Abstract: In the field of marine geophysical surveying, systems and methods for controlling the spatial distribution or orientation of a geophysical sensor streamer or an array of geophysical sensor streamers towed behind a survey vessel are provided. Various techniques for changing the spatial distribution or orientation of such geophysical sensor streamers in response to changing conditions are provided. For example, crosscurrent conditions may be determined based on configuration data received from positioning devices along the length of a streamer, and a new desired orientation for the streamer may be determined based on the crosscurrent conditions. The new desired orientation may include a new desired feather angle for the streamer.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes an outer sheath that forms an interior region of the seismic streamer of which a portion is filled with a gel or liquid. The streamer also includes at least one stress member placed off-center in the interior region, and multiple sensors mounted proximate to a center of the interior region, where the sensors include a pressure sensor and a motion sensor. The streamer further includes multiple tilt sensors mounted along the interior region. A method of manufacturing a seismic streamer includes placing at least one stress member off-center along a first direction, mounting multiple spacers along the stress member, and affixing sensors to respective spacers, where the sensors include a pressure sensor and a motion sensor. The method further includes mounting tilt sensors along the first direction and affixing an outer sheath to the streamer that forms an interior region of the seismic streamer.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a streamer filler material that is a low density gel formed from a two-part, mix-curable polymer, and methods of making streamers using such materials. One embodiment of the filler material features a two-part silicone gel mixed with a paraffinic oil. The two-part silicone gel can make up 15% to 25%, by weight or volume, of the mixture. Methods of making such materials include forming a first unreactive mixture having a first reactant, promoter, and/or catalyst and a second unreactive mixture having a second reactant, promoter, and/or catalyst and mixing the first and second mixtures in a paraffinic oil system to make a gel. The streamer can be loaded with the filler by pumping or extruding the mixture.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a streamer section. The method includes coupling together a plurality of prefabricated harness modules. A harness module includes a plurality of geophysical sensors disposed along a length of the harness module and a sensor node communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. A first connector is disposed at a first end of the harness module and a second connector disposed at a second end of the harness module. The first connector is coupled to the sensor node and is configured to couple to a second harness module and receive data from a sensor node in the second harness module. The second connector is coupled to the sensor node and is configured to couple to a third harness module and forward data to a sensor node in the third harness module.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a streamer section. The method includes coupling together a plurality of prefabricated harness modules. A harness module includes a plurality of geophysical sensors disposed along a length of the harness module and a sensor node communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. A first connector is disposed at a first end of the harness module and a second connector disposed at a second end of the harness module. The first connector is coupled to the sensor node and is configured to couple to a second harness module and receive data from a sensor node in the second harness module. The second connector is coupled to the sensor node and is configured to couple to a third harness module and forward data to a sensor node in the third harness module.

Abstract: In the field of marine geophysical surveying, systems and methods for controlling the spatial distribution or orientation of a geophysical sensor streamer or an array of geophysical sensor streamers towed behind a survey vessel are provided. Various techniques for changing the spatial distribution or orientation of such geophysical sensor streamers in response to changing conditions are provided. For example, crosscurrent conditions may be determined based on configuration data received from positioning devices along the length of a streamer, and a new desired orientation for the streamer may be determined based on the crosscurrent conditions. The new desired orientation may include a new desired feather angle for the streamer.

Abstract: In the field of marine geophysical surveying, systems and methods for controlling the spatial distribution or orientation of a geophysical sensor streamer or an array of geophysical sensor streamers towed behind a survey vessel are provided. Various techniques for changing the spatial distribution or orientation of such geophysical sensor streamers in response to changing conditions are provided. For example, crosscurrent conditions may be determined based on configuration data received from positioning devices along the length of a streamer, and a new desired orientation for the streamer may be determined based on the crosscurrent conditions. The new desired orientation may include a new desired feather angle for the streamer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for enabling anti-twist functionality in marine geophysical streamers. An embodiment discloses a method comprising: towing a streamer behind a survey vessel in a body of water, wherein the streamer comprises rotation sensors and streamer rotation devices; receiving data from at least one rotation sensor indicative of streamer twist; and rotating a portion of the streamer with at least one streamer rotation device to reduce the streamer twist based, at least in part on the data.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes an outer sheath that forms an interior region of the seismic streamer of which a portion is filled with a gel or liquid. The streamer also includes at least one stress member placed off-center in the interior region, and multiple sensors mounted proximate to a center of the interior region, where the sensors include a pressure sensor and a motion sensor. The streamer further includes multiple tilt sensors mounted along the interior region. A method of manufacturing a seismic streamer includes placing at least one stress member off-center along a first direction, mounting multiple spacers along the stress member, and affixing sensors to respective spacers, where the sensors include a pressure sensor and a motion sensor. The method further includes mounting tilt sensors along the first direction and affixing an outer sheath to the streamer that forms an interior region of the seismic streamer.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to the field of streamers. In one embodiment, a streamer may include a group of particle motion sensors. In some embodiments, at least two of the particle motion sensors in the group are movable relative to one another within the streamer, and the two particle motion sensors are configured to measure motion along a particular axis. In some embodiments, the streamer may additionally include a plurality of pressure sensors.

Abstract: A method for towing a streamer array includes moving a vessel along a body of water. Streamers are towed by vessel. A relative position is determined at selected points along each streamer with respect to the vessel. At least one of the streamers is deflected at at least one longitudinal position along the streamer in response to the determined positions to maintain the streamers in a selected geometry. The selected geometry is related to one of survey vessel heading, energy source trajectory, previously plotted sensor trajectory and a lateral separation related to distance from the towing vessel.

Abstract: A method for towing a streamer array includes moving a vessel along a body of water. Streamers are towed by vessel. A relative position is determined at selected points along each streamer with respect to the vessel. At least one of the streamers is deflected at at least one longitudinal position along the streamer in response to the determined positions to maintain the streamers in a selected geometry. The selected geometry is related to one of survey vessel heading, energy source trajectory, previously plotted sensor trajectory and a lateral separation related to distance from the towing vessel.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to the field of streamers. In one embodiment, a streamer may include a group of particle motion sensors. In some embodiments, at least two of the particle motion sensors in the group are movable relative to one another within the streamer, and the two particle motion sensors are configured to measure motion along a particular axis. In some embodiments, the streamer may additionally include a plurality of pressure sensors.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a streamer filler material that is a low density gel formed from a two-part, mix-curable polymer, and methods of making streamers using such materials. One embodiment of the filler material features a two-part silicone gel mixed with a paraffinic oil. The two-part silicone gel can make up 15% to 25%, by weight or volume, of the mixture. Methods of making such materials include forming a first unreactive mixture having a first reactant, promoter, and/or catalyst and a second unreactive mixture having a second reactant, promoter, and/or catalyst and mixing the first and second mixtures in a paraffinic oil system to make a gel. The streamer can be loaded with the filler by pumping or extruding the mixture.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a streamer section. The method includes coupling together a plurality of prefabricated harness modules. A harness module includes a plurality of geophysical sensors disposed along a length of the harness module and a sensor node communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. A first connector is disposed at a first end of the harness module and a second connector disposed at a second end of the harness module. The first connector is coupled to the sensor node and is configured to couple to a second harness module and receive data from a sensor node in the second harness module. The second connector is coupled to the sensor node and is configured to couple to a third harness module and forward data to a sensor node in the third harness module.

Abstract: In a first embodiment the invention comprises a method for gathering geophysical data, including towing geophysical data gathering equipment behind a survey vessel in a body of water, said equipment including an array of sensor streamers extending behind said vessel, and determining a geodetic location of a streamer steering reference point at a forward end of the sensor streamers and a reference direction. At least one sensor streamer included in said array of sensor streamers is laterally deflected in response to the determined geodetic location of said streamer steering reference point and the determined reference direction.

Abstract: In the field of marine geophysical surveying, systems and methods for controlling the spatial distribution or orientation of a geophysical sensor streamer or an array of geophysical sensor streamers towed behind a survey vessel are provided. Various techniques for changing the spatial distribution or orientation of such geophysical sensor streamers in response to changing conditions are provided. For example, crosscurrent conditions may be determined based on configuration data received from positioning devices along the length of a streamer, and a new desired orientation for the streamer may be determined based on the crosscurrent conditions. The new desired orientation may include a new desired feather angle for the streamer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for enabling anti-twist functionality in marine geophysical streamers. An embodiment discloses a method comprising: towing a streamer behind a survey vessel in a body of water, wherein the streamer comprises rotation sensors and streamer rotation devices; receiving data from at least one rotation sensor indicative of streamer twist; and rotating a portion of the streamer with at least one streamer rotation device to reduce the streamer twist based, at least in part on the data.

Abstract: Streamer redundancy. At least some illustrative embodiments are methods including: in a streamer towed by a survey vessel, sensing a first interconnection of a daisy chain the first interconnection between a first networked unit and a second networked unit, wherein the first networked unit and the second networked unit comprise a portion of a plurality of networked units; and determining that a fault condition exists on the first interconnection in response to the sensing; disabling the first interconnection responsive to the fault condition; enabling a second interconnection responsive to the fault condition, wherein the second interconnection couples the first networked unit and a third networked unit of the plurality of networked units and wherein the second interconnection does not couple to the second networked unit; and reporting information indicative of the fault condition to the survey vessel via the second networked unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for enabling anti-twist functionality in marine geophysical streamers. An embodiment discloses a method comprising: towing a streamer behind a survey vessel in a body of water, wherein the streamer comprises rotation sensors and streamer rotation devices; receiving data from at least one rotation sensor indicative of streamer twist; and rotating a portion of the streamer with at least one streamer rotation device to reduce the streamer twist based, at least in part on the data.