Method and apparatus for dynamically controlled buoyancy of towed arrays
US6533627B1 · kind B1 · utility
29Cited by
6References
22Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2001/207
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates generally a method and apparatus for adjusting the buoyancy of towed seismic arrays comprising a plurality of streamers and specifically to the dynamic buoyancy control of the buoyancy of a towed array of streamers by means of applying current to electroactive polymers (EAP) incorporated within the towed array of seismic streamers. The bulk density of the streamer array is electrically altered to accomplish neutral buoyancy for a towed array of streamers within the full range of water-densities from fresh to extremely dense seawater.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.