Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for determining a geometrical configuration in water of a seismic wave emission source array comprising a plurality of seismic sources towed in immersion by a ship and distant from one another, with each source having in close proximity thereto and associated therewith a proximity pick-up sensor for acoustic waves, said method comprising the steps of: triggering a first one of said plurality of seismic sources for generating a seismic signal; detecting said generated seismic signal after propagation through water by means of said proximity pick-up sensors associated with others of said seismic sources; measuring parameters of said detected acoustic signal representative of distance between said triggered seismic source and said proximity pick-up sensors respectively; repeating the three previous steps successively for others of said seismic sources of the array; and determining the relative positions of the different seismic sources of said array with respect to one another by multiple acoustic triangulations using a combination of said parameters representative of distances.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for determining a geometrical configuration in water of a seismic wave emission source array comprising a plurality of seismic sources towed in immersion by a ship and distant from one another, with each source having in close proximity thereto and associated therewith a proximity pick-up sensor for acoustic waves, said method comprising the steps of: triggering a first one of said plurality of seismic sources for generating a seismic signal; detecting said generated seismic signal after propagation through water by means of said proximity pick-up sensors associated with others of said seismic sources; measuring parameters of said detected acoustic signal representative of distance between said triggered seismic source and said proximity pick-up sensors respectively; repeating the three previous steps successively for others of said seismic sources of the array; and determining the relative positions of the different seismic sources of said array with respect to one another by multiple acoustic triangulations using a combination of said parameters representative of distances.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 including: measuring immersion depth of a plurality of seismic sources of said array; and determining the coordinates of all the seismic sources with respect to at least one of said sources whose immersion depth has been measured.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 also including disposing at least one proximity pick-up sensor in a fixed known position with respect to the ship and measuring propagation times to said fixed pick-up sensor of acoustic waves transmitted successively from said acoustic sources of the array and determining a relative position of said acoustic sources with respect to said fixed pick-up sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said measuring step includes measuring propagation times of acoustic waves between each successively triggered seismic source and said acoustic pick-up sensors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said measuring step includes measuring phase differences between acoustic waves received at said different acoustic pick-up sensors from each said successively triggered seismic source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said proximity pick-up sensors is capable of detecting acoustic waves and measuring immersion depth of the associated seismic source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein a plurality of proximity pick-up sensors are in different known fixed positions with respect to said ship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising: disposing at least one fixed pick-up sensor in a known position with respect to an object towed by the ship; determining successive values of said parameters of acoustic signals sensed by said fixed sensor associated with the object when said seismic sources are successively triggered; and computing a position of the different seismic sources of the array with respect to said fixed pick-up sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as defined in claim 8 wherein said object is a seismic streamer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as defined in claim 2 comprising: disposing at least one fixed pick-up sensor in a known position with respect to an object towed by the ship; determining successive values of said parameters of acoustic signals sensed by said fixed sensor associated with the object when said seismic sources are successively triggered; and computing a position of the different seismic sources of the array with respect to said fixed pick-up sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising: disposing at least one fixed pick-up sensor in a known position with respect to an object towed by the ship; determining successive values of said parameters of acoustic signals sensed by said fixed sensor associated with the object when said seismic sources are successively triggered; and computing a position of the different seismic sources of the array with respect to said fixed pick-up sensor.