WO1999053341A1 - Fabrication automatisee de flutes marines - Google Patents

Fabrication automatisee de flutes marines Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999053341A1
WO1999053341A1 PCT/IB1999/000624 IB9900624W WO9953341A1 WO 1999053341 A1 WO1999053341 A1 WO 1999053341A1 IB 9900624 W IB9900624 W IB 9900624W WO 9953341 A1 WO9953341 A1 WO 9953341A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
elongate member
components
component
guide bar
carriage
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB1999/000624
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Oddvar Amundsen
Odd Arve Sagstad
Reidar Stusdal
Rolf Anthonisen
Dag Samsonsen
Original Assignee
Schlumberger Holdings Limited
Schlumberger Canada Limited
Services Petroliers Schlumberger
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Schlumberger Holdings Limited, Schlumberger Canada Limited, Services Petroliers Schlumberger filed Critical Schlumberger Holdings Limited
Priority to AU29519/99A priority Critical patent/AU2951999A/en
Publication of WO1999053341A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999053341A1/fr
Priority to NO20005172A priority patent/NO20005172L/no

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01VGEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
    • G01V1/00Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
    • G01V1/16Receiving elements for seismic signals; Arrangements or adaptations of receiving elements
    • G01V1/20Arrangements of receiving elements, e.g. geophone pattern
    • G01V1/201Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automated production line apparatus for the manufacture of streamers of the kind used in marine seismic surveys.
  • Such streamers generally consist of a plurality of rope harness subassemblies, each of which consists of a pair of elongate members, for example, Kevlar ropes, on which are threaded a number of components, including hydrophones, foam sections and spacers.
  • Each rope harness subassembly is, typically, provided with connectors which permit it to be coupled to other similar subassemblies to form the required streamer length.
  • a production line apparatus for the assembly of rope harness subassemblies for incorporation into seismic streamers comprising:
  • support means for supporting at least one elongate member
  • guide means which, in use, extend longitudinally of, and adjacent to, the elongate member
  • At least one carriage mounted for movement to and fro along the guide means, and hence, longitudinally of an elongate member supported by the support means; the carriage having means for engaging at least one component supplied to an inlet end of the elongate member to move said at least one component along the elongate member to a predetermined position on the elongate member under the control of the control means.
  • the apparatus can move the desired components to their required locations
  • Kevlar ropes which may be up to 99 m in length, automatically.
  • the apparatus includes inlet means operable by the control means to permit the assembly at the inlet end of the elongate member of a component group comprising at least two components, the components of the said component group, in use, being moved together along the elongate member by a single pass of the or each carriage.
  • the carriage may move several neighbouring components along the Kevlar rope in a single movement, saving time and reducing wear.
  • the apparatus is provided with an auxiliary carriage operable by the control means to move the or each component from the inlet end of the elongate member to a location proximate to said predetermined position and a second main carriage operable to move the or each component to its final location along the length of the elongate member. Since the auxiliary and main carriages can operate simultaneously, operation of such production line apparatus can be made faster than in a system using a single carriage to achieve final positioning of the components.
  • the invention further provides a method for assembling rope harness subassemblies for incorporation into seismic streamers, the method comprising:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a rope harness sub-assembly which forms part of a typical seismic streamer
  • FIGS. 2(a) to (c) are schematic diagrams of the inlet end of an automated production line in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view of a crimp sleeve securing the Kevlar ropes of the rope harness subassembly to guide bars of the production line inlet end of Figures 2(a) to (c) ;
  • Figure 4 is a detailed lateral view of a locking clamp of the production line of Figures 2(a) to (c);
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an automated assembly line in accordance with the invention, seen from above;
  • Figure 6 is a cross section of a guide frame forming part of the production line of the invention.
  • Figure 7 is a detailed view of a main shuttle of the production line of Figures 2(a) to (c);
  • Figures 8(a) and (b) are a front view and side respectively, of parts of the main shuttle of Figure 7;
  • Figure 9 is a detailed view of a tensioning cylinder of the production line of Figures 2(a) to (c) .
  • the rope harness subassembly 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises two parallel ropes 12 on which are threaded the hydrophones 14 which form the main functional part of the streamer.
  • the subassembly 10 may be, for example, approximately 99 m long and several such subassemblies may be connected in line to form the streamer.
  • the ropes 12 may, for example, be seven strand constructions made of Kevlar (registered trade mark) with a polyurethane jacket. They are coupled at their ends to connectors 16 and 18, one male and one female, by means of which the subassembly may be connected to other similar subassemblies to form a streamer.
  • the pair of parallel Kevlar ropes 12 are connected to one another and to the connectors 16 and 18 by means of a short loop 17, at each end of the harness, of rope of a more flexible kind than the Kevlar rope used for the main part of the rope harness.
  • the loops 17 may be made of rope of the kind sold under the trade mark Dyneema (Registered trade mark) which is a twelve strand rope of an aramid-type fibre.
  • the hydrophones 14 are separated and spaced from one another by foam sections 19 and spacers 15 threaded on the Kevlar ropes 12.
  • the foam sections 19 fill substantially all the space between the hydrophones 14 and the spacers 15.
  • the components are held in place on the Kevlar ropes 12 by gluing at least some of the spacers 15 with, for example, cyanoacrylate glue, to the ropes 12.
  • the hydrophones 14 are held in place between pairs of spacers 15 and are wedged in position by the foam sections 19 which are also 'trapped' between pairs of adjacent spacers 15.
  • the production line is of generally linear format and the inlet end is positioned at one end of the Kevlar ropes 12 which will form the 'backbone' of the rope harness subassembly.
  • the Kevlar ropes 12 (which are arranged side by side so that only one is visible in Figures 2(a) to (c) ) are held under tension, typically equivalent to 200 kg, and have their free ends secured to guide bars 22, which form part of the production line, by means of crimp sleeves 30 shown in greater detail in Figure 3.
  • the crimp sleeves 30 have at one end a blind bore 32 into which the end of the Kevlar rope 12 is inserted and their other end a screw-threaded member 34 which screws into a suitable threaded socket formed in the end of the guide bar 22.
  • the cylindrical wall of the blind bore 32 of the crimp sleeve 30 is crimped onto the Kevlar rope 12 so that the crimped-down diameter of the sleeve is the same as that of the
  • the guide bars 22 extend from the ends of the Kevlar ropes 12 to free ends adjacent inlet matrices from which the other elements of the subassembly 10 are supplied. Between the ends of the guide bars 22, a central "in-feed lock' is defined by two locking clamps 24 (shown in greater detail in Figure 4) which, when their jaws 25 are closed, fit closely adjacent the guide bars 22 and, when the jaws 25 are open, are spaced from one another so as to allow the passage of the elements which are to be threaded onto the Kevlar ropes 12 therethrough. As can be seen from Figure 4 the jaws 25 are opened and closed by means of hydraulic cylinders 27 coupled to the jaws 25 by means of suitable linkages 29.
  • the inlet end of the production line also comprises containers 41 for foam sections 19, spacers 15 and hydrophones 14, mounted above the level of the main production line so as to take advantage of gravitational forces in feeding components to the inlet of the production line proper.
  • the containers 41 include built-in aligning and feeder mechanisms which are controlled from a central control station.
  • foam sections 19 and spacers 15 are led to the production line through tubes, while the hydrophones 14 slide down steel guides.
  • Foam sections 19, spacers 15 and hydrophones 14 are supplied to a pair of inlet matrices 44, each of which is associated with one of the two rope harnesses on which the production line will work simultaneously.
  • the inlet matrices 44 control the number and order in which components are mounted on the rope harnesses 12.
  • the tubes from the foam and spacer containers are connected to the inlet matrices 44.
  • Each matrix 44 is moveable sideways and up and down under the control of pneumatic cylinders (not shown) .
  • the inlet end of the production line shown in Figures 2(a) to (c) lies at one end of the production line.
  • the Kevlar rope harnesses 12 are extended to their full length to tension cylinders 40 as shown in Figure 5 and in greater detail in Figure 9.
  • the Kevlar rope harnesses 12 are supported between the inlet end and the tensioning cylinders 40 on guide frames 50 which serve to support both the harnesses 12 and guide rails 52 on which are mounted two shuttles 42 and 43 whose operation will be described in detail below.
  • Each guide frame 50 comprises a support post 54 bolted to the floor at its lower end 51 and having at its uppermost end a support member 53 carrying a pair of precision machined steel guide rails 52.
  • Two separate shuttles 42 and 43 run along the guide rails 52 on steel wheels and are driven, for example, by means of electrical servo motors connected through gears to a toothed bar 55 mounted on the support member 53 of the guide frame 50. Electrical cables connected to the shuttles are routed through a cable channel 56 mounted on the support member 53 between the guide rails 52.
  • each support post 54 also carries, below the support member 53, a support table 57 extending generally horizontally and transversely of both the guide rails 52 and the harnesses 12.
  • the support table 57 has adjacent its free edges, remote from the support post 54, a generally flat, smooth support surface over which the Kevlar ropes 12 of two harnesses on which the production line is working pass on their way to the tensioning cylinders 40, one on each support arm 56.
  • the support table 57 is provided, adjacent to and on each side of the support post 54, with a shallow, trough-like depression 58 capable of containing up to three Kevlar rope harnesses ready for completion.
  • the production line can be loaded with a total of eight rope harnesses for completion before the production line goes into operation, allowing for fewer stoppages and more efficient operation.
  • the production line carries out the following operations automatically under the control of a central control unit 59:
  • the Kevlar ropes 12 are connected to one another and to the male connector 16 by means of a Dyneema rope loop.
  • the ends of the Dyneema rope loop 17 are secured to the ends of the Kevlar ropes 12 by means of crimp sleeves 60 shown in Figure 1.
  • the male connector 16 is then coupled to the tensioning cylinders 40.
  • the other ends of the ropes 12 are connected to temporary crimp sleeves 30 and the threaded members 34 on the temporary crimp sleeves 30 are screwed into the ends of the guide bars 22
  • the rope harnesses are placed under tension by means of the tensioning cylinders 40.
  • Foam sections 19, spacers 15 and hydrophones 14 are then supplied to the inlet matrices 44 and are fed onto the guide bars 22, in the required order, by means of pressurized air from nozzles under the control of the central control unit.
  • the order in which foam sections 19, spacers 15 and hydrophones 14 are fed onto the guide bars 22 is determined by appropriate movement of the inlet matrices 44 so that the required components are aligned with the guide bars 22 in turn.
  • the locking clamp remote from the inlet matrix 44 is closed so as to maintain tension on the ropes, while the clamp 24 adjacent the inlet matrix 44 is open, so as to allow the components to enter the in-feed lock.
  • the locking clamp 24 adjacent the inlet matrix 44 closes and that at the remote end of the in-feed lock opens to allow the components to pass through it, along the guide bar 22 and onto the Kevlar ropes of the rope harness 12, as shown in Figure 2(c) .
  • the group of components assembled in the in-feed lock is moved onto the ropes 12 by means of one of the two shuttles 42, referred to hereinafter as the auxiliary shuttle, while the locking clamp 24 adjacent the inlet matrix 44 maintains the tension in the ropes.
  • the auxiliary shuttle 42 runs on the guide rails 52 along a path parallel to the rope harnesses 12 supported by the plurality of support frames 50.
  • the auxiliary shuttle 42 is provided with pneumatically operated gripping jaws capable of gripping the spacers 15 for movement with the shuttle 42. Only the spacers 15, which are relatively robust, are held by the shuttle gripping jaws; each group of components assembled in the in-feed lock is arranged to have a spacer 15 as the 'rearmost' component of the group so that the foam sections 19 and hydrophones 14 in the component group are simply pushed along the ropes 12 of the harness ahead of the rearmost spacer 15 which is gripped by the auxiliary shuttle.
  • the auxiliary shuttle 42 acting under the control of a central processor unit, transports the group of components assembled in the in-feed lock to a predetermined position along the ropes of the harness 12. At the predetermined location on the harness the second or 'main' shuttle 43 collects the group of components for final positioning.
  • the main shuttle 43 shown in detail in Figures 7 and 8(a) and (b) is, like the auxiliary shuttle 42, provided with gripping jaws 70 for gripping the spacers 15 but it also has servo motors 72, for controlling the position of the gripping jaws 70 and the spacers 15 they carry, and glue dosing nozzles 74, by means of which the spacers 15 may be glued to the Kevlar ropes of the harnesses with, for example cyanoacrylate glue.
  • the shuttle 43 runs on wheels 76 which, as described above run on guide rails 52 supported by guide frames 50.
  • the gripping jaws 70 are, as can be seen from Figures 8(a) and (b) , operated hydraulically and are provided with circumferentially extending slots 78 through which the glue dosing nozzles 74 may apply glue to the Kevlar ropes 12 once the spacers are in position.
  • the temporary crimp sleeves 30 are cut away and the second loop of Dyneema rope 17 together with its associated female connector 18 are secured to the end of the Kevlar ropes by means of crimp sleeves 60.
  • the rope harness sub-assembly is then completed by the addition of an outer tubular sheath over the whole assembly.
  • the outer sheath is filled with kerosene which is absorbed by the foam sections 19 and controls the buoyancy of the finished streamer.
  • Both of the auxiliary and main shuttles 42 and 43, as well as the various pneumatic actuators controlling the locking clamps 24, the gripping jaws on the shuttles and the supply of components to and from the inlet matrices 44, operate under the control of a central production line control unit, for example, an Omron (registered trade mark) production line control unit.
  • the production line control unit controls all pneumatic systems and servo motors and to facilitate this receives input signals from limit switches, push buttons and other sensors mounted on the system so that it is able to determine the location of the movable parts of the system and the condition of any multi- condition components of the production line.
  • the automated production line described allows positioning of the components and gluing of the spacers to fix the components, once positioned, automatically.
  • two harnesses are completed simultaneously and the supply and alignment of components is entirely automated. Different component sequences can be chosen simply by suitable manipulation of the program controlling the inlet matrices 44.
  • the production line is largely automated, it can be operated from a central production line control unit, requiring minimum staffing levels.
  • the housings of the hydrophones 14 can be threaded onto one of the ropes 12, and provided with a groove which engages and locates against the other rope.
  • all of the components can engage and locate against the ropes 12 by way of grooves provided in them for that purpose, in which case the in-feed locks can be replaced by single clamps to maintain the tension in the ropes.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geophysics (AREA)
  • Automobile Manufacture Line, Endless Track Vehicle, Trailer (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une chaîne de fabrication automatisée destinée à produire des sections de flûte marine longues de 100 mètres, cette chaîne de fabrication comprenant une table allongée pourvue de dispositifs tendeurs permettant de soutenir le harnachement de câbles en kevlar de la flûte marine tendue. A l'une des extrémités de cette table, un dispositif d'alimentation automatique fournit automatiquement des groupes de composants, en général des pièces d'écartement, des sections en mousse, et des hydrophones, de manière à déposer ceux-ci sur les câbles en kevlar par l'intermédiaire d'une 'écluse' ou d'une 'rigole' d'introduction, définie par deux dispositifs de serrage espacés. Ces dispositifs de serrage s'ouvrent successivement afin de tendre en permanence les câbles en kevlar, pendant que les différents composants sont amenés sur ceux-ci. Une navette déplace alors ces composants le long desdits câbles en kevlar de sorte que ces composants adoptent la position voulue, au moins une partie d'entre eux, en général les pièces d'écartement, étant automatiquement collés à ces câbles.
PCT/IB1999/000624 1998-04-15 1999-04-09 Fabrication automatisee de flutes marines WO1999053341A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU29519/99A AU2951999A (en) 1998-04-15 1999-04-09 Automated streamer production
NO20005172A NO20005172L (no) 1998-04-15 2000-10-13 Automatisert produksjon av hydrofonkabler

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9807997.3 1998-04-15
GBGB9807997.3A GB9807997D0 (en) 1998-04-15 1998-04-15 Automated streamer production

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999053341A1 true WO1999053341A1 (fr) 1999-10-21

Family

ID=10830378

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB1999/000624 WO1999053341A1 (fr) 1998-04-15 1999-04-09 Fabrication automatisee de flutes marines

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2951999A (fr)
GB (1) GB9807997D0 (fr)
NO (1) NO20005172L (fr)
WO (1) WO1999053341A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8477561B2 (en) 2005-04-26 2013-07-02 Westerngeco L.L.C. Seismic streamer system and method
US20150089784A1 (en) * 2013-09-30 2015-04-02 Sercel, Inc. Marine cable support system and method
CN108680949A (zh) * 2018-08-02 2018-10-19 国家海洋局第二海洋研究所 一种水听器在凯夫拉绳的快速连接及防撞装置
US10557953B2 (en) 2016-06-30 2020-02-11 Pgs Geophysical As Molded snap-in plug and device and method for using same
US10613241B2 (en) 2016-06-24 2020-04-07 Pgs Geophysical As Streamer manufacturing

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3568246A (en) * 1968-08-05 1971-03-09 Mandrel Industries Apparatus for molding improved bulkheads for seismic streamers and the like
US4296481A (en) * 1979-12-17 1981-10-20 Exploration Company Streamer bulkhead
US4315362A (en) * 1980-07-28 1982-02-16 Pigford James W Method and tool for placing beads on a braid of hair
EP0661721A1 (fr) * 1993-12-28 1995-07-05 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Procédé et dispositif pour enrouler un ruban

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3568246A (en) * 1968-08-05 1971-03-09 Mandrel Industries Apparatus for molding improved bulkheads for seismic streamers and the like
US4296481A (en) * 1979-12-17 1981-10-20 Exploration Company Streamer bulkhead
US4315362A (en) * 1980-07-28 1982-02-16 Pigford James W Method and tool for placing beads on a braid of hair
EP0661721A1 (fr) * 1993-12-28 1995-07-05 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Procédé et dispositif pour enrouler un ruban

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8477561B2 (en) 2005-04-26 2013-07-02 Westerngeco L.L.C. Seismic streamer system and method
US8942061B2 (en) 2005-04-26 2015-01-27 Westerngeco L.L.C. Seismic streamer system and method
US20150089784A1 (en) * 2013-09-30 2015-04-02 Sercel, Inc. Marine cable support system and method
EP2853928A3 (fr) * 2013-09-30 2016-03-23 Sercel, Inc. Système et procédé de support de câble marin
US9715038B2 (en) * 2013-09-30 2017-07-25 Sercel Inc. Marine cable support system and method
US10613241B2 (en) 2016-06-24 2020-04-07 Pgs Geophysical As Streamer manufacturing
US10557953B2 (en) 2016-06-30 2020-02-11 Pgs Geophysical As Molded snap-in plug and device and method for using same
CN108680949A (zh) * 2018-08-02 2018-10-19 国家海洋局第二海洋研究所 一种水听器在凯夫拉绳的快速连接及防撞装置
CN108680949B (zh) * 2018-08-02 2024-01-26 自然资源部第二海洋研究所 一种水听器在凯夫拉绳的快速连接及防撞装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20005172L (no) 2000-12-15
GB9807997D0 (en) 1998-06-17
NO20005172D0 (no) 2000-10-13
AU2951999A (en) 1999-11-01

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