ANTIFOULING REMOVABLE STREAMER SECOND SKIN AND METHOD OF MOUNTING THEREOF

• US 20140041450A1
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cgg Services Sa (CGG)
• Original Assignee: Cgg Services Sa (CGG)
• Inventors: MACQUIN, Raphael
• Application Number:
  US13/964,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20140041450A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/431
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• 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

A streamer usable underwater for marine seismic surveys is covered by a removable skin to prevent bio-fouling deposits on its outer surface. The removable skin includes a flexible material charged with a biocide substance or has foul release properties, and a closure system configured to join sides of the flexible material. The removable skin may be mounted onboard of a vessel, while the streamer is deployed.

Claims

1. A streamer made of plural sections and usable underwater for marine seismic surveys, the streamer comprising:

a first skin configured to separate an inside thereof from surrounding water when the streamer is submerged;

seismic receivers housed inside the first skin; and

a removable second skin configured to surround the first skin along at least one streamer section length, the removable second skin including a flexible material (132) with antifouling properties.

2. The streamer of claim 1, wherein the flexible material has an anti-adhesive coating from a group including a super-hydrophobic nanocoating, a silicon coating, and a fluored polymers coating.

3. The streamer of claim 1, wherein the flexible material has a thickness of less than 1 mm.

4. The streamer of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is charged with a biocide substance.

5. The removable skin of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is acoustically transparent.

6. The streamer of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is covered with an antifouling paint.

7. The streamer of claim 1, wherein the second skin further includes a closure system configured to connect overlapping surfaces of the flexible material, the closure system including at least one of:

an adhesive layer applied in-between the overlapping surfaces;

pressure buttons; and

velcro type of connectors.

8. The streamer of claim 1, wherein sides of the flexible material are welded with ultrasound or by temperature when the removable second skin is mounted along the streamer.

9. The streamer of claim 1, wherein the second skin further includes a closure system configured to join sides of the flexible material and having pre-formed shapes located along the sides, the pre-formed shapes being configured to interlock when the removable second skin is mounted along the streamer.

10. A streamer usable underwater for marine seismic surveys having a flexible material with antifouling properties wrapped around an outer surface thereof.

11. A marine seismic survey system, comprising:

a streamer configured to be used underwater, made of plural sections and having

a first skin configured to separate an inside thereof from surrounding water when the streamer is submerged;

seismic receivers housed inside the first skin; and

a removable second skin configured to surround the first skin along at least one streamer section length, the removable second skin including a flexible material with antifouling properties.

12. The marine seismic survey system of claim 11, wherein the flexible material has an anti-adhesive coating from a group including a super-hydrophobic nanocoating, a silicon coating, and a fluored polymers or is covered with an antifouling paint.

13. The marine seismic survey system of claim 11, wherein the flexible material is charged with a biocide substance.

14. The marine seismic survey system of claim 11, wherein the flexible material has a thickness of less than 1 mm.

15. The marine seismic survey system of claim 11, wherein the second skin further includes a closure system configured to connect overlapping surfaces of the flexible material, the closure system including at least one of:

an adhesive layer applied in-between the overlapping surfaces;

pressure buttons; and

velcro type of connectors.

16. The marine seismic survey system of claim 11, wherein sides of the flexible material are welded with ultrasound or by temperature when the removable second skin is mounted along the streamer.

17. The marine seismic survey system of claim 11, wherein the second skin further includes a closure system configured to join sides of the flexible material and having pre-formed shapes located along the sides, the pre-formed shapes being configured to interlock when the removable second skin is mounted along the streamer.

18. A method for preventing bio-fouling deposits on an outer surface of a streamer, the method comprising:

mounting a removable second skin made of a flexible material with antifouling properties over an outer surface of the streamer;

deploying the streamer in water;

recording seismic survey data using seismic receivers inside the streamer;

recovering the streamer from the water; and

removing the removable second skin from the streamer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the mounting includes joining sides of the flexible material via a closure system, and the mounting occurs when the streamer is moved to be deployed in the water.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the mounting includes wrapping the flexible material around the streamer, and the mounting occurs when the streamer is moved to be deployed in the water.