ANTI-BARNACLE NET AND METHOD

• US 20120250458A1
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sercel SAS (CGG)
• Original Assignee: Cggveritas Services SA (CGG)
• Inventors: TONCHIA, Hlne
• Granted Patent: US 9,016,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/20
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/045 by wrapping the submerged hull or part of the hull with an impermeable sheet stopping temporarily leaks in hulls with impermeable sheets B63B43/16
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3843 Deployment of seismic devices, e.g. of streamers equipment for marine deployment in general B63B

Abstract

Method and an array of streamers that prevent/slow down marine animals to attach to the streamers. The array includes at least one streamer including plural sections; and a net provided over at least one section of the at least one streamer.

Claims

1. An array of streamers to be used for a seismic survey, the array comprising:

at least one streamer including first and second sections, each section including at least a receiver for recording seismic data; and

a net provided over the first section to prevent barnacles to attach to the at least one streamer.

2. The array of claim 1, wherein the net is made of at least one of a synthetic material, a natural material, or a metal.

3. The array of claim 1, wherein the net is made of a combination of a synthetic material and a metal.

4. The array of claim 3, wherein the metal is selected to be disliked by the barnacles.

5. The array of claim 3, further comprising:

a piece of another metal provided on the at least one streamer to prevent a corrosion of metallic parts of the streamer.

6. The array of claim 1, wherein the net is made of a combination of a synthetic material and strands of at least two different metals that are configured to generated an electric current when placed underwater.

7. The array of claim 1, wherein the net is covered with a low-adhesion material or with an anti-stick material.

8. The array of claim 1, wherein the net includes one or more cells having a size smaller than an average size of a larva of an barnacle.

9. The array of claim 1, further comprising:

plural reservoirs placed at various locations along the net for storing and releasing a chemical substance.

10. A method for providing a net over a streamer, the method comprising:

rolling out the streamer from a vessel;

providing over the streamer a net for preventing barnacles to attach to the streamer; and

releasing the streamer covered with the net into water for performing seismic survey.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

attaching a first end of the net at a first end of a section of the streamer; and

attaching a second end of the net at a second end of the section of the streamer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

cutting the net at the second end.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

impregnating the net with a chemical substance disliked by a marine animal.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing the net around the streamer such that the net is allowed to vibrate relative to the streamer.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the net includes plural portions, each portion covering a corresponding section of the streamer.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the net is made of at least one of a synthetic material, a natural material, or a metal.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the net is made of a combination of a synthetic material and a metal.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

covering the net with a low-adhesion material or with an anti-stick material.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing the net to include one or more cells having a size smaller than an average size of a larva of a barnacle.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

attaching plural reservoirs at various locations along the net for storing and releasing a chemical substance.

21. A method for removing a net from a streamer when the streamer is brought back on a vessel, the method comprising:

releasing a streamer, from the vessel, into water, wherein at least a section of the streamer is covered with a net;

recording seismic data with the streamer;

retrieving the streamer back on the vessel; and

removing the net from the at least a section of the streamer when the streamer is on the vessel.