TOWED ARRAY STREAMER

Abstract: A towed array streamer and method for making the streamer, which streamer is of a generally solid construction. The streamer includes a centrally located buoyant core (1) and includes a gel filled layer (2) carrying data bearers (3) around that core (1). An outer jacket (4) encases an inner portion of the streamer. Filler cords (7) may also be aligned within the gel filled layer (2) to provide support for the gel whilst the streamer is being assembled. Strength members (5) may optionally be included within the gel layer (2) or within an inner jacket (6) formed immediately inside of the outer jacket (4).

Description: TOWED ARRAY STREAMER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the construction of towed array streamers and the method of manufacture of such towed streamers. Towed array streamers usually comprise an elongate buoyant streamer having spaced along its length the required payload. Streamers are generally made from several shorter modules which are joined together to form the full length, and the modules used along the length have varying structures and are designed to perform different functions. The reason for positioning more than one type of module along the length of the streamer is in part because prevailing ambient conditions and forces associated with towing vary along the length. This invention is especially suited to a module that carries sensors such as hydrophones. Towed streamers are usually of considerable length and are subject to quite high towing strains - nd are consequently provided with high tensile or non- compliant strain members to transmit tension along the streamer. The streamers however must also be sufficiently flexible for winching onto a bollard or the like. The strength members by their very nature are designed to carry a significant portion of the towing load, and it is desirable that the rest of the streamer is subjected to minimal strain. Streamers are generally of one of two types. One such type are liquid filled and these have been used as a prior art, and generally have strength members, the pay load and data transmission means within a liquid core with a jacket encapsui -tt.r g these components. The liquid used in such streamers fills most of the streamer and can be a hydrocarbon such as kerosene. Such streamers are generally less robust than streamers of a generally solid nature, and generally have a shorter life. Streamers of solid construction however suffer from the disadvantage of having a somewhat reduced sensitivity of the payload, with a far greater noise transmitted by reason of transfer of tension through solid layers onto the sensors either directly or indirectly through data bearer cables connected thereto. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a towed streamer that is of solid construction, and has improved isolation of the payload from the stresses that the streamer is subjected to. This object can be achieved by the provision of a layer of gel to isolate data bearers from the remainder of the cable and thereby not providing a solid - solid interface and thereby reduce the transmission of vibration or strain into the data bearer layer. A difficulty with providing a liquid - solid interface is that the construction of solid cables is from the inside layers to the outside, arid thus the gel layer needs to be introduced around for example a buoyant core. The difficulty is that the layer outside of the gel layer is often not desired to be rigid and therefore the fluid cannot necessarily be pumped into a unfilled area after construction has been completed. Even if that were possible, the provision of a port to allow access to such a layer for filling is somewhat awkward. It is proposed that a gel layer be applied around an inner layer such as the buoyant core and then a further layer, such as a plastics having relatively low melting point properties, be extruded around the gel layer, or alternatively a wrap can be introduced over the gel filled layer, and such wrap can be a paper wrap. The gel is preferably a type that can be Theologically modified and generally has more fluid properties when subjected to movement or distortion or elevated temperature, and more gel-like when undisturbed. Certain types of grease have this property. A further difficulty arises in that the gel is somewhat difficult to maintain in position around a central core on assembly of the streamer, and requires some support in order to remain in place. The method of making such a layer therefore includes laying of the data bearers first and then coating the gel over the transmission layers. The data bearers are preferably braided and in addition to beneficial effects on the reduction in strain and vibration transmission such a configuration also provides a more effective support for the gel. In a more preferably form the gel filled layer is provided with further support, and therefore it may be desired to have filler members laid in the area to be filled by a gel, such filler members are preferably relatively inert and bears as little strain as possible. In this way further support is provided for the gel, enabling a larger cross-sectional area of gel to be supported, and enhancing the degree to which the data-bearers are isolated from the structural path between the jacket and the core. Alternatively it might be desired to have the strain members also extend through the gel fϋled layer simply to add further support for the gel. This is somewhat less pi erablθ because the tension does need to transmit through the gel filled layer to transfer from the outer layer or layers to the strain members, and such a layout is therefore generally less able to isolate the data bearers. In one for a invention could be said to reside in a towed array streamer of general - -.. - ~ construction including a buoyant core, a gel filled layer surrounc: g the buoyant core, a databearers within the gel filled layer, means to encase Xe gel filled layer together forming an inner portion of the streamer and an outer jacket encasing the inner portion of the streamer, and having strength members positioned within the cable so as to transmit tension along the cable. In an alternative form the invention could be said to reside in a method of making a towed array streamer including the steps of extruding a buoyant core, braiding a plurality of data-bearer wires around the core to form a databearer layer, filling gel throughout and over the data bearer layer, encasing the gel filled layer with a casing, and including the step of aligning strength members so as to transmit tension along the streamer thereby forming an inner portion of the towed streamer cable and forming an outer jacket over said inner portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding the invention will now be described with reference to two embodimen t which will be described with reference to drawings in which:- In the drawings: FIG. 1 Is a somewhat diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention, FIG.2 is a plan view of the first embodiment showing successive layers stripped off, FIG.3 Is a somewhat diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention, and FIG.4 is a plan view of the second embodiment showing successive layers stripped off. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Dimensions of certain of the parts as shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity of illustration. The towed streamer cable is generally of solid construction and includes a buoyant core 1 , with a gel filled layer 2 surrounding the buoyant core. The buoyant core in the illustrated embodiments is made from a thermoplastic rubber and functions as a means to maintain the buoyancy of the streamer. The thermoplastics rubber used can also be a neoprene. Data bearers 3 are positioned within the gel filled layer. The data bearers act to transmit data along the streamer. An outer jacket 4 is positioned around the outside of the cable, and encases all the other component layers of the cable. The outer jacket is made in the nature of a water-impermeable somewhat harder plastics and can be made of, for example, thermoplastics polyurethane. The gel used to form the gel layer is of a friction or heat modifiable type, wherein the rheoiogical characteristics can be modified by heat or friction. A gel the fluidity of which can be dramatically decrease by raising the temperature or by friction is a suitable type. Thus during assembly of the streamer cable the gel is appropriately applied as a rather less fluid form, but whilst in situ and in active use takes a rather more fluid form. As an alternative the gel could be applied in a liquid form and cooled to retain its position. The advantage of providing such a gel filled layer is that there is no solid-solid interface between the source of tension or strain and the data bearers. The reduction in the transfer of strain and tension obviously protects the data bearers from breakage, and also has the added advantage of reducing transmission of strain and vibrations along the databearers to the sensors. Strength members 5 are positioned within the cable and inside of the outer jacket so as to transmit tension along the cable. Such strength members can be made of any appropriate type, and are in the illustrated embodiments of high tensile material such as sold under the trade marks KEVLAR or VECTRAN. In this type of cable the strength members are positioned to give a non-compliant transmission of tension along the cable. Both of the illustrated embodiments also have an inner jacket layer 6 positioned between the outer jacket and the gel filled layer. Such inner jacket is made of a thermoplastic rubber or similar materials, and is thus more elastic than the outer jacket. Both of the illustrated embodiments also have within the gel filled layer filler cords 7, laid so as to be aligned longitudinally with the buoyant core 1. Such filler cords in the illustrated embodiments are made of a polypropylene. Such filler cords are somewhat deformable and have minimal impact of the transfer of tension along the length of the streamer cable. A further advantage of such filler cords being positioned directly around the buoyant core is that where the buoyant core is interrupted to house a sensor, the connection of the data bearers to the sensor is made easier, because the angle at which the data bearers are connected is less acute than would be the case where the data bearers lie directly against the payload. The gel filled layer is paper wrapped, with strips of paper helically wound over the gel filled layer to form a paper wrap 8 so as to ensure that the gel stays in place, and particularly during the assembly where the inner jacket layer is extruded over the paper wrap. The first illustrated embodiment is generally constructed as outlined above. In this embodiment the strength members 5 are longitudinally aligned within the inner jacket 6. This arrangement has the advantage that the transfer of tension is somewhat removed from the gel filled layer 2 and isolates the gel filled layer from tension that may transfer somewhat into the milieu surrounded by the strength members. Furthermore upon winching the strain exerted upon the outer jacket 4 is transferred through the inner jacket and onto the strength members relatively directly and does not need to traverse the gel filled layer. The filler cords of this first embodiment form a generally continuous layer around the buoyant core and have a tendency to keep the core in position. The data bearers 3 are braided and the angle of the braid is chosen so that the extent of compliance of streamer cable generally is matched by the braid such that the braid will not constrict around the filler cords on a load being applied to the streamer. Thus to make such a streamer the buoyant core is extruded, the polypropylene filler cords are aligned around the core. The data bearers are braided around the filler cords and gel is filled into the interstices and over the braided data bearers. The gel is suitably prepared so as to have more gel-like characteristics, and that may include applying the gel when particularly cold, and some considerable time since the gel was last disturbed. The paper wrapper is wrapped around the gel filled layer. The strength members are then positioned in correct alignment and the inner jacket layer is extruded over them. After appropriate cooling the outer jacket is formed around the inner jacket by extrusion. The second illustrated embodiment is similar to that of the first illustrated embodiment except that strength members are not located in the inner jacket, but are positioned within the gel filled layer and having a filler cord interspersed between each two adjacent strength members. The second embodiment isolated the data bearers to a lesser extent to that of the first embodiment Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiments of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A towed array streamer of generally solid construction including a buoyant core (1), a gel filled layer (2) surrounding the buoyant core, databearers (3) within the gel filled layer, means to encase (8) the gel filled layer together forming an inner portion of the streamer and an outer jacket (14) encasing the inner portion of the streamer, and having strength members (5) positioned within the cable so as to transmit tension along the cable. 2 A towed array streamer as in claim 1 wherein the data bearers (3) comprise a plurality of data wires braided around the buoyant core (1 ). 3. A towed array streamer as in claim 1 including a resilient inner jacket (6) around the ge! filled layer (2) , and said inner jacket forming part of the inner portion of the streamer and being encased by the outer jacket (4), the strength members (5) being longitudinally positioned and being embedded within the inner jacket. 4. A towed array streamer as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the means to encase the gel filled layer is a paper wrap (8). 5. A towed array streamer as in claim 1 wherein filler members (7) are provided within the gel filled layer (2). 6. A towed array streamer as in claim 1 wherein the strength members (5) are laid longitudinally within the gel filled layer (2) surrounding the buoyant core (1 ). 7- A method of making a towed array streamer including the steps of extruding a buoyant core (1), braiding a plurality of data-bearer wires (3) around the core to form a databearer layer, filling gel throughout and over the data bearer layer, encasing the gel filled layer (2) with a casing (8), and including the step of aligning strength members so as to transmit tension along the streamer thereby forming an inner portion of the towed streamer cable and forming an outer jacket over said inner portion. 8. - ■ A method of making a towed array streamer as in claim 7 wherein the method includes the step of surrounding the casing (8) with an inner jacket layer (6), said inner jacket being part of the inner portion. 9. A method of making a towed array streamer as in claim 7 wherein the casirsg is formed by spirally wrapping the gel filled layer with a paper strip (8). 10. A method of making a towed streamer cable as in claim 7 wherein the method includes the step of aligning a plurality of filler cords (7) around the buoyant core (1), before the data bearer layer (3) is formed. 11. A method of making a towed array streamer as in claim 7 wherein strength members (5) are positioned in longitudinal alignment over the casing (8) before the step of forming the inner jacke. (6), and the step of forming the inner jacket includes extruding the inner jacket around the strength members (5). 12. A method of making a towed array streamer cable as in claim 7 wherein the method includes the step of aligning a plurality of strength members (5) around the buoyant core (1), before the data bearer layer is formed. 13. A method of making a towed array streamer as in claim 8 wherein the method includes the step of aligning a plurality of strength members (5) around the casing (1), before the inner jacket is formed. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 22 December 1992 (22.12.92) ; original claims 5 and 10 deleted ; original claims 2,3 and 4 unchanged ; remaining claims amended and renumbered as claims 1 -11 (2 pages)] 1. A towed array streamer of generally solid construction including a buoyant core (1), a gel filled layer (2) surrounding the buoyant core, filler members (7) and databearers (3) positioned within the gel filled layer, and said filler members forming a layer separate from the data bearers within the gel filled layer together forming an inner portion of the streamer and an outer jacket (14) encasing the inner portion of the streamer, and having strength members (5) positioned within the cable and spaced from the buoyant core (1) so as to transmit tension along the cable. 2 A towed array streamer as in claim 1 wherein the data bearers (3) comprise a plurality of data wires braided around the buoyant core (1). 3. A towed array streamer as in claim 1 including a resilient inner jacket (6) around the gel filled layer (2) , and said inner jacket forming part of the inner portion of the streamer and being encased by the outer jacket (4), the strength members (5) being longitudinally positioned and being embedded within the inner jacket. 4. A towed array streamer as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the means to encase the gel filled layer is a paper wrap (8). 5. A towed array streamer as in claim 1 wherein the strength members (5) are laid longitudinally within the gel filled layer (2) surrounding the buoyant core (1). 6. A method of making a towed array streamer including the steps of extruding a buoyant core (1), aligning a plurality of filler members (7) around the buoyant core (1), braiding a plurality of data-bearer wires (3) around the filler members, filling gel throughout and over the data bearer wires, encasing the gel filled layer (2) with a casing (8), and including the step of aligning strength members spaced from the buoyant core and so as to transmit tension along the streamer thereby forming an inner portion of the towed streamer cable and forming an outer jacket over said inner portion. 7. A method of making a towed array streamer as in claim 6 wherein the method includes the step of surrounding the casing (8) with an inner jacket layer (6), said inner jacket being part of the inner portion. 8. A method of making a towed array streamer as in claim 6 wherein the casing is formed by spirally wrapping the gel filled layer with a paper strip (8). 9. A method of making a towed array streamer as in claim 6 wherein strength members (5) are positioned in longitudinal alignment over the casing (8) before the step of forming the inner jacket (6), and the step of forming the inner jacket includes extruding the inner jacket around the strength members (5). 10. A method of making a towed array streamer cable as in claim 6 wherein the method includes the step of aligning a plurality of strength members (5) around the buoyant core (1), before the data bearer layer is formed. 11. A method of making a towed array streamer as in claim 7 wherein the method includes the step of aligning a plurality of strength members (5) around the casing (1), before the inner jacket is formed.

Inventors: HARVEY ANTHONY PETER, HARVEY, ANTHONY, PETER
Applicants: COMMW OF AUSTRALIA, THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H01B13
IPC codes: G01V1, H01B7