Tailbuoy stabilization device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9132891-B2
Application number	US-201314070891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2013
Priority date	Jan 16, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2015
Grant date	Sep 15, 2015

Abstract

Devices and methods for stabilizing a tailbuoy attached to a streamer towed during a marine survey are provided. The tailbuoy includes a floating body configured to be connected to the streamer, and a keel attached to the floating body. The keel is configured to stabilize a motion of the tailbuoy along a towing direction while in a working state, and to be switched between the working state in which the keel is partially submerged and a retracted state in which the keel is removed from water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tailbuoy configured to be attached to a streamer towed by a vessel, the tailbuoy comprising:
a floating body configured to connect to the streamer; and
a keel attached to the floating body and configured to stabilize a motion of the tailbuoy along a towing direction while in a working state,
wherein the keel is switchable between the working state, in which the keel is partially submerged, and a retracted state, in which the keel is removed from water and raised on the floating body, and
wherein, in the retracted state, the keel is secured with a pin against a mast attached to the floating body.

2. The tailbuoy of claim 1 , wherein the keel is free to move while in the working state.

3. The tailbuoy of claim 1 , wherein the keel has a pair of lateral wings attached to a substantially flat member.

4. The tailbuoy of claim 3 , wherein an angle of the lateral wings with the towing direction is adjustable.

5. The tailbuoy of claim 3 , wherein the keel has a ballast element mounted on the substantially flat member.

6. The tailbuoy of claim 5 , wherein the ballast element is mounted on a portion of the substantially flat member that sinks deepest when the keel is partially submerged.

7. The tailbuoy of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuation mechanism located on the floating body and configured to switch the keel from the working state to the retracted state.

8. The tailbuoy of claim 1 , wherein the keel is configured to rotate around an axis supported by the floating body, to be folded up near a mast of the floating body when the keel is in the retracted state.

9. The tailbuoy of claim 1 , further comprising a positioning equipment mounted on a floating body's mast.

10. The tailbuoy of claim 9 , wherein the positioning equipment is configured to indicate tailbuoy's position relative to the vessel.

11. A marine survey system, comprising:
a tailbuoy; and
at least one streamer configured to be towed, carrying survey equipment and having a distal end connected to the tailbuoy,
the tailbuoy including:
a floating body connected to the streamer; and
a keel attached to the floating body and configured to stabilize motion of the tailbuoy along the towing direction while in a working state,
wherein the keel switches between the working state, in which the keel is partially submerged, and a retracted state, in which the keel is removed from water and raised on the floating body, and
wherein the keel is secured with a pin against the mast while the keel is in the retracted state.

12. The marine survey system of claim 11 , wherein the streamer has a variable depth profile.

13. The marine survey system of claim 11 , wherein the keel is free to move while in the working state.

14. The marine survey system of claim 11 , wherein
the keel has a pair of lateral wings attached to a substantially flat member, and
an angle of the lateral wings with the towing direction is adjustable.

15. The marine survey system of claim 11 , wherein the keel has a ballast element mounted on a substantially flat member such that to be located below a center of gravity of the tailbuoy when the substantially flat member is partially submerged.

16. The marine survey system of claim 11 , wherein the keel is configured to rotate around an axis supported by the floating body, to be folded up near a mast of the floating body while the keel is in the retracted state.

Assignees

• Cgg Services Sa

Inventors

• Leschevin Marc

Classifications

• B63B22/18

  having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether · CPC title

• B63B21/66 Primary

  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

• G01V1/3826

  dynamic steering, e.g. by paravanes or birds · CPC title

• G01V1/3808

  Seismic data acquisition, e.g. survey design · CPC title

• B63B21/56 Primary

  Towing or pushing equipment (tugs B63B35/66; towing arrangements for water sports use B63B34/60) · CPC title