System for controlling streamers

• US 7,047,898 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Petroleum Geo-Services AG
• Original Assignee: Petroleum Geo-Services ASA (PGS ASA)
• Inventors: Petersen, Egil, Naley, Svein J., Ronningen, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vasudeva, Ajay
• Application Number:
  US10/466,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20040060498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 114/242, 114/253, 114/254, 114/244, 367 14- 20, 367/106, 367/130, 367/141, 367/153
• US Class Current: 114/244
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/66 Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables paravanes for dragging fishing nets A01K73/02; salvaging underwater vessels or objects B63C7/00; towed underwater vessels B63G8/42
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/045 making use of satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3826 dynamic steering, e.g. by paravanes or birds

Abstract

System for controlling cables and streamers in a seismic tow arrangement comprising at least one deflector (13) connected to one side of a tow vessel (10) via at least one wire (12), leading or the like, wherein the deflector is located in a position at a distance perpendicularly to the direction of movement (5) of the tow vessel, the vessel being equipped with a navigation system for measuring the position of the vessel. The system is characterised by comprising a command unit and a number of control units, where the control units are located on at least some of the streamers and are adapted to measure and report about their positions, that the command unit comprises means for receiving the position information from each individual control unit and calculation of possible deviations from predetermined positions, and that the system comprises means for changing the position of the streamers for re-establishing the positions of the control units.

Claims

1. A system for controlling cables and streamers in a seismic tow arrangement comprising

at least one deflector (13) connected to one side of a tow vessel (10) by at least one tow wire (12), wherein the deflector is located at a position with a distance perpendicular to the direction of movement (5) of the tow vessel, the vessel being equipped with a navigation system (32) for measuring the position of the vessel,

a command unit (31) and

a plurality of control units (33), the control units being located on at least some of the streamers (14) and being adapted to measure and report their own positions,

wherein the command unit (31) comprises

means for calculating deviation in the position of the tow vessel;

means for receiving position information from each control unit (33); and

means for calculating deviations from predetermined positions of the control units, based upon the received position information from the control units,

and the system comprises

means for changing the position of the streamers in order to restore the positions of the control units, to maintain the streamer at a given depth and position, including control devices for varying the length of the tow wire (12), to vary the transverse position of the deflector (13) with respect to the vessel (10), based upon the received position information from the control units and the calculated deviation in the position of the tow vessel,

and means for coordinating the control units in changing the position of the streamers.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the position information from at least one control unit (33) comprises horizontal and vertical position.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the command unit (31) comprises means for measuring the relative position of the deflector (13) with respect to the vessel (10), and adjustment comprises control of the global position of the deflector based on the position of the tow vessel and the relative position of the deflector with respect to the vessel.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one control unit (33) comprises a depth measuring instrument and the means for changing the position of the streamers comprises at least one depth controller, for adjusting the vertical position of the streamers.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein, the tow wire (12) is connected to the tow vessel (10) via control devices-adapted to vary the tow wire length from the tow vessel to the deflector (13) and the control devices are in contact with the means for calculating deviation, to adjust the wire length on the basis of said deviation in the position of the tow vessel, in order to counteract corresponding deviations in the movement of the deflector.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the control device adapted to vary the tow wire length from the tow vessel (10) to the deflector (13) is a winch.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the command unit (31) also comprises means for measuring deviations in the orientation of the vessel.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the measured deviations in the orientation of the vessel are roll, heave and pitch.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the lifting capacity of the deflector (13) for adjusting the position of the deflector.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the streamer (14) comprises means (33) for measuring the position of the streamer, and means for transmitting the position of the streamer to the command unit.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control units (33) are located at selected points on the streamers (14), the deflectors (13) and the depth controllers, for measuring selected variables at each control unit.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the measured selected variables are lifting capacity, position and depth.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tow wire (12) by which at least one deflector (13) is connected to one side of the tow vessel (10) is a lead-in wire.