Ultrasonic Cleaning of Marine Geophysical Equipment

Abstract

Various methods and apparatuses for facilitating cleaning of submerged geophysical equipment using sound waves transmitted at ultrasonic frequencies are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more transducers may be configured to transmit sound at one or more ultrasonic frequencies. The sound at ultrasonic frequencies may be transmitted in the vicinity of submerged geophysical equipment, such as a sensor streamer towed behind a survey vessel. Obstructions (e.g., barnacle larvae) adhering to surfaces of the geophysical equipment may be loosened or removed altogether when ultrasonic transmissions occur within its vicinity. The transducers used to transmit the ultrasonic frequencies may be implemented in various ways, such as being attached to a remote operated vehicle, a cleaning unit, or as being an integral component of the geophysical equipment.

Description

BACKGROUNDBackground Description[0001]Marine seismic surveys utilize sound waves transmitted to the earth's crust and reflected back to recording sensors. The recording sensors may be hydrophones in one of a number of streamers that may be towed behind a survey boat. The survey boat may tow an array of multiple streamers in parallel. When towed behind the survey boat, the streamer may be submerged. A sound source may also be towed in the water behind the survey boat for transmitting the sound waves to be received by the hydrophones of the streamers. One common application of marine seismic surveying is oil and gas exploration in marine environments. More particularly, sound waves received during a marine seismic survey may be analyzed to locate hydrocarbon bearing geological structures, and thus determine where deposits of oil and natural gas may be located.[0002]Periodically, cleaning operations may be conducted on streamers used in marine seismic surveys. Cleaning operations may b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a method and apparatus for cleaning submerged geophysical equipment using ultrasonic frequencies. The cleaning process involves transmitting ultrasonic frequencies through transducers or other devices capable of generating sound waves at those frequencies. This technology can be used to clean various obstructions from the equipment, such as hydrocarbon bearing structures. The cleaning process is efficient, safe, and can be controlled by an operator on a workboat or through a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The technical effect of this patent is to provide a non-invasive and effective way to clean marine seismic equipment.

Problems solved by technology

The process of cleaning using a workboat crew can be very time consuming, and in some cases, dangerous to the crew members that perform the work.

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