buoy for maintaining the near surface position of marine equipment is mounted on a hydrodynamically advantageous V-shaped frame to reduce frictional drag associated with towing surface equipment.
Description
F-2742 ~ 5~3~
FLOATATION APPARATUS FOR
. .
MARINE SEISMIC EXPLORATION
Marine seismic exploration for oil is -typically done wi-th the aid of a marine vessel which tows a line of seismic pulse sources. These sources generate acoustic pulses which penetrate subsea formations and are reflected back to a line of acoustic pulse detectors such as geophones. The line of pulse detectors may be either placed on the ocean floor or may also be towed behind -the marine vessel.
In a typical marine seismic survey, as many as two lines of twenty seisrnic pulse sources and many miles of acoustic pulse detectors are towed by a single vessel. The sources and detectors are kept near the surface by floa-ts or buoys.
Although there are several problems associated with a line of seismic pulse sources and detectors, such as deployment retrieval and storage, one of the rnost significan-t problems lies in the towing operation. These buoys can cause a significant amount of drag which reduces the speed a-t which the vessel may opera-te and may reduce the total number of seismic pulse sources and acoustic pulse detectors that may be used.
The present invention pertains to marine towing systems and more particularly to seismic pulse source towing systems comprising a string of acoustic pulse sources which are towed near the surface in a marine environment. A commercially available buoy is mounted on an expanded V-shaped frame having a fixed rudder. Connection is made at a predetermined angle between a leading edge of the frame ~3~ 3 and a towing cable. The frame angles the buoy in the water which reduces towing resistance to allow faster towing speeds and permits additional acoustic pulse sources wi-th their associated buoys.
This invention provides in combination:
a marine vessel having a tow line;
floatation means for maintaining the surface position of a marine apparatus;
frame means attached to the floatation means for connecting the floatation means to the tow line;
bracket means fixed to the frame means at an angle inclined to the horizontal having a plurality of adjustment means for altering the tow depth of the marine apparatus;
rudder means moveably mounted on the frame means for controlling planar parallel placement of the floatation means with respect to the towing vessel; and stabilizer means mounted on the frame means for mainta.ining the center line of the floatation means perpendicular to the marine vessel.
This invention also provides a floatation apparatus to be towed by a vessel tow line through a fluid environment by a marine vessel comprising:
floatation means for maintaining the surface position of a marine apparatus;
frame means attached to the floatation means for connecting the floatation means -to the tow line;
bracket means fixed to the frame means at an angle inclined to the horizontal having a plurality of adjustment means for alteriny the tow depth of the marine apparatus;
rudder means moveably mounted on the frame means for controlling planar parallel placement of the floatation means with respect to the towing vessel; and stabilizer means mounted on the frame means for maintaining -5i3~3 F-274~
the center line o~ the floatation means perpendicular to the marine vessel.
This invention further provides a method for controlling the depth o~ a near surface marine apparatus towed by a marine vessel comprising the steps of:
providing a floatation member having a frame with a plurality of slots arranged at an angle inclined to the horizontal ~or connection to a tow line;
connecting the floatation member to the tow line through one of the slots to tow the marine apparatus at a first predetermined depth; and towing the marine apparatus at a second predetermined depth by connecting the floatation member to the tow line through another one of the slots.
In the drawings appended bo this specification:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a marine seismic system FIG. 2 is a side view o~ the system o~ FIG. 1 ;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 3.
FIG. 1 illustrates a marine vessel 10 towing seismic acoustic pulse source lines 12 and 14. Each line 12 and 14 includes a plurality of buoys 16 and 18 respectively. FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the seismic exploration system of FIG. 1. Line 14 is illustrated as having an acoustic pulse source 2n below each buoy 18. There may be more than one pulse source 20 below each buoy 18;
however, one buoy 18 is pre~erred for each pulse source 2û due to the combined weight of line 14 and pulse source 20.
ln typical seismic exploration, as many as twenty acoustic pulse sources 20 may be attached to each of lines 12 and 14. In addition, marine vesse~ lD may tow one or more lines o~ acoustic pulse detectors ~not shown) and the total number o~ buoys used to keep both detectors and sources may be in the hundreds. This can result in a great amount of dxag being exerted by the buoys. Thus, marine vessel 10 must he operated at slower speeds or the number F-27~2 -4-of acoustic pulse sources 20 and detectors (not shown) must bereduced.
Figure 3 illustrates a side view of a floatation system 22 having a buoy 18 rotatably mounted at the end points of its center line 24 on frame 26 attachment points 28 and 30. Buoy 18 is mounted on frame 26 by chain links which permit a small amount of rotation about its center axis depicted by center line 24. Frame 26 is attached to line 1~ by cable 32 which is fixed to adjustable bracket 34 at point A. Cable 32 may be attached to either point A, B, C, D
or E of bracket 34 and is illustrated as attached to point A for descriptive purposes only.
Cable 32 is attached to line 14 at connector 36. Cable 38 is attached to seismic acoustic pulse source 20 at connector 40 and to line 14 at connector 36. Buoy 18 and pulse source 20 are illustrated as being attached to connector 36 on line 14 in the preferred embodiment. ~owever, both are not required to be joined at the same location but may be spatially separated along line 14.
Frame 26 comprises a generally V-shaped base 50 having plate 52 bridging vertex 54 of arms 56 and 58 of base 50. Frame 26 may be constructed of any high strength rigid material; however, aluminum tubing is preferred for base 50 and sheet alurninum is preferred to plate 52. Aluminum provides high strength and low weight while also providing durability and resistance to salt water corrosion.
Plate 52 provides stabilization to prevent buoy 18 from turning while being towed by marine vessel 10. Without stabilizing plate 52, buoy 18 would have a propensity to turn so its broadside is perpendicular to its line of travel through the water, increasing its drag and decreasing the depth at which pulse source 20 is towed. Plate 52 maintains center line 24 perpendicular to the stern of marine vessel 10.
Attached to arm 56 is bracket 34 having a plurality of connection points, A, B, C, D and E for connection of cable 32 between frame 26 and line 14.
Bracket adjustments A~ B, C; D and E are provided dependingupon the depth at which acoustic pulse source 2û is to be towed.
When cable 32 is connected to adjustment A, pulse source 20 is towed at its shallowest depth, approximately twenty feet below the surface. When cable 32 is connected to adjustment E, pulse source 20 is towed at its deepest available depth, approximately 30 feet.
Additional adjustments B through D give incremental depths for towing. Bracket 34 with adjustments A through D permit an operator to control the amount of drag exerted by buoy 18 when it is towed through the water. By controlling the drag, an angle ~ between cable 32 and tow line 14, may be altered and the distance between the water surface, the location of buoy 18 and tow line 14 may be shortened or lengthened.
Rudder 60 is attached to arm 58 and generally extends the length of arm 58 from the vertex 54 of base 50 to the end of arm 58. The rudder is rotatably mounted on arm 58 ~o oontrol the po~ition of buoy 18 with respect to vessel 10. Buoy 18 travels on a line parallel to the line of motion of vessel 10 in the same plane, sea level, and the rudder controls the displacement of the line of travel for buoy 18 with respect to the parallel line of travel for vessel 10. Thus, rudder 60 controls the planar parallel placement of buoy 18 with respect to marine vessel 10. Rudder 60 also provides additional stabilization of float 18 when used in combination with plate 52.
Attachment points 28 and 30 at the end points of arms 56 and 58 respectively permit buoy 18 to partially rotate about center line 24. This allows buoy 18 to rotate slightly when subjected to forces different from those experienced to plate 52.
FIG. ~ is a front plan view of floatation system 22 illustrating buoy 18 as having a generally circular shape narrowing down to rounded point 28 where it is partially rotatably mounted on arm 56 of base 50. Rudder 60 is partially hidden from view by base ~3~3;~
50 due to its narrower width than tubular base 50.
While the present invention has been described by way of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the description is for example purposes only and the present invention should not be limited thereto but only by the scope of the following claims.
FLOATATION APPARATUS FOR
. .
MARINE SEISMIC EXPLORATION
Marine seismic exploration for oil is -typically done wi-th the aid of a marine vessel which tows a line of seismic pulse sources. These sources generate acoustic pulses which penetrate subsea formations and are reflected back to a line of acoustic pulse detectors such as geophones. The line of pulse detectors may be either placed on the ocean floor or may also be towed behind -the marine vessel.
In a typical marine seismic survey, as many as two lines of twenty seisrnic pulse sources and many miles of acoustic pulse detectors are towed by a single vessel. The sources and detectors are kept near the surface by floa-ts or buoys.
Although there are several problems associated with a line of seismic pulse sources and detectors, such as deployment retrieval and storage, one of the rnost significan-t problems lies in the towing operation. These buoys can cause a significant amount of drag which reduces the speed a-t which the vessel may opera-te and may reduce the total number of seismic pulse sources and acoustic pulse detectors that may be used.
The present invention pertains to marine towing systems and more particularly to seismic pulse source towing systems comprising a string of acoustic pulse sources which are towed near the surface in a marine environment. A commercially available buoy is mounted on an expanded V-shaped frame having a fixed rudder. Connection is made at a predetermined angle between a leading edge of the frame ~3~ 3 and a towing cable. The frame angles the buoy in the water which reduces towing resistance to allow faster towing speeds and permits additional acoustic pulse sources wi-th their associated buoys.
This invention provides in combination:
a marine vessel having a tow line;
floatation means for maintaining the surface position of a marine apparatus;
frame means attached to the floatation means for connecting the floatation means to the tow line;
bracket means fixed to the frame means at an angle inclined to the horizontal having a plurality of adjustment means for altering the tow depth of the marine apparatus;
rudder means moveably mounted on the frame means for controlling planar parallel placement of the floatation means with respect to the towing vessel; and stabilizer means mounted on the frame means for mainta.ining the center line of the floatation means perpendicular to the marine vessel.
This invention also provides a floatation apparatus to be towed by a vessel tow line through a fluid environment by a marine vessel comprising:
floatation means for maintaining the surface position of a marine apparatus;
frame means attached to the floatation means for connecting the floatation means -to the tow line;
bracket means fixed to the frame means at an angle inclined to the horizontal having a plurality of adjustment means for alteriny the tow depth of the marine apparatus;
rudder means moveably mounted on the frame means for controlling planar parallel placement of the floatation means with respect to the towing vessel; and stabilizer means mounted on the frame means for maintaining -5i3~3 F-274~
the center line o~ the floatation means perpendicular to the marine vessel.
This invention further provides a method for controlling the depth o~ a near surface marine apparatus towed by a marine vessel comprising the steps of:
providing a floatation member having a frame with a plurality of slots arranged at an angle inclined to the horizontal ~or connection to a tow line;
connecting the floatation member to the tow line through one of the slots to tow the marine apparatus at a first predetermined depth; and towing the marine apparatus at a second predetermined depth by connecting the floatation member to the tow line through another one of the slots.
In the drawings appended bo this specification:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a marine seismic system FIG. 2 is a side view o~ the system o~ FIG. 1 ;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 3.
FIG. 1 illustrates a marine vessel 10 towing seismic acoustic pulse source lines 12 and 14. Each line 12 and 14 includes a plurality of buoys 16 and 18 respectively. FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the seismic exploration system of FIG. 1. Line 14 is illustrated as having an acoustic pulse source 2n below each buoy 18. There may be more than one pulse source 20 below each buoy 18;
however, one buoy 18 is pre~erred for each pulse source 2û due to the combined weight of line 14 and pulse source 20.
ln typical seismic exploration, as many as twenty acoustic pulse sources 20 may be attached to each of lines 12 and 14. In addition, marine vesse~ lD may tow one or more lines o~ acoustic pulse detectors ~not shown) and the total number o~ buoys used to keep both detectors and sources may be in the hundreds. This can result in a great amount of dxag being exerted by the buoys. Thus, marine vessel 10 must he operated at slower speeds or the number F-27~2 -4-of acoustic pulse sources 20 and detectors (not shown) must bereduced.
Figure 3 illustrates a side view of a floatation system 22 having a buoy 18 rotatably mounted at the end points of its center line 24 on frame 26 attachment points 28 and 30. Buoy 18 is mounted on frame 26 by chain links which permit a small amount of rotation about its center axis depicted by center line 24. Frame 26 is attached to line 1~ by cable 32 which is fixed to adjustable bracket 34 at point A. Cable 32 may be attached to either point A, B, C, D
or E of bracket 34 and is illustrated as attached to point A for descriptive purposes only.
Cable 32 is attached to line 14 at connector 36. Cable 38 is attached to seismic acoustic pulse source 20 at connector 40 and to line 14 at connector 36. Buoy 18 and pulse source 20 are illustrated as being attached to connector 36 on line 14 in the preferred embodiment. ~owever, both are not required to be joined at the same location but may be spatially separated along line 14.
Frame 26 comprises a generally V-shaped base 50 having plate 52 bridging vertex 54 of arms 56 and 58 of base 50. Frame 26 may be constructed of any high strength rigid material; however, aluminum tubing is preferred for base 50 and sheet alurninum is preferred to plate 52. Aluminum provides high strength and low weight while also providing durability and resistance to salt water corrosion.
Plate 52 provides stabilization to prevent buoy 18 from turning while being towed by marine vessel 10. Without stabilizing plate 52, buoy 18 would have a propensity to turn so its broadside is perpendicular to its line of travel through the water, increasing its drag and decreasing the depth at which pulse source 20 is towed. Plate 52 maintains center line 24 perpendicular to the stern of marine vessel 10.
Attached to arm 56 is bracket 34 having a plurality of connection points, A, B, C, D and E for connection of cable 32 between frame 26 and line 14.
Bracket adjustments A~ B, C; D and E are provided dependingupon the depth at which acoustic pulse source 2û is to be towed.
When cable 32 is connected to adjustment A, pulse source 20 is towed at its shallowest depth, approximately twenty feet below the surface. When cable 32 is connected to adjustment E, pulse source 20 is towed at its deepest available depth, approximately 30 feet.
Additional adjustments B through D give incremental depths for towing. Bracket 34 with adjustments A through D permit an operator to control the amount of drag exerted by buoy 18 when it is towed through the water. By controlling the drag, an angle ~ between cable 32 and tow line 14, may be altered and the distance between the water surface, the location of buoy 18 and tow line 14 may be shortened or lengthened.
Rudder 60 is attached to arm 58 and generally extends the length of arm 58 from the vertex 54 of base 50 to the end of arm 58. The rudder is rotatably mounted on arm 58 ~o oontrol the po~ition of buoy 18 with respect to vessel 10. Buoy 18 travels on a line parallel to the line of motion of vessel 10 in the same plane, sea level, and the rudder controls the displacement of the line of travel for buoy 18 with respect to the parallel line of travel for vessel 10. Thus, rudder 60 controls the planar parallel placement of buoy 18 with respect to marine vessel 10. Rudder 60 also provides additional stabilization of float 18 when used in combination with plate 52.
Attachment points 28 and 30 at the end points of arms 56 and 58 respectively permit buoy 18 to partially rotate about center line 24. This allows buoy 18 to rotate slightly when subjected to forces different from those experienced to plate 52.
FIG. ~ is a front plan view of floatation system 22 illustrating buoy 18 as having a generally circular shape narrowing down to rounded point 28 where it is partially rotatably mounted on arm 56 of base 50. Rudder 60 is partially hidden from view by base ~3~3;~
50 due to its narrower width than tubular base 50.
While the present invention has been described by way of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the description is for example purposes only and the present invention should not be limited thereto but only by the scope of the following claims.
Claims (3)
1. In combination:
a marine vessel having a tow line;
floatation means for maintaining the surface position of a marine apparatus;
frame means attached to the floatation means for connecting the floatation means to the tow line;
bracket means fixed to the frame means at an angle inclined to the horizontal having a plurality of adjustment means for altering the tow depth of the marine apparatus;
rudder means moveably mounted on the frame means for controlling planar parallel placement of the floatation means with respect to the towing vessel; and stabilizer means mounted on the frame means for maintaining the center line of the floatation means perpendicular to the marine vessel.
a marine vessel having a tow line;
floatation means for maintaining the surface position of a marine apparatus;
frame means attached to the floatation means for connecting the floatation means to the tow line;
bracket means fixed to the frame means at an angle inclined to the horizontal having a plurality of adjustment means for altering the tow depth of the marine apparatus;
rudder means moveably mounted on the frame means for controlling planar parallel placement of the floatation means with respect to the towing vessel; and stabilizer means mounted on the frame means for maintaining the center line of the floatation means perpendicular to the marine vessel.
2. A method for controlling the depth of a near surface marine apparatus towed by a marine vessel comprising the steps of:
providing a floatation member having a frame with a plurality of slots arranged at an angle inclined to the horizontal for connection to a tow line;
connecting the floatation member to the tow line through one of the slots to tow the marine apparatus at a first predetermined depth; and towing the marine apparatus at a second predetermined depth by connecting the floatation member to the tow line through another one of the slots.
providing a floatation member having a frame with a plurality of slots arranged at an angle inclined to the horizontal for connection to a tow line;
connecting the floatation member to the tow line through one of the slots to tow the marine apparatus at a first predetermined depth; and towing the marine apparatus at a second predetermined depth by connecting the floatation member to the tow line through another one of the slots.
3. A floatation apparatus to be towed by a vessel tow line through a fluid environment by a marine vessel comprising:
floatation means for maintaining the surface position of a marine apparatus;
frame means attached to the floatation means for connecting the floatation means to the tow line;
bracket means fixed to the frame means at an angle inclined to the horizontal having a plurality of adjustment means for altering the tow depth of the marine apparatus;
rudder means moveably mounted on the frame means for controlling planar parallel placement of the floatation means with respect to the towing vessel; and stabilizer means mounted on the frame means for maintaining the center line of the floatation means perpendicular to the marine vessel.
floatation means for maintaining the surface position of a marine apparatus;
frame means attached to the floatation means for connecting the floatation means to the tow line;
bracket means fixed to the frame means at an angle inclined to the horizontal having a plurality of adjustment means for altering the tow depth of the marine apparatus;
rudder means moveably mounted on the frame means for controlling planar parallel placement of the floatation means with respect to the towing vessel; and stabilizer means mounted on the frame means for maintaining the center line of the floatation means perpendicular to the marine vessel.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000492056A CA1238533A (en) | 1985-10-02 | 1985-10-02 | Flotation apparatus for marine seismic exploration |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000492056A CA1238533A (en) | 1985-10-02 | 1985-10-02 | Flotation apparatus for marine seismic exploration |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1238533A true CA1238533A (en) | 1988-06-28 |
Family
ID=4131521
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000492056A Expired CA1238533A (en) | 1985-10-02 | 1985-10-02 | Flotation apparatus for marine seismic exploration |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1238533A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-10-02 CA CA000492056A patent/CA1238533A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |