System and Method for Seismic Streamer Control

Abstract

A control system for use in a marine seismic survey is provided. The system may include one or more processors configured to receive a desired position for one or more seismic streamers during the marine seismic survey. The one or more processors may be further configured to determine a current position for the one or more seismic streamers and to adjust a position of a steering device on each streamer, based upon, at least in part, a comparison between the current position of the one or more seismic streamers and the desired position of the one or more seismic streamers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system for use in a marine seismic survey, comprising:
 one or more processors configured to receive a desired position for one or more seismic streamers during the marine seismic survey, the one or more processors further configured to determine a current position for the one or more seismic streamers and to adjust a position of a steering device on each streamer, based upon, at least in part, a comparison between the current position of the one or more seismic streamers and the desired position of the one or more seismic streamers.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the steering device is a deflector and wherein the one or more processors are configured to control an angle of the deflector to obtain the desired position of the one or more streamers. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive real-time data from the one or more streamers. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to automatically adjust the position of the steering device on each streamer based upon, at least in part, the real-time data. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a graphical user interface configured to display at least one of the current position and the desired position of the one or more streamers.   
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the graphical user interface allows for manual or automatic control of the control system. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment is performed in order to obtain a desired separation distance between two of the one or more streamers. 
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to control a plurality of deflectors on at least one of the one or more streamers. 
     
     
         9 . A method for performing a seismic survey, comprising:
 towing one or more seismic streamers using a vessel having a seismic streamer control system associated therewith;   storing a desired position for one or more seismic streamers during the marine seismic survey at the control system;   determining a current position for the one or more seismic streamers; and   automatically adjusting a position of a steering device on each streamer, based upon, at least in part, a comparison between the current position of the one or more seismic streamers and the desired position of the one or more seismic streamers.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 controlling an angle of the deflector to obtain the desired position of the one or more streamers.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving real-time data from the one or more streamers.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 automatically adjusting the position of the steering device on each streamer based upon, at least in part, the real-time data.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 displaying, at a graphical user interface, at least one of the current position and the desired position of the one or more streamers.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the graphical user interface allows for manual or automatic control of the control system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the adjustment is performed in order to obtain a desired separation distance between two of the one or more streamers. 
     
     
         16 . A control system for use in a marine seismic survey, comprising:
 one or more processors configured to receive one or more sets of training data that include prior marine seismic survey data, the one or more processors further configured to determine a future position for one or more seismic streamers during the marine seismic survey, based upon, at least in part, the training data, the one or more processors further configured to determine a vessel best path based upon, at least in part, the future position.   
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive real-time information relating to the marine seismic survey. 
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 17 , wherein the real-time information includes at least one of, a receiver position from an acoustic network, GPS information, a compass course, accelerometer information, a vessel heading, and environmental information. 
     
     
         19 . A method for use in a marine seismic survey, comprising:
 receiving, at one or more processors, one or more sets of training data that include prior marine seismic survey data;   determining a future position for one or more seismic streamers during the marine seismic survey, based upon, at least in part, the training data; and   determining a vessel best path based upon, at least in part, the future position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 receiving real-time information relating to the marine seismic survey.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein determining the vessel best path is based upon both the training data that includes prior marine seismic survey data and the real-time information.