Abstract: A coupling device is provided for a sensor unit having at least one sensor located within a housing. The coupling device includes at least one supporting portion, wherein the supporting portion is configured for maintaining the sensor unit in a stable position, with the coupling device either resting on or being buried into the ground, and at least one rod, arranged in a plane which is essentially perpendicular to a peripheral surface of the supporting portion and linked to the supporting portion. The coupling device further includes a fastener for connecting the sensor unit to the coupling device. The supporting portion maintains the sensor unit in a stable position when resting on the ground, while the rod provides an additional stiffness to the housing.

Abstract: An electronic unit is constructed having a casing, at least partially flexible, at least partially made of a polymer material. The casing extends along a longitudinal axis (X) between two lateral ends and has a hollow cylindrical core for housing a portion of a core cable of a streamer, and a plurality of walls outwardly extending from the hollow cylindrical core, delimiting spaces configured for housing electronics, and having free ends. One of the walls and the hollow cylindrical core of the casing have a through-slot that extends longitudinally over a total length of the casing from one lateral end to another lateral end. An electronic board has at least one flexible part and configured for at least partially resting on free ends of at least two of the plurality of walls.

Abstract: It is proposed a method for downloading data to a central unit in a seismic data acquisition system including a network, connected to the central unit and having a plurality of modules. Each module is adapted to generate and/or receive data and to store them. The method includes the following steps, for a given module: when the given module is connected, via a wired or wireless link, to the central unit, it sends to the central unit a historic, chronological or not, representative of data stored in the given module; the central unit cross-checks the historic with missing data of at least one pending experience, and upon match the central unit obtains at least some of the missing data from the given module.

Abstract: A communication method is provided in a communication network, including a plurality of devices forming an ordered communication segment. At least one intermediate device of this segment is connected to at most two other devices called a previous device and a next device. The intermediate device receives data from the previous device and emits at least these data to the next device to propagate the data on the segment. A concentrator initializes transmission of a first frame of data through the segment to a terminal device ending the segment, which sends back a symbol initiating transmission of a second frame of data to the first concentrator through the segment. The method includes receiving a first symbol from the previous device, which triggers emitting a WAIT symbol to the previous device and emitting at least first symbol to the next device.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a sail path of vessels on a map representative of a marine geographic area, to perform a turn between a start point and an end point, each vessel having a turn radius, the start point, respectively the end point, being associated with a start, respectively an end, circle, the sail path being curvilinear and composed of arcs and straight segments.

Abstract: A method and marine seismic processing system including an interface for receiving recorded data, wherein the recorded data includes seismic data and bio-acoustic data; a seismic data processor for estimating a source signature from the recorded data, wherein the source signature is associated with a seismic source that emits seismic waves in water during a seismic survey; and a bio-acoustic processor that estimates a presence of a mammal generating the bio-acoustic data, based on a processed signal obtained by removing the source signature from the recorded data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mitigating vibrations in a device towed in water. The apparatus includes one or more tuned elastic sections having a complex spring rate and adapted to attenuate vibrations in a specified frequency range; and a head end coupler adapted to couple the apparatus for vibration mitigation to a component of an electro-mechanical cable or a tow assembly. One of the one or more tuned elastic sections is coupled to the head end coupler with a high impedance material interface.

Abstract: A method for determining a quality control quantity corresponding to energy provided by a seismic source and related devices are provided. The method includes determining an envelope of a pilot signal associated with the seismic source; measuring a source signal of the energy provided by the seismic source; normalizing the pilot signal and the source signal using the determined envelope; and determining, in a processor, the quality control quantity using the normalized pilot signal and the normalized source signal. A control mechanism configured to implement the method includes a storage device holding data of a pilot signal associated with the seismic source; and a processor connected to the storage device and configured to carry out the method steps. A computer-readable medium having instructions to carry out steps of the method is also provided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mitigating vibrations in a device towed in water. The apparatus includes one or more tuned elastic sections having a complex spring rate and adapted to attenuate vibrations in a specified frequency range; and a head end coupler adapted to couple the apparatus for vibration mitigation to a component of an electro-mechanical cable or a tow assembly. One of the one or more tuned elastic sections is coupled to the head end coupler with a high impedance material interface.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting marine mammals and mitigating sound effects on them. The mammal detecting and mitigating system includes a first mammal monitoring system and a second mammal monitoring system. The first and second mammal monitoring systems are configured to be deployed away from each other, and the first and second monitoring systems communicate to each other such that the first mammal monitoring system is informed about a presence of a marine mammal detected by the second mammal monitoring system.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a clock signal of a seismic data acquisition system. The system includes a data acquisition device having an oscillator that generates a clock signal; a clock adjustment module that receives a time reference signal and the clock signal and outputs an adjusted clock signal; and an analog-to-digital convertor configured to transform analog data into digital data having a sampling rate (FDATA). A sampling frequency (fADC) of the analog-to-digital convertor is selected to be at least twice the sampling rate (FDATA).

Abstract: A method is provided for managing a master vessel change in a multi-vessel seismic system. The system includes a master vessel M and at least one slave vessel. The method includes, during at least a part of a multi-vessel operation: selecting a new master vessel M? among the at least one slave vessel, triggered by at least one predetermined event; and transmitting, to the at least one slave vessel, at least one piece of information related to a master vessel change from the master vessel M, called old master vessel, to the new master vessel M?.

Abstract: A method for managing a target location of at least a first vessel in a seismic survey involving at least one vessel, the first vessel performing a series of shoots according to a predefined set of shot points, called preplot. The method includes, during at least a part of the survey, computing an updated position of the center of the target location for the first vessel, using the trend, as a function of time, of a curve representing a time prediction shift for a shot point, for the first vessel, and depending on at least one parameter related to the capabilities of a vessel involved in the seismic survey.

Abstract: It is proposed a method for automatically assigning wireless seismic acquisition units to topographic positions, each wireless seismic acquisition unit includes a satellite navigation system receiver. The method has the following steps, carried out by an assigning device: obtaining topographic locations at which the wireless seismic acquisition units are expected to be laid; obtaining measured positions of the wireless seismic acquisition units, corresponding to or derived from position information provided by the satellite navigation system receivers when the wireless seismic acquisition units are installed on the ground, each near one of the topographic locations; and computing associations, each between one of the wireless seismic acquisition units and one of the topographic positions, as a function of a comparison between the measured positions and the topographic locations.

Abstract: Device, system and method for protecting towed marine survey equipment from line entanglement are provided. A cutter device has a mounting mechanism configured to fixedly attach at a predetermined position along a cable used for towing, and one or more cutting structures. The cutting structures are attached to and extend away from the mounting mechanism, being configured to cut lines that get caught by the cutting structures or slide along the cable to the predetermined position.

Abstract: A seismic detection line includes one or more identified element(s) arranged in a string, and a telemetry link connecting the element(s) along the string to convey seismic data from at least one of the element(s) to a data recorder and identification data to a topology controller. Each of the element(s) includes a respective first identification unit connected to the telemetry link to provide a respective first identifier to the topology controller. A seismic detection system also includes a processor that queries the identified element(s) for their respective identifiers, determines an arrangement of the seismic detection line using the received identifiers, and presents an indication of the determined arrangement. A method of operating a seismic detection line includes transmitting a query along the telemetry link, detecting whether the respective identifier of one of the element(s) was received or not, repeating until termination, and determining and indicating the arrangement.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a sensor comprises an axially oriented body including a plurality of axially oriented channels arranged in opposing pairs; a plurality of hydrophones arranged in opposing pairs in the channels; a pair of orthogonally oriented acoustic particle motion sensors; and a tilt sensor adjacent or associated with the particle motion sensors. The streamer has a plurality of hydrophones, as previously described, aligned with a plurality of accelerometers which detect movement of the streamer in the horizontal and vertical directions, all coupled with a tilt sensor, so that the marine seismic system can detect whether a detected seismic signal is a reflection from a geologic structure beneath the streamer or a downward traveling reflection from the air/seawater interface.

Abstract: Method and down-hole tool for use inside a well, the down-hole tool including a housing; an anchoring arm rotatably attached to the housing and configured to move between an open position and a closed position; a spring block configured to have a central part that moves along a longitudinal axis (X) of the housing which results in the movement of the anchoring arm between the open or closed positions; and an actuating mechanism connected to the central part and configured to move the central part along the longitudinal axis. The spring block is detachably attached to the housing.

Abstract: It is proposed a method for monitoring an electrical power supply line comprised in a seismic cable and extending along the seismic cable. The seismic cable includes: a plurality of seismic sensors arranged along the seismic cable, a plurality of controllers arranged along the seismic cable, and an optical transmission line extending along the seismic cable for carrying data signals from or towards the controllers. The electrical power supply line supplies at least one pair of master and slave controllers. The master controller of a given pair of master and slave controllers performs a step of monitoring a portion of the electrical power supply line between the master and slave controllers, by using an optical loop established on a portion of the optical transmission line between the master and slave controllers, and starting from the master controller and passing through the slave controller.

Abstract: This invention relates to a data communication system/method for use in a downhole application wherein electrical energy is supplied over a multiple-conductor power cable to a motor assembly of a downhole tool such as an electric submersible pump. A power leg coupling interfaces a surface controller of a downhole instrument to the conductors of the tool's power cable. Uplink communication of telemetry data occurs via current modulation generated by the downhole instrument and interpreted by a surface controller. Downlink communication of downhole instrument data occurs over a different communication scheme supported by the downhole and surface controllers. Downlink communication scheme provides a supply of power to the downhole instrument. Protection of downhole electronics and continuity of communication is ensured in the event of a ground fault on the power cable. Both downlink and uplink communication frequencies are adaptive based on frequencies and voltages present on the power cable.