Patent ID: 7822515
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: G01V,H02G

Abstract:
1. An ocean bottom cable system, comprising: a sensor cable configured to be extendible from a vessel at the surface of a body of water to the bottom of the body of water, the sensor cable including at least one of an electrical conductor and an optical fiber therein, the sensor cable including a plurality of seismic sensor units at spaced apart locations; at least one lead in cable coupled at a first end to at least one of the vessel and a buoy and at a second end to a forward end of an aft lead in cable segment, the aft lead in cable segment including a cable loop having sufficient length to compensate water-caused motion of the lead in cable substantially without moving any of the sensor units when disposed on the bottom of the body of water; a first swivel disposed between a forward end of the sensor cable and an aft end of the aft lead in cable segment, the first swivel configured to enable relative rotation between ends of the sensor cable and the aft lead in cable segment coupled thereto, the first swivel configured to transmit axial force along the cable therethrough; and at least a second swivel disposed between the second end of the lead in cable and a forward end of the aft lead in segment, the second swivel configured to transmit axial force along the cable therethrough.