Powered sheave for node deployment and retrieval
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for deploying a plurality of seismic sensor units into a water column is provided. In one embodiment, a marine vessel is provided. The vessel includes a cable storage device disposed on the vessel, a workstation disposed on a deck of the vessel, a ramp at least partially disposed on the deck, and a node storage and handling system disposed on the vessel. The node storage and handling system comprises a cable handler disposed between the cable storage device and the ramp, the cable handler having a cable disposed thereon and the cable defining a cable path passing over the workstation during a node deployment or retrieval operation, a node storage rack positioned between a bow and a stern of the vessel, and at least one conveyor belt to transfer nodes between the workstation and the node storage rack.
1. A marine vessel, comprising:
a cable storage device disposed on the vessel;
a workstation disposed on a deck of the vessel;
a ramp at least partially disposed on the deck; and
a node storage and handling system disposed on the vessel, the node storage and handling system comprising:
a cable handler disposed between the cable storage device and the ramp, the cable handler having a cable disposed thereon and the cable defining a cable path passing over the workstation during a node deployment or retrieval operation;
a node storage rack positioned between a bow and a stern of the vessel; and
at least one conveyor belt to transfer nodes between the workstation and the node storage rack.
2. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor belt comprises a mesh material.
3. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conveyor belt is disposed adjacent to the workstation.
4. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conveyor belt is disposed on the node storage rack.
5. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the node storage rack comprises a plurality of storage racks.
6. The vessel of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of storage racks share the at least one conveyor belt.
7. The vessel of claim 5 , wherein each of the storage racks share a common ramp.
8. The vessel of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of storage racks comprises a first storage rack adjacent a port side of the vessel and a second storage rack adjacent a starboard side of the vessel.
9. The vessel of claim 5 , wherein each of the storage racks comprises a movable surface.
10. The vessel of claim 5 , wherein each of the storage racks comprises a conveyor belt.
11. The vessel of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of storage racks comprise a first vertically stacked plurality of storage racks and a second plurality of vertically stacked storage racks.
12. The vessel of claim 11 , wherein the first vertically stacked plurality of storage racks and the second plurality of vertically stacked storage racks are positioned side by side.
13. The vessel of claim 11 , wherein the first vertically stacked plurality of storage racks and the second plurality of vertically stacked storage racks are positioned end to end.
14. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the cable handler comprises a first sheave and a second sheave.
15. The vessel of claim 14 , wherein the first sheave is coupled to a motor.
16. A marine vessel, comprising:
a cable storage device disposed on the vessel;
a workstation disposed on a deck of the vessel;
a ramp at least partially disposed on the deck adjacent the workstation; and
a node storage and handling system disposed on the vessel, the node storage and handling system comprising:
a cable handler disposed between the cable storage device and the ramp, the cable handler having a cable disposed thereon and the cable defining a cable path passing over the workstation during a node deployment or retrieval operation;
a node storage rack positioned between a bow and a stern of the vessel; and
at least one conveyor mechanism to transfer nodes directly between the workstation and the node storage rack.
17. The vessel of claim 16 , wherein the at least one conveyor mechanism comprises a moving surface.
18. The vessel of claim 17 , wherein the moving surface comprises a belt.
19. The vessel of claim 16 , wherein the node storage rack comprises a plurality of storage racks.
20. The vessel of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of storage racks comprise a first vertically stacked plurality of storage racks and a second plurality of vertically stacked storage racks.
21. The vessel of claim 20 , wherein the first vertically stacked plurality of storage racks and the second plurality of vertically stacked storage racks are positioned side by side.
22. The vessel of claim 20 , wherein the first vertically stacked plurality of storage racks and the second plurality of vertically stacked storage racks are positioned end to end.
23. The vessel of claim 19 , wherein each of the storage racks comprises a movable surface.
24. The vessel of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of storage racks share the at least one conveyor mechanism.
25. The vessel of claim 19 , wherein each of the storage racks share a common ramp.
26. The vessel of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of storage racks comprises a first storage rack adjacent a port side of the vessel and a second storage rack adjacent a starboard side of the vessel.
27. The vessel of claim 26 , wherein each of the first storage rack and the second storage rack comprises a movable surface.
28. The vessel of claim 26 , wherein each of the first of storage rack and the second storage rack share the at least one conveyor mechanism.
29. The vessel of claim 26 , wherein each of the first of storage rack and the second storage rack share a common ramp.
30. A method for performing a seismic survey in a marine environment, the method comprising:
a deployment method for deploying a plurality of seismic sensor units into a water column, the deployment method comprising:
providing a length of flexible cable from a cable storage device disposed on a vessel to a cable handling device;
routing the cable to pass adjacent to a workstation disposed on the vessel;
attaching an anchor device to a free end of the cable;
deploying the free end of the cable into the water column along a ramp disposed on the vessel;
adjusting a fall pattern of the cable in the water column by adjusting one or both of the forward speed of the vessel and a deployment speed of the cable handling device; and
attaching at least one of the plurality of seismic sensor units to the cable as the cable passes the workstation.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the flexible cable may be lengthened by affixing additional lengths of cable to the trailing end of the cable.
32. The method of claim 30 , wherein the seismic sensor units are transferred to the workstation from one or more node storage racks disposed on the vessel.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the seismic sensor units are transferred to the workstation along a moving surface.
34. The method of claim 30 , wherein the cable handling device comprises a winch.
35. The method of claim 30 , wherein the cable handling device comprises a powered pinch sheave.
36. The method of claim 30 , wherein the seismic sensor units are affixed to the cable mechanically.
37. The method of claim 30 , wherein the deployment speed is greater than the vessel speed.
38. The method of claim 30 , wherein the deployment speed is zero at intermittent intervals.
39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensor units are affixed to the cable during the intermittent intervals.
40. The method of claim 39 , wherein the seismic sensor units are affixed to the cable mechanically.
41. The method of claim 30 , further comprising:
a retrieval method for retrieving the plurality of seismic sensor units from the water column, the retrieval method comprising:
reversing a direction of the cable handling device to facilitate retrieval of the flexible cable from the water column; and
detaching the plurality of seismic sensor units from the cable as the cable passes the workstation.
42. The method of claim 41 , further comprising:
adjusting one or both of the forward speed of the vessel and a retrieval speed of the cable handling device.
43. The method of claim 42 , wherein the retrieval speed is zero at intermittent intervals.
44. The method of claim 43 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensor units are detached from the cable during the intermittent intervals.