Seismic node deployment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018341035-A1
Application number	US-201815987241-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 23, 2018
Priority date	May 23, 2017
Publication date	Nov 29, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seismic node deployment system comprises a cable supply with one or more seismic nodes configured for coupling to the cable at one or more attachment locations for deployment to a water column. A node attachment system is configured to drive a portion of the cable into periodic or reciprocal motion so that the attachment speed is substantially reduced relative to the speed at which the cable is deployed.

First claim

1 . A node deployment system comprising
a cable supply configured to provide a cable for attachment of one or more nodes, the one or more nodes configured for deployment to a water column along the cable; a coupling apparatus configured to drive the cable, wherein an attachment speed of the cable adjacent to the coupling apparatus is reduced for attachment of the one or more nodes relative to a deployment speed at which the cable is deployed to the water column.

2 . The node deployment system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling apparatus further comprises an aft buffer system that alternately takes up cable length and releases stored cable length.

3 . The node deployment system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling apparatus further comprises
a forward buffer system that alternately takes up cable length and releases stored cable length; and an aft buffer system that alternately takes up cable length and releases stored cable length in conjunction with and in opposition to the take up and release performed by the forward buffer system.

4 . The node deployment system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling apparatus is configured to a drive a portion of the cable in a reciprocating motion, such that the attachment speed of the cable adjacent to the coupling apparatus is periodically increased and decreased relative to the deployment speed at which the cable is deployed to the water column.

5 . The node deployment system of claim 2 , wherein
the coupling apparatus is configured to drive the portion of the cable in the reciprocating motion longitudinally along a path of the cable defined between the cable supply and the water column; or the coupling apparatus is configured to drive the portion of the cable in the reciprocating motion transverse to a path of the cable defined between the cable supply and the water column; or both.

6 . (canceled)

7 . The node deployment system of claim 1 , wherein
the coupling apparatus comprises one or more pulleys fixed to a carriage; and the cable is engaged with the carriage via the one or more pulleys; and the system further comprises a mechanical drive configured to drive the carriage along a path such that the attachment speed of a portion of the cable adjacent to the coupling apparatus is periodically substantially stationary for attachment of the one or more nodes to the portion of the cable.

8 . (canceled)

9 . The node deployment system of claim 8 , wherein a speed of the carriage is between ⅛ and ½ the speed of the deployment speed at which the cable is deployed to the water column, inclusive, when the portion of the cable is approximately stationary.

10 . (canceled)

11 . (canceled)

12 . (canceled)

13 . The node deployment system of claim 7 further comprising at least one stationary pulley fixed with respect to motion of the carriage, wherein the cable is engaged between the carriage and the at least one stationary pulley.

14 . (canceled)

15 . A method of node deployment on a cable, the method comprising
providing a cable from a cable supply location; paying out an end of a cable into a water column at an overboarding speed; driving a first portion of the cable in periodic motion with respect to the end paying out into the water column, whereby an attachment speed of a section of the cable is periodically reduced relative to the overboarding speed at which the end of the cable pays out into the water column; coupling a node to the section first portion when the speed is reduced to the attachment speed; and deploying the node into the water column on the cable at the overboarding speed.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein
the section of the cable is substantially stationary with respect to the node when the node is coupled thereto; or the section of the cable is periodically substantially stationary with respect to the node for between one tenth of one second and at least one second; or both.

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . The method of claim 15 further comprising
engaging the first portion of the cable with at least one pulley component fixed to a carriage, and
wherein the driving step further comprises reciprocating the carriage along a path to periodically reduce the relative attachment speed of the section.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein a maximum reciprocating speed of the carriage is a fraction 1/n or less of the overboarding speed of the cable at which the nodes are deployed, wherein n is between two and eight, inclusive.

22 . The method of claim 15 further comprising
controlling a tension in the cable with a sheave system disposed between the cable supply location and the water column; and wherein
the first portion of the cable in periodic motion is oriented substantially transverse to or longitudinally along a path defined between the cable supply location and the water column.

23 . A node deployment system comprising
a cable supply configured to provide a cable; one or more nodes configured for coupling to the cable at an attachment location for deployment to a water column; a node coupling device configured to attach and detach the nodes to the cable; a node attachment system configured to drive a first portion of the cable in periodic motion between the cable supply and the node coupling device and to drive a second portion of the cable in a periodic motion between the node coupling device and the water column, wherein a first speed of a third portion of the cable is substantially reduced adjacent to the attachment location relative to a second speed of the cable as it is deployed with attached nodes to the water column or as it is retrieved from the water column.

24 . The node deployment system of claim 23 , wherein the first speed is periodically substantially zero such that the third portion of the cable does not move with respect to the attachment location.

25 . The node deployment system of claim 23 , wherein the node attachment system further comprises an aft buffer system that alternately takes up cable length and releases stored cable length.

26 . The node deployment system of claim 23 , wherein the node attachment system further comprises
a forward buffer system that alternately takes up cable length and releases stored cable length; and an aft buffer system that alternately takes up cable length and releases stored cable length in conjunction with and in opposition to the take up and release performed by the forward buffer system, such that the periodic motion is reciprocal.

27 . The node deployment system of claim 26 , wherein the forward buffer system further comprises
a forward rack; a forward pinion pulley moveably connected to the forward rack and around which the cable passes; and a motor that drives the forward pinion pulley back and forth along the forward rack to take up cable length and release stored cable length.

28 . The node deployment system of claim 26 , wherein the aft buffer system further comprises
an aft rack; an aft pinion pulley moveably connected to the aft rack and around which the cable passes; and a motor that drives the aft pinion pulley back and forth along the aft rack to take up cable length and release stored cable length.

29 . The node deployment system of claim 28 , wherein the aft buffer system further comprises
a first stationary ba

Assignees

• Ion Geophysical Corp

Inventors

• Swinford John Mccauley
• Dudley Timothy A
• Nakken Per Birger
• Buch Fredrik

Classifications

• G01V1/3843 Primary

  Deployment of seismic devices, e.g. of streamers (equipment for marine deployment in general B63B) · CPC title

• G01V1/38 Primary

  specially adapted for water-covered areas (G01V1/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B63B21/66

  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 title

• G01V1/3817

  Positioning of seismic devices · CPC title

• G01V1/3852 Primary

  to the seabed · CPC title