Ultrasonic Cleaning of Marine Geophysical Equipment
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- towing geophysical equipment behind a survey vessel; and
cleaning the geophysical equipment while the geophysical equipment is being towed, wherein said cleaning is performed at least in part by transmission of sound at an ultrasonic frequency.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various methods and apparatuses for facilitating cleaning of submerged geophysical equipment using sound waves transmitted at ultrasonic frequencies are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more transducers may be configured to transmit sound at one or more ultrasonic frequencies. The sound at ultrasonic frequencies may be transmitted in the vicinity of submerged geophysical equipment, such as a sensor streamer towed behind a survey vessel. Obstructions (e.g., barnacle larvae) adhering to surfaces of the geophysical equipment may be loosened or removed altogether when ultrasonic transmissions occur within its vicinity. The transducers used to transmit the ultrasonic frequencies may be implemented in various ways, such as being attached to a remote operated vehicle, a cleaning unit, or as being an integral component of the geophysical equipment.
17 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
towing geophysical equipment behind a survey vessel; and cleaning the geophysical equipment while the geophysical equipment is being towed, wherein said cleaning is performed at least in part by transmission of sound at an ultrasonic frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An apparatus comprising:
a cleaning unit configured to clean one or more pieces of geophysical equipment, including by transmission of ultrasonic frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18)
-
16. A method comprising:
-
towing geophysical equipment in water behind a survey vessel; and transmitting sound at one or more ultrasonic frequencies in the water in a vicinity of the geophysical equipment. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification