Geophysical Cable Preparation for Antifouling Paint

Abstract

Embodiments relate generally to marine geophysical surveying. More particularly, embodiments relate to a streamer-preparation apparatus that cleans a geophysical cable to prepare it for application of an antifouling paint. An embodiment discloses a method comprising: moving a streamer into position for cleaning; directing a cleaning fluid onto the streamer as the streamer is being moved; and directing a gaseous fluid onto the streamer as the streamer is being moved. An embodiment discloses: applying an antifouling paint to the streamer with the streamer-preparation apparatus; and applying a curing agent to the streamer with the streamer-preparation apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 preparing a streamer with a streamer-preparation apparatus;   applying an antifouling paint to the streamer with the streamer-preparation apparatus; and   applying a curing agent to the streamer with the streamer-preparation apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the steps of preparing the streamer, applying the antifouling paint, and applying the curing agent are performed during deployment of the streamer from a survey vessel into a body of water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 recovering the streamer onto the survey vessel from the body of water; 
 directing a cleaning fluid onto the streamer as the streamer is being recovered onto the survey vessel; and 
 directing a gaseous fluid onto the streamer as the streamer is being recovered onto the survey vessel. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of preparing the streamer comprises directing a cleaning fluid onto the streamer and directing a gaseous fluid onto the streamer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning fluid comprises heated water. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising passing the streamer through the streamer-preparation apparatus, wherein the streamer-preparation apparatus comprises a cleaning-fluid nozzle unit for directing a cleaning fluid onto the streamer, a gaseous-fluid nozzle unit for directing a gaseous fluid onto the streamer, and a painting unit for directing the antifouling paint and the curing agent onto the streamer, wherein the painting unit is located after the cleaning-fluid nozzle unit and the gaseous-fluid nozzle unit with respect to direction of movement of the streamer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the streamer comprises at least one streamer selected from the group consisting of a towed marine streamer and an ocean bottom cable. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the streamer comprises a marine streamer, wherein the marine streamer comprises seismic sensors, electromagnetic sensors, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antifouling paint comprises at least one foul release coating selected from the group consisting of elastomers, silicone rubbers, silicone-based coatings, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antifouling paint comprise a biocide, wherein the biocide comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of brass, copper oxide, copper thicocynate, copper bronze, copper napthenate, copper resinate, copper nickel, copper sulfide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an inlet for receiving a streamer and an outlet for exit of the streamer;   a cleaning-fluid nozzle unit for directing a cleaning fluid onto the streamer in the housing; and   a gaseous-fluid nozzle unit for directing a gaseous fluid onto the streamer in the housing.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the cleaning-fluid nozzle unit and the gaseous-fluid nozzle unit are both located in the housing, the gaseous-fluid nozzle unit being positioned after the cleaning-fluid nozzle unit with respect to movement of the streamer through the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a roller assembly for application of pressure to the streamer in the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the roller assembly comprises a ring of wheels that hold the apparatus on the streamer as the streamer passes through the apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning fluid nozzle unit is positioned in the housing after the roller assembly, and wherein the gaseous fluid nozzle unit is positioned in the housing after the cleaning fluid nozzle unit. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the roller assembly comprises two rings of wheels that are spaced in the housing, wherein the cleaning fluid nozzle unit comprises nozzles arranged in a ring-shaped configuration through which the streamer passes, and wherein the gaseous fluid nozzle unit comprises nozzles arranged in a ring-shaped configuration through which the streamer passes. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a painting unit for application of an antifouling paint and a curing agent onto the streamer in the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the painting unit comprises a painting chamber and paint spray heads positioned in the chamber to apply the antifouling paint to the streamer. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a tethering member coupled to the housing to secure the apparatus to a stern of a survey vessel, and a supply house bundle for supplying air and/or water to the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a telescoping arm coupled to the housing to secure the apparatus to anchor the apparatus to fixed point on a survey vessel or a spooling block.