In-sea power generation for marine seismic operations

• US 8,767,505 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reflection Marine Norge AS
• Original Assignee: WesternGeco LLC
• Inventors: Welker, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BREIER, KRYSTINE E
• Application Number:
  US11/953,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20090147619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,395 Days
• Field of Search: 367/15, 367/191, 604/95, 604/98, 604/99, 605/02, 605/03, 290/42, 290/43, 290/53, 290/54
• US Class Current: 367/15
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/00 Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/20 wherein both members , i.e. wom and rem are movable relative to the sea bed or shore
• 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 1/38 specially adapted for water-covered areas G01V1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1892 Generators with parts oscillating or vibrating about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

A method for conducting seismic operations includes the steps of deploying a seismic streamer carrying an electrically powered device from a vessel into water having waves, providing an in-sea generator in electrical connection with the device, producing electricity from the in-sea generator by harvesting mechanical energy from the waves, and providing the produced electricity to the device.

Claims

1. A seismic survey system for use in a marine environment having sea waves, the system comprising:

a streamer carrying an electrically powered device, the streamer towed through a body of water by a vessel; and

an in-sea generator to produce electricity in response to vertical movement of the sea waves, the in-sea generator functionally connected to the electrically powered device, wherein the in-sea generator comprises;

a generator towed through the body of water; and

a mass operationally connected to the generator and positioned to move vertically up and down relative to the towed direction of the generator in response to the vertical movement of the mass relative to the generator actuates the generator to produce electricity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the in-sea generator is carried by a tail buoy connected to the streamer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the in-sea generator is carried by a para-vane.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the generator is a rotary generator.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the in-sea generator is carried by a tail buoy connected to the streamer.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the in-sea generator is carried by a para-vane.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein

the mass comprises a magnet that generates a magnetic field;

and

the generator comprises a magnetic field sensing element having a first material connected to a second material, the first material responding to variations in the magnetic field by generating a stress and the second material responding to stress by producing electricity.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the in-sea generator is carried by a tail buoy connected to the streamer.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the in-sea generator is carried by a para-vane.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the in-sea generator does not utilize a propeller.

10. A method for conducting seismic operations, the method comprising:

towing a seismic streamer from a vessel through a body of water having waves moving vertically relative to the towed direction, the streamer carrying an electrically powered device;

towing an in-sea generator in electrical connection with the electrically powered device, wherein the in-sea generator comprises a mass operationally connected to the generator and positioned to move vertically up and down relative to the generator in response to the vertical movement of the sea waves;

producing electricity from the generator in response to the vertical motion of the waves moving the mass vertically up and down relative to the generator thereby harvesting mechanical energy from the waves.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein

the mass comprises a magnet that generates a magnetic field;

and

the generator comprises a magnetic field sensing element having a first material that responds to variations in the magnetic field by generating a stress connected to a second material that responds to stress by producing electricity.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical device is a positioning device and the positioning device and the in-sea generator are disposed in a buoy carried by the streamer.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the in-sea generator is carried by a tail buoy carried by the streamer.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the in-sea generator is carried by a para-vane connected to the streamer.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the in-sea generator does not utilize a propeller.

15. A method for conducting marine seismic operations, the method comprising:

towing a seismic streamer from a vessel through a body of water having waves moving vertically in the body of water, the streamer carrying an electrically powered device, a buoy, and an in-sea generator carried by the buoy and in electrical connection with the electrically powered device, the in-sea generator including a generator and a mass moveably connected to the generator and positioned so as to move vertically up and down relative to the generator and the towed direction;

producing electricity from the in-sea generator in response to the vertical motion of the waves moving the mass vertically up and down relative to the generator thereby harvesting mechanical energy from the waves; and

providing the produced electricity to the device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the in-sea generator does not utilize a propeller.