Streamer cable with enhanced properties
The present invention relates to streamer cables. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for preparing a streamer cable. The method may comprise retrofitting the streamer cable with a solid void-filler material, where the streamer cable was configured as a liquid-filled streamer cable. The retrofitting may comprise introducing a void-filler material into the streamer cable when the void-filler material is in a liquid state and curing or otherwise solidifying the void-filler material to a solid state. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a streamer cable comprising an outer skin and-at least one sensor positioned within the outer skin. The streamer cable may also comprise a solid void-filler material positioned between the outer skin and the at least one sensor, wherein the solid void-filler material is coupled to the at least one sensor.
1. A method of performing maintenance on a streamer cable, the streamer cable comprising: an outer skin; at least one sensor positioned within the outer skin; and a void-filler material positioned between the outer skin and the at least one sensor, wherein the void-filler material is coupled to the at least one sensor, the method comprising:
changing the state of the void-filler material from a solid state to a liquid state, wherein the void-filler material has a mobility when in the solid state that causes the streamer cable to shift substantially all bulge wave energy outside of a desired signal frequency range;
removing at least a portion of the outer skin; and
removing a portion of the void-filler material from the streamer cable while the void-filler material is in the liquid state.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the changing the state of the void-filler material comprises heating the streamer cable.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the heating comprises immersing the streamer cable in a hot water bath.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing a maintenance operation on the streamer cable.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the void-filler material comprises a thermoplastic polymer.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the void-filler material has a solidification temperature between 60° and 100° centigrade.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the void-filler material has a solidification temperature between 70° and 80° centigrade.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing at least a portion of the outer skin is performed before the changing the state of the void-filler material.