Device for laterally steering streamer cables
US7092315B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 27, 2004 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 31, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V1/3826
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device and a method for laterally steering a streamer cable towed underwater behind a seismic survey vessel. The device includes a cable-steering assembly rotatably attached to a streamer cable. The assembly includes a body to which one or more wings are mounted. The wings are arranged to pivot about pivot axes. The assembly is ballasted so that the pivot axes of the wings are largely in a vertical plane. A conventional cable-leveling bird is converted to one version of a cable-steering device by ballasting to maintain the pivot axes of the bird's wings largely vertical. With an orientation sensor for sensing the orientation of the wings, the cable-steering device adjusts the angle of the wings to provide a sideward component of force to steer the streamer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.