Abstract: A seismic sensor cable system is provided. The seismic sensor cable system may include a cable, a first sensor configured to measure motion of the cable, wherein measurement of motion by the first sensor substantially excludes particle motion associated with seismic waves, and a second sensor configured to measure particle motion associated with the seismic waves.

Abstract: An seismic sensor device may include a sensor module and a connected vessel. The sensor module may include a seismic sensor for collecting seismic data. The vessel may include a first region for engaging the sensor module. The vessel may also include a second region for coupling the seismic sensor device to a location for collecting seismic data.

Abstract: A rope-tension system for a marine seismic cable comprising a series of sensor nodes connected between flexible cable sections connected to other sensor nodes and flexible sections by armored cable segments. The flexible sections, which are housed in flexible protective covers, have a pair of ropes as stress members. The two ropes are pivotably pinned at both ends to termination units at the opposite ends of the flexible sections. The two ropes extend through a ring positioned between the two termination units. The pivots at the rope ends form linkages with the ropes that allow the ropes to adjust their positions as the flexible section engages a curved surface during retrieval. The ring presents bearing surfaces with a large radius of curvature to the ropes to avoid sharp bending loads.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for collecting seismic data in a marine environment. An ocean bottom cable (OBC) comprising a plurality of sensor nodes for collecting seismic data may be deployed to and retrieved from an ocean bottom during seismic operations using a winch. Such deployment and retrieval operations may exert substantial stress on the OBC at an interface between the sensor nodes and cable segments of the OBC. A reinforcement sleeve is provided to reduce the mechanical stress at such interfaces.

Abstract: A seismic data collection system is disclosed. The system may include at least a first housing and a second housing. The first housing may be configured to detachably couple to the second housing. The system mays also include various components such as one or more seismic sensors, a clock, or memory. Each of the components may be arranged in one of the first housing or second housing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for retrieving instrumented marine cables. The cable-handling apparatus comprises carriers that capture and pull on rigid elements in or on a marine cable to retrieve the cable hand-over-hand onto a deployment vessel. The carriers are spaced apart along an endless path on spacings matching the spacings of the rigid elements in the cable. A take-up mechanism allows manual adjustment of the relative spacings of the carriers to account for tolerances in the spacings of the rigid elements on the cable.

Abstract: A seismic sensor cable system is provided. The seismic sensor cable system may include a cable, a first sensor configured to measure motion of the cable, wherein measurement of motion by the first sensor substantially excludes particle motion associated with seismic waves, and a second sensor configured to measure particle motion associated with the seismic waves.

Abstract: A multi-component sensor of a fluid-borne acoustic wave that senses pressure and up to three orthogonal particle motion components. The sensor is unresponsive to motion of the sensor mount. Furthermore, the sensor is substantially unresponsive to the turbulent flow of the acoustic medium past the sensor.

Abstract: An underwater seismic system for reducing noise due to ghost reflections or motion through the water from seismic signals. The system includes two motion sensors. One sensor has a first response and is sensitive to platform-motion-induced noise as well as to acoustic waves. The other sensor has a different construction that isolates it from the acoustic waves so that its response is mainly to motion noise. The outputs of the two sensor responses are combined to remove the effects of motion noise. When further combined with a hydrophone signal, noise due to ghost reflections is reduced.

Abstract: An underwater seismic system for reducing noise due to ghost reflections or motion through the water from seismic signals. The system includes two motion sensors. One sensor has a first response and is sensitive to platform-motion-induced noise as well as to acoustic waves. The other sensor has a different construction that isolates it from the acoustic waves so that its response is mainly to motion noise. The outputs of the two sensor responses are combined to remove the effects of motion noise. When further combined with a hydrophone signal, noise due to ghost reflections is reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for retrieving instrumented marine cables. The cable-handling apparatus comprises carriers that capture and pull on rigid elements in or on a marine cable to retrieve the cable hand-over-hand onto a deployment vessel. The carriers are spaced apart along an endless path on spacings matching the spacings of the rigid elements in the cable. A take-up mechanism allows manual adjustment of the relative spacings of the carriers to account for tolerances in the spacings of the rigid elements on the cable.

Abstract: An underwater ocean bottom cable constructed of a series of axially aligned cable segments alternately arranged with sensor units. The sensor units include an outer housing with an interior cavity in which a sensor module is suspended by a cradle. Vanes on the sensor module protrude through axially elongated openings in the outer housing to dig into the seabed to provide good seismic coupling between the seabed and pressure sensors and motion sensors housed in the sensor module. The outer sensor housing is split into complementary portions that clamp firmly onto the ends of adjacent cable segments. Stress members, such as high modulus fiber ropes, extend out the ends of adjacent cable segments. Axial channels formed in the intervening outer sensor housing on opposite sides of the sensor module receive the stress members, which, along with the cradle, provide seismic isolation between the cable segments and the sensor modules.

Abstract: A connection system for connecting external devices to specified locations on a marine seismic streamer. Inner collars having raised bosses are clamped to the cable at specified locations along its length. Each inner collar forms a circular race encircling the cable. An external device is attached to a pair of cuffs in the form of C-shaped cylindrical rings each with a circular inner surface. A gap in the ring interrupts the inner surface. The width of the gap is greater than the diameter of the bosses so that the cuffs may be slid onto the collars when the gaps are aligned with the bosses. The bosses are circumferentially offset when the cable is in its normal operating state to lock the cuff and the external device to the collars. The cuffs and the external device can be installed on or removed from the cable by twisting the cable to align the bosses and sliding the cuffs onto or off of the collars. When installed, the cuffs ride on the races to allow the cable to rotate inside the cuffs.

Abstract: A multi-component sensor of a fluid-borne acoustic wave that senses pressure and up to three orthogonal particle motion components. The sensor is unresponsive to motion of the sensor mount. Furthermore, the sensor is substantially unresponsive to the turbulent flow of the acoustic medium past the sensor.

Abstract: An underwater seismic system for reducing noise due to ghost reflections or motion through the water from seismic signals. The system includes two motion sensors. One sensor has a first response and is sensitive to platform-motion-induced noise as well as to acoustic waves. The other sensor has a different construction that isolates it from the acoustic waves so that its response is mainly to motion noise. The outputs of the two sensor responses are combined to remove the effects of motion noise. When further combined with a hydrophone signal, noise due to ghost reflections is reduced.

Abstract: An underwater ocean bottom cable constructed of a series of axially aligned cable segments alternately arranged with sensor units. The sensor units include an outer housing with an interior cavity in which a sensor module is suspended by a cradle. Vanes on the sensor module protrude through axially elongated openings in the outer housing to dig into the seabed to provide good seismic coupling between the seabed and pressure sensors and motion sensors housed in the sensor module. The outer sensor housing is split into complementary portions that clamp firmly onto the ends of adjacent cable segments. Stress members, such as high modulus fiber ropes, extend out the ends of adjacent cable segments. Axial channels formed in the intervening outer sensor housing on opposite sides of the sensor module receive the stress members, which, along with the cradle, provide seismic isolation between the cable segments and the sensor modules.

Abstract: A connection system for connecting external devices to specified locations on a marine seismic streamer. Inner collars having raised bosses are clamped to the cable at specified locations along its length. Each inner collar forms a circular race encircling the cable. An external device is attached to a pair of cuffs in the form of C-shaped cylindrical rings each with a circular inner surface. A gap in the ring interrupts the inner surface. The width of the gap is greater than the diameter of the bosses so that the cuffs may be slid onto the collars when the gaps are aligned with the bosses. The bosses are circumferentially offset when the cable is in its normal operating state to lock the cuff and the external device to the collars. The cuffs and the external device can be installed on or removed from the cable by twisting the cable to align the bosses and sliding the cuffs onto or off of the collars. When installed, the cuffs ride on the races to allow the cable to rotate inside the cuffs.

Abstract: A position controller capable of controlling the depth or lateral position of a towed array. The position controller comprises a tubular fuselage from which a pair of wings may be extended over a range of sweep angles between fully open and stowed positions. In fully or partly open positions, two wings present a positive angle of attack relative to the axis of the fuselage. In the stowed position, the wings are fully retracted into a wing receptacle within the fuselage for unfettered passage into and out of a submarine on the array deployment and retrieval handling system.

Abstract: A connection system for connecting external devices to a streamer. The connection system comprises three outer collars maintained collinearly aligned by a stabilizing member, such as a lightweight, rigid tube, attached to each outer collar. The tube extends parallel to the bores of the outer collars. The forward and aft outer collars ride on races formed on the periphery of inner collars clamped around mounting structure in the interior of the streamer. An external device is attached to the forward collar and to the intermediate collar, which does not ride on an inner collar. The spacing between the forward and intermediate collars is fixed by the standard spacing of the two attachment points in standard external devices. The spacing between the forward and aft collars is set by the specified spacing of mounting structures in the interior of the streamer.

Abstract: A position controller capable of controlling the depth or lateral position of a towed array. The position controller comprises a tubular fuselage from which a pair of wings may be extended over a range of sweep angles between fully open and stowed positions. In fully or partly open positions, two wings present a positive angle of attack relative to the axis of the fuselage. In the stowed position, the wings are fully retracted into a wing receptacle within the fuselage for unfettered passage into and out of a submarine on the array deployment and retrieval handling system.