Solid marine seismic streamers
View Patent ↗A marine seismic streamer comprising a solid, hydrophobic core member that is encased in a hydrophobic streamer skin/casing. The hydrophobic streamer skin may be extruded onto and/or heat welded to the hydrophobic core member. The hydrophobic streamer skin/casing may comprise a thermoplastic polyurethane that includes fluorine and/or silicon moieties, silicon, polydimethylsiloxane or the like. The hydrophobic streamer skin/casing may reduce the drag of the streamer and may provide anti-biofouling properties to the streamer. A hydrophobic paint, coating or polymer may in some instances be disposed on top of the hydrophobic streamer skin/casing.
1. A seismic streamer, comprising:
a streamer body comprising a solid, hydrophobic material that includes silicon or fluorine moieties; and
a streamer casing distinct from the streamer body, the streamer casing including a sleeve that encases the streamer body, and the streamer casing comprising a hydrophobic material.
2. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein the streamer body defines a cylinder with a hollow core.
3. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein the streamer body includes a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene and thermoplastic polyurethane.
4. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein the streamer casing has a low elastic modulus.
5. The seismic streamer of claim 4 , wherein elastic modulus is of the order of 1 MPa.
6. The seismic streamer of claim 2 , wherein the streamer casing comprises a tube that surrounds the cylindrical streamer body.
7. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the streamer casing is heat welded to the streamer body.
8. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein a seismic sensor is disposed in a pocket in the streamer body.
9. The seismic streamer of claim 8 , wherein the pocket is filled with one of a fluid or a gel.
10. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises one of silicon or PDMS.
11. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a hydrophobic paint, a hydrophobic coating, a hydrophobic polymer covering at least a portion of the streamer casing.
12. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein the streamer casing includes silicon or flouring moieties.
13. The seismic streamer of claim 12 , wherein the streamer casing includes a material selected from the group consisting of silicon, a silicone-elastomer, a polydimethylsiloxane and a thermoplastic polyurethane.
14. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic material of the streamer body includes a fluorinated chain extender.
15. The seismic streamer of claim 14 , wherein the hydrophobic material of the streamer body includes thermoplastic polyurethane that includes the fluorinated chain extender.
16. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein a bulk of the streamer body includes the hydrophobic material.
17. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the streamer body includes the hydrophobic material.
18. The seismic streamer of claim 1 , wherein a bulk and a surface of the streamer body includes the hydrophobic material.
19. A method of manufacturing a seismic streamer, the seismic streamer comprising:
a streamer body comprising a solid, hydrophobic material that includes silicon or fluorine moieties; and
a streamer casing distinct from the streamer body, the streamer casing including a sleeve that encases the streamer body, and the streamer casing comprising a hydrophobic material; the method comprising extruding the streamer casing over the streamer body.
20. A method of manufacturing a seismic streamer, the seismic streamer comprising:
a streamer body comprising a solid, hydrophobic material that includes silicon or fluorine moieties; and
a streamer casing distinct from the streamer body, the streamer casing including a sleeve that encases the streamer body, and the streamer casing comprising a hydrophobic material; the method comprising:
extruding the streamer casing into a tube; and
inserting the streamer body into the extruded tube.