System and method for using copper coating to prevent marine growth on towed geophysical equipment

• US 20110174207A1
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PGS Geophysical As (PGS ASA)
• Original Assignee: PGS Geophysical As (PGS ASA)
• Inventors: Stenzel, Andre, Harrick, Bruce William
• Application Number:
  US12/657,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20110174207A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/244
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/1618 inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 24/04 Impact or kinetic deposition of particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/201 Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers integrated optoseismic systems G01V1/226; line connectors in general H01R, transducer mountings in general G10K11/004

Abstract

A system comprises towed marine seismic equipment marine seismic equipment, adapted for towing through a body of water; and a coating of copper particles covering the marine seismic equipment to protect from marine growth. A method comprises towing marine seismic equipment having a coating of copper particles thereon to protect from marine growth.

Claims

1. A system for protecting towed marine geophysical equipment from marine growth, comprising:

marine geophysical equipment, adapted for towing through a body of water; and

a coating of copper particles covering the marine geophysical equipment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the marine geophysical equipment comprises towed marine seismic streamers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the marine geophysical equipment further comprises additional equipment attached to the marine seismic streamers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the marine geophysical equipment comprises marine seismic sources.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the marine geophysical equipment comprises electromagnetic receivers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the marine geophysical equipment comprises electromagnetic sources.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the coating of copper particles is applied to the marine geophysical equipment by a cold spray process of particles from a group containing copper and copper alloys.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the coating of copper particles is applied to the marine geophysical equipment by a gas plasma process.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the coating of copper particles covers the marine geophysical streamers by manufacturing streamer, skin containing particles from a group containing copper and copper alloys.

10. A method for protecting marine geophysical equipment from marine growth, comprising:

towing marine geophysical equipment having a coating of copper particles thereon.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the marine geophysical equipment comprises towed marine seismic streamers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the marine geophysical equipment further comprises additional equipment attached to the marine seismic streamers.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the marine geophysical equipment comprises marine seismic sources.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the marine geophysical equipment comprises electromagnetic receivers.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the marine geophysical equipment comprises electromagnetic sources.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the coating of copper particles is applied to the marine geophysical equipment by a cold spray process of particles from a group containing copper and copper alloys.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the coating of copper particles is applied to the marine geophysical equipment by a gas plasma process.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the coating of copper particles covers the marine geophysical streamers by manufacturing streamer skin containing particles from a group containing copper and copper alloys.