Tunable resonance in a resonating gas seismic source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173244-B2
Application number	US-201415300084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2014
Priority date	Oct 31, 2013
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A system may include a conduit coupled between a marine seismic source and a gas reservoir external to the seismic source. The conduit may have at least one adjustable dimension for changing a resonance frequency of the system. The system may be utilized in a method of marine seismic surveying.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a marine seismic source, the marine seismic source defining an internal cavity;
a gas reservoir external to the marine seismic source; and
a conduit coupled between the internal cavity of the marine seismic source and the gas reservoir;
wherein the conduit has at least one dimension that is adjustable to change a resonance frequency of the system.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a motor operable to move a portion of the conduit, wherein the at least one dimension is adjustable in response to the movement.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the conduit is disposed within the gas reservoir.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dimension includes a length of the conduit.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes:
a first portion; and
a second portion movably coupled to the first portion;
wherein the at least one dimension is adjustable in response to movements of the second portion relative to the first portion.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the marine seismic source includes at least one electromechanical device operable to cause resonance in a gas flow between the marine seismic source and the gas reservoir.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control system configured to receive information indicative of the at least one dimension of the conduit, and wherein the control system is further configured to transmit operating instructions for adjusting a portion of the conduit based on the information received.

8. An apparatus, comprising:
a first plate; and
a second plate movably coupled to the first plate;
a channel defined between the first plate and the second plate:
the apparatus configured to change at least one dimension of the channel by relative movement between the first and second plates;
the channel is configured to couple an internal cavity of a marine seismic source to an external gas reservoir.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a motor that is operable to cause the movements between the first and second plates.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the channel is disposed in a spiral shape between the first and second plates.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one dimension includes a cross-sectional area.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one dimension includes a length dimension.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the movements between the first and second plates are operable to change the at least one dimension of the channel in a continuous manner.

14. A method, comprising:
actuating a marine seismic source at a driving frequency, the marine seismic source defines an internal cavity, and the internal cavity of the marine seismic source is coupled to a cps reservoir by way of a conduit, the gas reservoir external to the marine seismic source; and
adjusting at least one dimension of the conduit.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the adjusting causes the resonance frequency to correspond more closely to the driving frequency.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the adjusting is carried out via a motor coupled to a portion of the conduit.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the adjusting includes:
moving a female portion of the conduit relative to a male portion of the conduit; and
in response to the moving, changing a cross-sectional area of the conduit from a first cross-sectional area to a second cross-sectional area.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the adjusting further includes:
in response to the moving, changing an effective length of the conduit from a first effective length to a second effective length.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the adjusting further comprises:
determining, via a lookup table, an adjustment amount.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the system further includes a control system, and wherein the method further comprises:
detecting, by the control system, information indicative of the at least one dimension of the conduit; and
in response to detecting the information, the control system instructing a motor coupled to the conduit to adjust the at least one dimension.

Assignees

• Pgs Geophysical As
• Geospectrum Tech Inc

Inventors

• Armstrong Bruce
• Yeatman Paul
• Traetten Øystein
• Oscarsson Mattias
• Voldsbekk Rune
• Tønnessen Rune

Classifications

• B06B1/0611 Primary

  in a pile · CPC title

• G01V1/04

  Details · CPC title

• G01V1/145

  by deforming or displacing surfaces {, e.g. by mechanically driven vibroseis™} · CPC title

• G01V1/135

  by deforming or displacing surfaces of enclosures {, e.g. by hydraulically driven vibroseis™} · CPC title

• G10K9/04

  by compressed gases, e.g. compressed air · CPC title