Abstract: A control system provides steering control commands to a steering actuator of a steering device on a piece of towed marine equipment. A memory in the control system stores setpoint data including positional values for a desired position of the piece of towed marine equipment. A control module is configured to receive the setpoint data, receive process data representing a calculated actual position of the piece of towed marine equipment; and calculate a control command for the steering actuator of the steering device based upon the setpoint data and the process data. A disturbance adjustment calculation module is configured to combine a disturbance value based upon a measured disturbance with a value of the process data and output a disturbance adjustment value. A correction calculator module adds the disturbance adjustment value to the control command to create an adjusted control command for transmission to the steering actuator.

Abstract: An acoustic communication and messaging system includes an acoustic transducer adapted for communicating signals via a subsurface acoustic medium, and a controller in communication with the acoustic transducer. The controller can include one or more of a signal programmer adapted for defining a limited set of coded signals; e.g., where each of the coded signals selected for low cross-correlation with other coded signals in the limited set, and a signal encoder adapted for defining a set of messages or commands; e.g., where each message is associated with a selected one of the coded signals in the limited set. The acoustic transducer can be adapted to transmit the coded signals associated with identified messages via the subsurface acoustic medium. An interface can be provided for identifying messages for coding and transmission, and for reporting decoded commands to a user.

Abstract: A marine seismic sensor system includes a seismic node having at least one seismic sensor. The sensor is configured for sampling seismic energy when towed through a water column on a rope. The coupling can be adapted to modulate transmission of acceleration from the rope to the seismic node.

Abstract: An acoustic communication and messaging system includes an acoustic transducer adapted for communicating signals via a subsurface acoustic medium, and a controller in communication with the acoustic transducer. The controller can include one or more of a signal programmer adapted for defining a limited set of coded signals; e.g., where each of the coded signals selected for low cross-correlation with other coded signals in the limited set, and a signal encoder adapted for defining a set of messages or commands; e.g., where each message is associated with a selected one of the coded signals in the limited set. The acoustic transducer can be adapted to transmit the coded signals associated with identified messages via the subsurface acoustic medium. An interface can be provided for identifying messages for coding and transmission, and for reporting decoded commands to a user.

Abstract: An example system for deploying seismic sensor stations includes a cable storage device configured to deploy a rope, and a plurality of seismic sensor stations each having a respective coupling mechanism. The respective coupling mechanism of a seismic sensor station of the plurality of seismic sensor stations is configurable in a first position such that the rope is free to deploy through or by the seismic sensor station, and is configurable in a second position such that the rope is gripped to attach the seismic sensor station to the rope for deployment. The example system further includes a deployment control system configured to selectively cause the respective coupling mechanism of each of the plurality of seismic sensor stations to grip the rope.

Abstract: A control system provides steering control commands to a steering actuator of a steering device on a piece of towed marine equipment. A memory in the control system stores setpoint data including positional values for a desired position of the piece of towed marine equipment. A control module is configured to receive the setpoint data, receive process data representing a calculated actual position of the piece of towed marine equipment; and calculate a control command for the steering actuator of the steering device based upon the setpoint data and the process data. A disturbance adjustment calculation module is configured to combine a disturbance value based upon a measured disturbance with a value of the process data and output a disturbance adjustment value. A correction calculator module adds the disturbance adjustment value to the control command to create an adjusted control command for transmission to the steering actuator.

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: A marine seismic sensor system includes a seismic node having at least one seismic sensor. The sensor is configured for sampling seismic energy when towed through a water column on a rope. The coupling can be adapted to modulate transmission of acceleration from the rope to the seismic node.

Abstract: A marine seismic sensor system includes a seismic node having at least one seismic sensor. The sensor is configured for sampling seismic energy when towed through a water column on a rope. The coupling can be adapted to modulate transmission of acceleration from the rope to the seismic node.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating streamer recovery devices to retrieve seismic streamers, for example streamers that become severed from their towing vessels. The streamer recovery can be remotely activated to cause the streamer to surface where the streamer is more easily retrieved.

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: A marine seismic sensor system includes a seismic node having at least one seismic sensor. The sensor is configured for sampling seismic energy when towed through a water column on a rope. The coupling can be adapted to modulate transmission of acceleration from the rope to the seismic node.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating streamer recovery devices to retrieve seismic streamers, for example streamers that become severed from their towing vessels. The streamer recovery can be remotely activated to cause the streamer to surface where the streamer is more easily retrieved.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for collecting seismic data in marine environments. An ocean bottom cable comprising a plurality of sensor nodes for collecting seismic data may be coupled to a submerged hub. The submerged hub may provide seismic data storage, power, clock, and other support for operating the sensor nodes. By providing a submerged hub, the ocean bottom cable may continue collecting seismic data in harsh environments such as the arctic, where the sea surface may be frozen.

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: 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: A system and a method for rejecting noise in an underwater sensor cable, such as a towed streamer or an ocean-bottom cable. An adaptive hydrodynamic model of the cable produces an estimated sensor signal from a raw sensor signal from a particle-motion sensor, such as an accelerometer. The estimated sensor signal represents an estimate of the response of the underwater cable to cable motion absent seismic events. A noise-reduced response to particle motion alone is produced by subtracting the estimated sensor signal from the raw sensor signal to reject cable motion and other noise effects in the raw sensor signal. A seismic event detector uses a hydrophone signal from an acceleration-canceling hydrophone to disable the adapting of the hydrodynamic model during seismic events. The hydrophone signal is combined with the response to particle motion by PZ summation to produce a deghosted seismic response signal.

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: A seismic streamer system and associated methods for estimating the shape of a laterally steered seismic streamer. The streamer is divided into a series of contiguous streamer segments by lateral-steering devices. Heading sensors positioned in forward and aft portions of each segment produce heading readings. Each segment is modeled as having a linear shape in the forward portion and a curved shape in the aft portion. The shape of the segment is estimated according to the model from the heading readings on the segment.