Shallow water seismic energy source

Claim 1

An apparatus for generating a shock wave in water comprising: (a) an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and adapted to releasably contain compressed gas; (b) attachment means fastened to said housing by which said apparatus may be positioned in said water such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal; and (c) exhaust means positioned in said housing so that when said housing is positioned in the water such that the housing's longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, said compressed gas escapes through said exhaust means only in directions other than substantially upward.

Claim 2

An apparatus for generating a shock wave in water comprising: (a) an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and adapted to releasably contain compressed gas; (b) attachment means fastened to said housing by which said apparatus may be positioned in said water such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal; and (c) exhaust means positioned in said housing so that when said housing is positioned in the water such that the housing's longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, said compressed gas escapes through said exhaust means only in directions other than substantially upward.

Claim 6

An apparatus for generating a shock wave in water comprising: (a) an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and adapted to releasably contain compressed gas; (b) attachment means fastened to said housing by which sid apparatus may be positioned in said water in an orientation such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal; (c) first exhaust means positioned in said housing so that when said housing is oriented in the water such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, said first exhaust means is directed substantially upward; (d) second exhaust means positioned in said housing so that when said housing is oriented in the water such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, said second exhaust means is directed other than substantially upward; and (e) a collar comprised of a first half-collar and a second half-collar, said first half-collar contiguous with at least a first portion of the outer surface of said housing and said second half-collar contiguous with at least a second portion of the outer surface of said housing, said first half-collar and said second half-collar being mated about said housing and having a configuration so that said first exhaust means is substantially blocked and said second exhaust means is substantially open.

Claim 7

An apparatus for generating a shock wave in water comprising: (a) an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and adapted to releasably contain compressed gas; (b) attachment means fastened to said housing by which sid apparatus may be positioned in said water in an orientation such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal; (c) first exhaust means positioned in said housing so that when said housing is oriented in the water such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, said first exhaust means is directed substantially upward; (d) second exhaust means positioned in said housing so that when said housing is oriented in the water such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, said second exhaust means is directed other than substantially upward; and (e) a collar comprised of a first half-collar and a second half-collar, said first half-collar contiguous with at least a first portion of the outer surface of said housing and said second half-collar contiguous with at least a second portion of the outer surface of said housing, said first half-collar and said second half-collar being mated about said housing and having a configuration so that said first exhaust means is substantially blocked and said second exhaust means is substantially open.

Claim 8

An apparatus for generating a shock wave in water comprising: (a) an elongated housing adapted to contain compressed gas, said housng having a longitudinal axis; (b) attachment means fastened to the upper portion of said housing in a manner so that the housing may be suspended from the attachment means in the water such that the longitudinal axis of said housing is substantially horizontal; and (c) exhaust means positioned in said housing so that when the housing is suspended in the water with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal, the exhaust means permits gas to escape from within the housing only in directions other than substantially upward.

Claim 9

An apparatus for generating a shock wave in water comprising: (a) an elongated housing adapted to contain compressed gas, said housng having a longitudinal axis; (b) attachment means fastened to the upper portion of said housing in a manner so that the housing may be suspended from the attachment means in the water such that the longitudinal axis of said housing is substantially horizontal; and (c) exhaust means positioned in said housing so that when the housing is suspended in the water with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal, the exhaust means permits gas to escape from within the housing only in directions other than substantially upward.

Claim 12

A device for reducing above-surface blow-outs from an elongated compressed gas gun during release of compressed gas from said gun, when the gun is positioned in water so that the longitudinal axis of said gun lies in a plane substantially parallel to the atmosphere-water interface, said gun having a housing including an outer surface and at least one upward exhaust means and at least one other than upward exhaust means, said device comprising a first half-collar adapted to be contiguous with at least a first portion of the outer surface of said housing and a second half-collar adapted to be contiguous with at least a second portion of the outer surface of said housing, said first half-collar and said second half-collar adapted to be mated about said housing so that said upward exhaust means is blocked while at least one other than upward exhaust means remains open.

Claim 13

A device for reducing above-surface blow-outs from an elongated compressed gas gun during release of compressed gas from said gun, when the gun is positioned in water so that the longitudinal axis of said gun lies in a plane substantially parallel to the atmosphere-water interface, said gun having a housing including an outer surface and at least one upward exhaust means and at least one other than upward exhaust means, said device comprising a first half-collar adapted to be contiguous with at least a first portion of the outer surface of said housing and a second half-collar adapted to be contiguous with at least a second portion of the outer surface of said housing, said first half-collar and said second half-collar adapted to be mated about said housing so that said upward exhaust means is blocked while at least one other than upward exhaust means remains open.

Claim 17

A device for modifying an elongated compressed gas gun, said gun having (1) a substantially elongated housing adapted to contain compressed gas, (2) attachment means fastened to the upper side of said housing in a manner so that the housing may be suspended from the attachment means in water such that the longitudinal axis of said housing is substantially horizontal, (3) first exhaust means positioned on said upper side of said housing, and (4) second exhaust means positioned other than on said upper side of said housing, said device comprising a first half-collar adapted to be contiguous with at least a first portion of the outer surface of said housing and a second half-collar adapted to be contiguous with at least a second portion of the outer surface of said housing, said first half-collar and said second half-collar adapted to be mated about said housing so that said first exhaust means is blocked while said second exhaust means remains open.

Claim 18

A device for modifying an elongated compressed gas gun, said gun having (1) a substantially elongated housing adapted to contain compressed gas, (2) attachment means fastened to the upper side of said housing in a manner so that the housing may be suspended from the attachment means in water such that the longitudinal axis of said housing is substantially horizontal, (3) first exhaust means positioned on said upper side of said housing, and (4) second exhaust means positioned other than on said upper side of said housing, said device comprising a first half-collar adapted to be contiguous with at least a first portion of the outer surface of said housing and a second half-collar adapted to be contiguous with at least a second portion of the outer surface of said housing, said first half-collar and said second half-collar adapted to be mated about said housing so that said first exhaust means is blocked while said second exhaust means remains open.

Claim 22

A method for producing a shock wave in water while reducing above-surface blow-outs during release of compressed gas from a compressed gas gun comprising an elongated housing having attachment means fastened thereon so that the gun may be suspended from the attachment means in the water so that the gun's longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, said housing having first exhaust means and second exhaust means therein so that, when said housing is in its suspended position, said first exhaust means will face upward and said second exhaust means will face other than upward, said method comprising: (a) blocking said first exhaust means; (b) suspending said gun in water with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal; and (c) releasing said compressed gas through said second exhaust means.

Claim 23

A method for producing a shock wave in water while reducing above-surface blow-outs during release of compressed gas from a compressed gas gun comprising an elongated housing having attachment means fastened thereon so that the gun may be suspended from the attachment means in the water so that the gun's longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, said housing having first exhaust means and second exhaust means therein so that, when said housing is in its suspended position, said first exhaust means will face upward and said second exhaust means will face other than upward, said method comprising: (a) blocking said first exhaust means; (b) suspending said gun in water with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal; and (c) releasing said compressed gas through said second exhaust means.