Patent US4738776A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3900543A
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Method for making a foam seismic streamer
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1972-10-26
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Granted: 1975-08-19
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Expires: 1992-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A neutrally buoyant seismic hydrophone streamer is constructed by extruding a syntactic foam material comprising an elastomeric material and gas filled microspheres onto a central stress member to form an elongated streamer member. The streamer may then be covered with a suitable water and oil resistant, abrasion resistant covering and be provided with exteriorly affixed hydrophones, or hydrophones can be affixed to the foam core and an outer protective sheath can be extruded or otherwise provided around the streamer and the hydrophones to provide a uniform diameter streamer assembly. Extrusion is effected utilizing a suitable elastoplastic material which can be extruded at pressures below about 300 psi to avoid bursting the gas filled spheres of the syntactic foam.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy W Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:10
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/004; B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/58; B29C70/66; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/72; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/16; G01V1/20; G01V1/201; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/05; B29C48/06; B29K; B29K2075/00; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/06; B29K2105/16; B29K2105/165; B29K2709/00; B29K2709/08; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/34; B29L2031/3462; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A NEUTRAL BUOYANCY SEISMIC HYDROPHOPHONE STREAMER HAVING A PLURALITY OF HYDROPHONE TRANSDUCERS WHICH COMPRISES: ADMIXING A THERMOPLASTIC RESIGN WITH GAS FILLED MICROSPHERES TO OBTAIN A MIXTURE HAVING A SPECIFIC GRAVITY LESS THAN 1, CONVEYING SAID MIXTURE TO THE HEATING ZONE OF AN EXTRUDER, HEATING SAID MIXTURE TO A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENT TO MELT SAID THEMOPLASTIC RESIN, EXTTUDING SAID MIXTURE AT A PRESSURE LESS THAN ABOUT 300 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH ABOUT A CENTRAL STREAMER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CABLE-LIKE STRESS MEMBER TO PRODUCE A SYNTACTIC FOAM EXTRUDATE HAVING A CENTRAL STRESS MEMBER, AND AFFIXING HYDROPHONE TRANSDUCERS TO SAID EXTRUDATE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A NEUTRAL BUOYANCY SEISMIC HYDROPHOPHONE STREAMER HAVING A PLURALITY OF HYDROPHONE TRANSDUCERS WHICH COMPRISES: ADMIXING A THERMOPLASTIC RESIGN WITH GAS FILLED MICROSPHERES TO OBTAIN A MIXTURE HAVING A SPECIFIC GRAVITY LESS THAN 1, CONVEYING SAID MIXTURE TO THE HEATING ZONE OF AN EXTRUDER, HEATING SAID MIXTURE TO A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENT TO MELT SAID THEMOPLASTIC RESIN, EXTTUDING SAID MIXTURE AT A PRESSURE LESS THAN ABOUT 300 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH ABOUT A CENTRAL STREAMER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CABLE-LIKE STRESS MEMBER TO PRODUCE A SYNTACTIC FOAM EXTRUDATE HAVING A CENTRAL STRESS MEMBER, AND AFFIXING HYDROPHONE TRANSDUCERS TO SAID EXTRUDATE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said central streamer assembly also comprises signal wires and hydrophone transducers assembled with respect to said central stress member, said mixture is extruded over said assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes signal wires around said member and extending to one end of said streamer including the additional steps of forming recesses at intervals on said extrudate; affixing said transducers to said extrudate in said recesses to produce an assembly of hydrophones on said extruDate having a uniform diameter; and interconnecting said transducers and said wires.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of manufacturing a neutral buoyancy seismic hydrophone streamer having a plurality of hydrophone transducers which comprises: admixing a thermoplastic polymer of a bi-functional isocyanate and a polyether glycol, said polymer being extrusible at temperatures of about 300 pounds per square inch or less, with gas filled microspheres to obtain a mixture having a specific gravity less than 1; conveying said mixture to the heating zone of an extruder; heating said mixture to a temperature sufficient to melt said thermoplastic polymer; extruding said mixture at a pressure less than about 300 pounds per square inch about a central streamer assembly comprising a cable-like stress member to produce a syntactic foam extrudate having a central stress member; and affixing hydrophone transducers to said extrudate.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of manufacturing a neutral buoyancy seismic hydrophone streamer having a plurality of hydrophone transducers which comprises: admixing a thermoplastic polymer of a bi-functional isocyanate and a polyether glycol, said polymer being extrusible at temperatures of about 300 pounds per square inch or less, with gas filled microspheres to obtain a mixture having a specific gravity less than 1; conveying said mixture to the heating zone of an extruder; heating said mixture to a temperature sufficient to melt said thermoplastic polymer; extruding said mixture at a pressure less than about 300 pounds per square inch about a central streamer assembly comprising a cable-like stress member to produce a syntactic foam extrudate having a central stress member; and affixing hydrophone transducers to said extrudate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a linear polymer of methylene bis-4-phenyldiisocyanate and polytetramethylene ether glycol.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-18 | 1979-02-17 | 1979-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-18 | 1983-02-17 | 1983-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-18 | 1987-02-17 | 1987-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |