Abstract: To perform a marine survey, a streamer is deployed into a body of water, where the streamer has plural first sensors to perform a subterranean survey. Indications are received from second sensors in corresponding sections of the streamer, where the indications are regarding which sections are in the body of water. Information is updated regarding which sections of the streamer are in the body of water in response to the received indications.

Abstract: A method comprising determining coordinates of a first point rigidly attached to a rigid body floating on the sea surface in a desired coordinate reference frame; measuring orientation parameters of the rigid floating body to determine 3D offset in the coordinate reference frame of the first point to any point on or rigidly attached to the body; applying a 3D coordinate shift from the first point to a second point rigidly attached to the body, thus determining coordinates of the second point in the desired reference frame; determining a distance from the second point to one or more devices that are components of a seismic acquisition spread, by comparing transmission times of a signal to recording times of transmitted signals and multiplying by a signal propagation rate; and determining relative positions of components of the spread to each other and to devices rigidly attached to the rigid body.

Abstract: Techniques or mechanisms are provided to improve accuracy in determining headings and/or shapes of carrier structures based on measurements made by one or more compasses that are attached to or provided with the carrier structures. The carrier structures are used to carry survey receivers that detect survey signals affected by a subterranean structure.

Abstract: A technique facilitates the use of seismic data. The technique utilizes an autonomous underwater vehicle to obtain data on water column characteristics in a seismic survey area. The data can be used to adjust aspects of the seismic survey data and/or the seismic survey technique.

Abstract: To perform quality control with respect to positioning of survey hardware, survey navigation data is acquired regarding components of the survey hardware used to perform a survey operation with respect to a subterranean structure. Error statistics according to the survey navigation data are determined in real time. An action is effected in response to the error statistics.

Abstract: To determine a position of a survey receiver used to measure a response of a subterranean structure to a survey signal, positions of the survey receiver as the survey receiver descends in a body of water to a surface are received from an acoustic ranging system. Measurement information associated with movement of the survey receiver is received from at least one sensor. Based on the measurement information from the acoustic ranging system and the at least one sensor, the position of the survey receiver at the surface once the survey receiver has reached the surface is computed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic steering of marine seismic sources are described. One system comprises a marine seismic spread comprising a towing vessel and a seismic source, the seismic source comprising one or more source arrays each having a center of source array, each source array having one or more source strings; a seismic source deployment sub-system on the towing vessel, the sub-system controlled by a controller including a software module, the software module and the deployment sub-system adapted to control an inline distance between one of the centers of source array and a target coordinate. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, allowing a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Seabed sensor units, systems including same, and methods for acquiring seabed data are described, one seabed sensor unit comprising a base, the base containing at least one sensor able to detect a seismic signal, electronics comprising a clock and one or more electronic components enabling the sensor to communicate seismic data to one or more memory modules, and a local autonomous power source. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: Methods are described for actively steering a towed marine seismic component using one or more actively controllable control members; reducing the actively steering of the control members during duration of a time window of recording seismic reflections from a sub-surface geological feature of interest; and resuming the actively steering of the control members after the time window. The marine seismic component may be a streamer, a source, or both. Other methods allow measuring initial orientation of a streamer based on measuring static control surface angle of a control surface of an inline steerable bird. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, and allow a reader to ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Methods and systems for moving seismic streamer steering devices to target positions are disclosed. One method comprises calculating forces required to steer one or more seismic streamer steering devices in a seismic spread to target positions, the calculated forces based wholly or in part on information in modulated underwater acoustic transmissions, and steering the streamer steering devices to the target positions using the calculated forces. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: To determine a position of an object in a positioning network associated with a marine survey arrangement, images of targets on the object in the positioning network are captured with a plurality of cameras. Based on known positions of the plurality of cameras and known separation between the targets, positions of the targets are computed by processing the images. A position of the object is derived based on the positions of the targets.

Abstract: Methods are described for actively steering a towed marine seismic component using one or more actively controllable control members; reducing the actively steering of the control members during duration of a time window of recording seismic reflections from a sub-surface geological feature of interest; and resuming the actively steering of the control members after the time window. The marine seismic component may be a streamer, a source, or both. Other methods allow measuring initial orientation of a streamer based on measuring static control surface angle of a control surface of an inline steerable bird. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, and allow a reader to ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: To perform quality control with respect to positioning of survey hardware, survey navigation data is acquired regarding components of the survey hardware used to perform a survey operation with respect to a subterranean structure. Error statistics according to the survey navigation data are determined in real time. An action is effected in response to the error statistics.

Abstract: A technique includes obtaining data indicative of images of a marine seismic source event, which are acquired by underwater cameras and processing the data to determine an attribute (a seismic bubble volume or motion, as non-limiting examples) that is associated with the seismic source event.

Abstract: A technique includes obtaining a plurality of sets of measurements of distances between nodes located on a seismic spread element while the element is in tow. Each set is acquired in response to the operation of a different set of sources. The technique includes determining a three-dimensional structure of the seismic spread element while in tow based at least in part on the sets of measurements.

Abstract: Methods for determining by acoustic ranging relative positions of marine seismic streamers in a network of streamers are described, as well as streamer configurations and systems which overcome weak or non-existent acoustic positioning signals. The acoustic network includes a plurality of acoustic transceiver pairs, and the methods include implementing a network solution-based reconfiguration of the acoustic transceiver pairs. When the network of streamers changes more than a critical amount, the network is reconfigured, the critical amount being when the network solution-based reconfiguration is no longer adequate to provide enough acoustic signals to give reasonable relative positions of the acoustic transceiver pairs in the network due to their spatial relation.

Abstract: To performing positioning of survey equipment, measurements of acoustic signals reflected from at least one boundary of a marine environment are received. The reflected acoustic signals are reflected from the at least one boundary in response to acoustic signaling originated by an acoustic source.

Abstract: The present invention provides for cable motion detection. In one aspect of the instant invention, a method is provided for cable motion detection using orientation sensor. The method includes determining at least one initial inclination of at least one orientation sensor coupled to a seismic cable, determining at least one current inclination of the at least one orientation sensor, and determining whether the at least one seismic cable has moved from the at least one initial inclination and the at least one current inclination.

Abstract: A method comprising determining coordinates of a first point rigidly attached to a rigid body floating on the sea surface in a desired coordinate reference frame; measuring orientation parameters of the rigid floating body to determine 3D offset in the coordinate reference frame of the first point to any point on or rigidly attached to the body; applying a 3D coordinate shift from the first point to a second point rigidly attached to the body, thus determining coordinates of the second point in the desired reference frame; determining a distance from the second point to one or more devices that are components of a seismic acquisition spread, by comparing transmission times of a signal to recording times of transmitted signals and multiplying by a signal propagation rate; and determining relative positions of components of the spread to each other and to devices rigidly attached to the rigid body.

Abstract: To perform control of movement of a marine vessel traveling through water during a seismic survey operation, input information relating to factors that affect a speed of the marine vessel is received. The speed of the marine vessel is adjusted in response to the received information relating to the factors that affect the speed of the marine vessel.