IP Library Patent Application 13161896
Patent Application
App. No. 13/161,896

Dual Axis Geophones For Pressure/Velocity Sensing Streamers Forming a Triple Component Streamer

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/161,896
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.

Claims (35)

1 . A seismic sensor comprising;

an axially oriented body including a plurality of axially oriented channels arranged in opposing pairs;

a first opposing pair of particle motion sensors arranged in a first pair of the channels;

a second opposing pair of particle motion sensors arranged in a second pair of channels, the second pair of particle motion sensors radially offset by 90° from the first pair of particle motion sensors; and

a tilt sensor in a known orientation to the first and second pair of particle motion sensors.

2 . The seismic sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a key assembly adapted to positively orient the sensor to an adjacent component.

3 . The seismic sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a jacket covering the sensor; and

a permanent magnet inside the jacket adapted to find the orientation of the accelerometer after the final skin is extruded over the cable.

4 . The seismic sensor of claim 1 , wherein the particle motion sensors comprise accelerometers.

5 . The seismic sensor of claim 1 , wherein each particle motion sensor comprises:

a base;

a box mounted to the base, defining an interior chamber, the box having an interior upper surface;

a hole in the base, defining a fluid flow path into the interior chamber; and

a pierzoelectric element mounted on the interior upper surface of the box.

6 . The seismic sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first opposing pair of particle motion sensors are electrically coupled together to define a first signal channel and the second opposing pair of particle motion sensors are electrically coupled together to define a second signal channel.

7 . A marine seismic cable comprising:

a plurality of hydrophones arranged in groups along the cable;

a plurality of particle motion sensors arranged in groups between at least some of the groups of hydrophones; and

a field digitizing unit, the field digitizing unit including a tilt sensor arranged in a known orientation to the particle motion sensors.

8 . The marine seismic cable of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of particle motion sensors comprises:

an axially oriented body including a plurality of axially oriented channels arranged in opposing pairs;

a first opposing pair of accelerometers arranged in a first pair of the channels;

a second opposing pair of accelerometers arranged in a second pair of channels, the second pair of accelerometers radially offset by 90 ° from the first pair of accelerometers; and

a tilt sensor in a known orientation to the first and second pair of accelerometers.

9 . The marine seismic cable of claim 8 , wherein each accelerometer includes a key assembly adapted to positively orient the accelerometer to an adjacent component.

10 . The marine seismic cable of claim 8 , wherein each accelerometer includes:

a jacket covering the accelerometer; and

a permanent magnet inside the jacket adapted to find the orientation of the accelerometer after the final skin is extruded over the cable.

11 . The marine seismic cable of claim 8 , wherein each accelerometer comprises:

a base;

a box mounted to the base, defining an interior chamber, the box having an interior upper surface;

a hole in the base, defining a fluid flow path into the interior chamber; and

a pierzoelectric element mounted on the interior upper surface of the box.

12 . The marine seismic cable of claim 8 , wherein the first opposing pair of accelerometers are electrically coupled together to define a first signal channel and the second opposing pair of accelerometers are electrically coupled together to define a second signal channel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2011
From: MAPLES, MIKE; HEPP, JOHN S.
To: SERCEL, INC.
Reel/Frame 026502/0496 →