Process for determining position of sea belt which is towed by a ship
6 claims: 2 independent, 4 dependent
- 1Patentkrav 1. Fremgangmåte for redundant bestemmelse av posi5 sjonen av en marin streamer (hydrofonkabel)(14) som slepes bak akterenden av et fartøy (10), ved hvilken det genereres første akustiske pulser med høy frekvens og kort varighet med minst to akustiske kilder (100) som er innbyrdes adskilt under vannets overflate og utenbords fra 10 fartøyets akterende, og at hver av de akustiske pulser skjelnes fra hverandre ved hjelp av minst én hydrofon (130) som rommes i streameren, karakterisert ved de trinn at hver hydrofon separat kan detektere de nevnte 15 akustiske pulser og som reaksjon på disse sender et signal til fartøyet langs en separat kanal som bæres av streameren, at sending av signaler langs den nevnte kanal blokkeres under tidsperioder i hvilke ingen akustiske pulser forventes, 20 at den ene av de akustiske kilder utløses for å generere en annen akustisk puls ved mottagning av et ublokkert signal svarende til at en puls fra den nevnte ene kilde mottas av hydrofonen, at den andre av de akustiske kilder utløses
- 22b for å generere en annen akustisk puls ved nottagning av et ublokkert signal svarende til at en puls fra den andre kilde mottas av hydrofonen, at antallet av signaler som utsendes av hydrofonen som reaksjon på hver av de nevnte akustiske pulser, telles separat, og genereringen av andre pulser ved hjelp av hver av de nevnte kilder stoppes etter at et forutbestemt antall av signaler er blitt talt fra hver av kildene, og at den medgåtte tid fra tidspunktet for innledning av den første puls til tidspunktet for mottagning av det siste av det forutbestemte antall av hydrofonsignaler måles separat for hver av de to akustiske kilder. 2. Innretning for bruk ved redundant bestemmelse av posisjonen av en seismisk, marin streamer (hydrofonkabel) (14) som slepes direkte bak akterenden av et fartøy (10), hvilken innretning omfatter minst to akustiske kilder (100) som er montert utenbords fra fartøyets (10) akterende under vannets overflate, idet de akustiske kilder er sideveis adskilt fra hverandre og hver er i stand til å generere en akustisk puls med høy frekvens og kort varighet, en anordning (110) som kan drives på fartøyet (10) for å bringe hver av kildene til å generere en første puls, og minst én hydrofon (130) som rommes i streameren (14) og er i stand til å motta hver av de akustiske pulser fra hver av de nevnte kilder, karakterisert ved at den omfatter en anordning for sending av et signal til fartøyet (10) via en separat kanal i streameren som reaksjon på at hver av de første pulser mottas av hydrofonen (130), en anordning for overvåking av den separate kanal fra hydrofonen (130) under gitte tidsperioder, og for blokkering av signaler (140) som sendes via den nevnte kanal under de tidsperioder i hvilke det ikke forventes noe signal fra noen av kildene, en utløsningsanordning (120) som reagerer på et overført hydrofonsignal som passerer gjennom den nevnte kanal under den ene av de gitte tidsperioder,for å bringe den ene eller den andre av det nevnte par av akustiske kilder til å generere en suksessiv puls som reaksjon på et signal fra den nevnte hydrofon (20) som representerer mottagning av en akustisk puls fra den samme akustiske kilde, og en anordning (160) for separat telling av det antall ganger signaler utsendes av den utvalgte hydrofon (20) for å generere de nevnte suksessive pulser fra hver av paret av akustiske kilder, og for separat måling av de medgåtte tidsperioder fra den første innledede puls til mottagning av det siste, utvalgte antall av hydrofonsignaler som detekteres fra hver av paret av akustiske kilder.
- 3Innretning ifølge krav 2, karakterisert ved at det er anordnet en første og en andre akustisk kilde.
- 4Innretning ifølge krav 2 eller 3, karakterisert ved at utløsningsanordningen (120) omfatter en første utløsningsanordning for å bringe den første akustiske kilde (28) til å generere en annen puls som reaksjon på mottagning av et ublokkert, overført hydrofonsignal under en første gitt tidsperiode, idet det nevnte signal utsendes som resultat av en puls som mottas fra den første akustiske kilde (28), og en andre utløsningsanordning for å bringe den andre akustiske kilde (30) til å generere en annen puls som reaksjon på et annet overført hydrofonsignal under den andre gitte tidsperiode og som utsendes som et resultat av en puls som mottas fra den andre akustiske kilde (30).
- 5Innretning ifølge krav 2, 3 eller 4, karakterisert ved at den omfatter en anordning (170) for automatisk å begrense amplituden av de akustiske kilde- pulser med hensyn til hydrofonens mottagningsfølsomhet for å redusere refleksjon fra luft-sjø-grenseflaten og havbunnen og for å minimere effektforbruk av de akustiske kilder.
- 6Innretning ifølge krav 2, 3 eller 4, karakterisert ved at de akustiske kilder er innrettet til å utsende akustiske pulser med en frekvens mellom 3,5 og 10 kHz og med en varighet i området fra én periode til 20 perioder. -155362
Independent claims6
45 paragraphs, as filed
(74) Attorney General Tandbergs Patentkontor AS, Oslo.
(30) Priority Requested 10.12.80, United States, No. 215207.
(54) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A MARINE STREAMER.
(57) Summary
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A method and apparatus for determining the position of a submerged marine streamer (14) towed behind a survey vessel (10). sonic ring feedback system is used to sufficiently determine the distance of various hydrophones (20) disposed along the streamer (14) from a response station mounted outboard of the vessel (10) and capable of generating high frequency sound pulses and short duration.
(56) Publications cited none.
. The invention relates to a method for redundant determination of the position of a marine streamer (hydrophone cable) towed behind the aft end of a vessel, generating first high frequency and short duration acoustic pulses with at least two acoustic sources spaced apart below the surface of the water and outboard from the stern of the vessel, and that each of the acoustic pulses is distinguished from each other by at least one hydrophone contained in the streamer.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for use in redundant determination of the position of a seismic marine streamer (hydrophone cable) towed directly behind the stern of a vessel, the device comprising at least two acoustic sources mounted outboard from the stern of the vessel below the surface of the water. acoustic sources are laterally separated from each other and each is capable of generating a high frequency and short duration acoustic pulse, a device operable on the vessel to cause each of the sources to generate a first pulse, and at least one hydrophone contained in the streamer and capable of receiving each of the acoustic pulses from each of said sources.
In marine seismic exploration, a survey vessel tows a seismic streamer having a number of pressure sensitive detectors, usually referred to as hydrophones.
A seismic energy source, such as an air cannon or an explosive charge, is used to propagate pressure waves through the water to the underlying seabed. Part of the energy will be reflected by geological discontinuities below the seabed, and will later be detected by the hydrophones as θθ pressure variations in the surrounding water. The mechanical energy in these pressure variations is converted into an electrical signal by the hydrophones and transmitted via the streamer to the recording equipment on board the vessel. The data collected can then be interpreted by those skilled in the art to reveal information about subsea geological formations.
In order for the signals to be meaningful, it is necessary to know the exact location of the individual hydrophones at the time the pressure waves detect.
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teres. Since the vessel is moving continuously, and as the streamer can extend thousands of meters behind the vessel, accurate location of the hydrophones is difficult.
Various systems have been developed to provide accurate information regarding the vessel's location. However, it is rare that the streamer is towed directly along the trajectory of the vessel. Although the streamer is attached to the stern of the vessel, the majority of the streamer is submerged below the surface of the water due to the effect of depth controllers along the length of the streamer. As a result, transverse flow velocity at the depth of the streamer may be different from transverse flow affecting the vessel, causing the streamer to be towed at an angle with the vessel's course. Other factors, which need not be enumerated, may also produce a variation in the streamer's trajectory compared to the vessel's course.
One method of determining the streamer's location and shown in the prior art is based on the addition of a tail bend radar reflector located at the end of the streamer. Radar systems on board the vessel can then be used under optimal sea conditions to find the end of the streamer, and the location of the individual hydrophones can be interpolated. However, such systems are generally unreliable and make the necessary data suspect.
Another method known in the art is based on highly sensitive and expensive equipment to measure the streamer end gears and stump angles near the vessel. This data, coupled with magnetic compass courses taken along the streamer, and the known depth of the streamer, allow one to empirically calculate the hydrophone positions.
In normal operations, the vessel moves at a speed of approx. 3 meters per second, starting original seismic distributions approximately every ten seconds. The use of seismic propagations at a shorter interval is limited by the time required for the diversion or disappearance of all reflected seismic waves. In particular, the use of an air cannon at intervals of less than 4 seconds will not allow adequate disappearance of the sound waves and will result in data that is difficult or impossible to assess due to the reflected noise. The use of an air cannon, in combination with the distance calculation hydrophones, thus presents problems and does not allow for a lack of redundancy in the precise location of the hydrophones.
The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device enabling a redundant determination of the exact location of a submerged marine streamer towed behind a seismic vessel.
The above object is achieved by a method and a device according to the invention characterized by the characterizing features of the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings, in which 1 is a plan view of a marine streamer towed by a vessel; and FIG. 2 shows a block diagonal gram of a device suitable for use in connection with the invention.
Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of a survey vessel 10 towing a marine seismic streamer 14. The course of the vessel is indicated by a dashed line 12, and stream 14 is towed in a bow to one side. A plurality of conventional controllers depth controllers 16 hold most of the streamer at a depth below the surface of from ca. 5 to 10 meters. A tail buoy 18 is attached to the rear end of the streamer 14 and holds the end of the streamer to the surface.
A plurality of hydrophones 20 are spaced apart along the length of the streamer to detect pressure variations and transmit signals announcing reception of the pressure variations, along the streamer of recording equipment on board the vessel. In addition, the streamer 14 will also accommodate a plurality of depth sensors 22 and magnetic compass 24 which may be interrogated for information regarding the depth and orientation of the streamer at the locations of these instruments.
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5536
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An air gun 26 is mounted outboard from the stern of the vessel 10. In a conventional gun, air compressed to a pressure in the range of 34 to 550 atmospheres is suddenly released from a submerged chamber over a period of a few milliseconds to generate an acoustic pulse.
Two high frequency acoustic sources 28 and 30 are mounted outboard from the stern of the vessel and are typically spaced apart at a distance of 20 - 40 meters. The acoustic sources 28 and 30 generate high-frequency pulses of short duration received by the hydrophones 20. Upon receiving the pulses, the hydrophones transmit a signal which is transmitted to the vessel along the streamer. The transmitted hydrophone signals are used to trigger additional pulses from sources 28 and 30 in a controlled oscillation or oscillation loop. Measuring the time taken for a given number of oscillations allows redundant, accurate calculations of the distance to the hydrophones, given the speed of the pulses in water. With the calculated distance, the location of the hydrophones can be accurately calculated in relation to the data obtained by interrogating the sensors 22.
Fig. 2 shows in block form functional circuits which can be used to achieve the aforementioned distance measurement purposes. In accordance with FIG. 2, an acoustic source 100, via an external or external start 110 and a trigger 120, is triggered to initiate a pulse of high frequency and short duration. The pulse will preferably be in the range of 2 - 100 kHz and even more preferably in the range of 3-10 kHz. The pulse length is preferably from one period to 20 periods. Longer pulses can be used but serve no useful purpose. The acoustic source may be of piezoelectric, ferroelectric or electromagnetic nature. The source will preferably comprise a piezoelectric or ferroelectric device with a pencil-shaped acoustic beam which is oriented in the general direction of the streamer. Such devices having a frequency in the range of 2-8 kHz and capable of generating one-period pulses are commercially available.
As mentioned above, the acoustic sources are preferably mounted outboard from the stern of the survey vessel and for triangulation purposes are separated from each other by a distance of from 20 to 40 meters.
The acoustic source pulse 100 travels through the water. a speed of approx. 1500 meters per second, and contacts the streamer hydrophone 130. Hydrophones, such as the hydrophone 130, are spaced apart along the length of the streamer at intervals of 100 to 500 meters, and preferably 400 meters. When the pulse is detected, the hydrophone responds or responds and sends a signal through the streamer to the vessel. Such signals will normally be transmitted along a separate electrical conductor extending to each hydrophone. Transmitted signals from the hydrophone pass through a port 140 which blocks all signals except those expected during preselected time intervals. Since the approximate distances from the acoustic sources of the individual hydrophones are known from the distance between the hydrophones along the streamer, the approximate time window for receiving the signals from the individual hydrophones can be calculated. Thus, port 140 serves to block false signals generated by reflections from the water surface and the seabed.
Since the object of the present invention is to determine in a redundant or ample manner the location of each hydrophone along the streamer by means of a ring-around feedback system, the acoustic source must initiate a pulse upon receiving an incoming hydrophone signal. To prevent the generation of confusing hydrophone signals, each hydrophone is preferably monitored sequentially or sequentially via individual channels.
The signals passing through the port 140 are amplified and formed in a unit 150. The shaped signals are transmitted in parallel through a clock controlled counter 160 and a gain control unit 170. The gain control unit automatically sets the transmit power of the acoustic source 100 in response to the strength of the signals from the amplifier 150. to minimize power consumption. The clock controlled counter 160 counts the number of feedback signals coming from the selected hydrophone, and times the interval required for a preset number of repeated signals.
Since the only time course of significance is the time required for the passage of the acoustic pulse through the water, this time can be measured repeatedly and the mean value determined to accurately determine the distance.
Also provided is a circuitry for automatic, repeated triggering of an acoustic pulse via the trigger 120 in response to the signals passing through the counter 160. After a predetermined number of signals, preferably six, has been received, the counter is reset to zero to await the beginning of further remote sensing operations for successive hydrophones via the external start 110.
Although FIG. 2 shows only a single acoustic source, it is preferred to use two sources so that independent distance determinations can be triangulated for accurate determination of the hydrophone position either with the knowledge of the depth or the appropriate compass courses.
If two acoustic sources are used, they should be used alternately to prevent confusing cross signals, or they should use different frequency output signals so that distinguishable signals can be generated by the hydrophones.
In another preferred embodiment, all channels from the hydrophones are monitored simultaneously and the reception of the hydrophone signals is timed individually. However, the acoustic source is triggered to generate a subsequent pulse only upon receipt of the incoming hydrophone signal coming from the last or farthest hydrophone in the streamer.
13 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6 Sheet 7 Sheet 8 Sheet 9 Sheet 10 Sheet 11 Sheet 12 Sheet 13
30 members in 16 offices
Priority claims4
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21520780 | United States of America | A | |
| 21520780 | United States of America | A | |
| 215207 | – | – | – |
| US19800215207 | – | – | – |
Members30
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DK545481A | Denmark | A | |
| FR2495784A1 | France | A1 | |
| NO814198L | Norway | L | |
| GB2089042A | United Kingdom | A | |
| NL8105494A | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | A | |
| DE3149163A1 | Germany | A1 | |
| BR8107972A | Brazil | A | |
| AU7841681A | Australia | A | |
| JPS57160077A | Japan | A | |
| ZA818226B | South Africa | B | |
| ES507852A0 | Spain | A0 | |
| ES8301368A1 | Spain | A1 | |
| US4376301A | United States of America | A | |
| YU289281A | Yugoslavia, later Serbia and Montenegro (until 2006) | A | |
| GB2089042B | United Kingdom | B | |
| NZ199067A | New Zealand | A | |
| CA1172346A | Canada | A | |
| AU546727B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| FR2495784B1 | France | B1 | |
| IT1139932B | Italy | B | |
| IT8125480A0 | Italy | A0 | |
| IT8125480D0 | Italy | D0 | |
| NO155362BThis record | Norway | B | |
| NO155362C | Norway | C | |
| YU192283A | Yugoslavia, later Serbia and Montenegro (until 2006) | A | |
| DE3149163C2 | Germany | C2 | |
| DK158413B | Denmark | B | |
| JPH0235954B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| DK158413C | Denmark | C | |
| YU45154B | Yugoslavia, later Serbia and Montenegro (until 2006) | B |
Numbers
- Publication, DOCDB
- 155362
- Publication, EPODOC
- NO155362B
- Application
- 814198
- Application, DOCDB
- 814198
- Application, EPODOC
- NO19810004198
Titles2
- Norwegian
- FREMGANGSMAATE OG INNRETNING FOR BESTEMMELSE AV POSISJONEN AV EN MARIN "STREAMER".
- English
- PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A MARINE "STREAMER".
Classification
- CPC, 3
- G01V1/3835
- G01S5/30
- G01S11/16
- IPC, 7
- G01S5 18
- G01S5 20
- G01S5 22
- G01S5 30
- G01S11 14
- G01S11 16
- G01V1 38
