DEFLECTOR WITH SHOCK ABSORBER

Abstract: A deflector assembly (10) of the kind used to pull one or more seismic streamers being towed by a seismic survey vessel out to a desired lateral offset from the vessel comprises a wing-shaped deflector body (12) suspended by a cable or chain (22) beneath a float (16). In order to prevent the cable or chain (22) breaking in rough weather, a shock absorber (28) is included somewhere along its length, preferably within the deflector body (12) or within the float (16). The shock absorber (28) comprises a piston and cylinder assembly (30) co-operating with a gas-filled accumulator (36) acting as a spring.

Description: DEFLECTOR WITH SHOCK ABSORBER This invention relates to an improved deflector device of the kind to be installed between a towing vessel and a tow located in water, for example, a streamer, a cable with seismic sources or a seismic source array. The purpose of the deflector is to pull the tow out to the side of the vessel, to position the towed seismic equipment at the desired lateral offset from the vessel. One such device is described in US Patent No 5,357,892. It comprises a wing-shaped deflector body which is positioned generally vertically in the water so as to be completely submerged in use. The deflector is suspended under a float and the tow, which follows the deflector, is suspended at the rear of the deflector wing. The deflector is connected to the towing vessel by means of a tow-line fixed to a point near the front of the deflector wing. The deflector wing is of aerofoil-like cross-section. As it is pulled through the water, a sideways force, or "lift", is exerted on the aerofoil-like wing, while the line to the float provides rolling stability. The deflectors in current use are very large, typically, 7.5m high by 2.5m wide and weigh several tonnes. They are usually suspended around 2-8m below the float by means of a fibre rope, and are also provided with a safety chain intended to prevent separation of the float and deflector wing in the event that the rope breaks. In bad weather, the upper part of the deflector wing may rise up out of the water, allowing the rope connecting the deflector wing and the float to go slack. If the deflector wing then drops abruptly, the rope, and, possibly, the safety chain, may break or the attachment points may be damaged. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate this problem. In accordance with the invention there is provided a deflector assembly for installing in a tow-line between a towing vessel and a tow in water behind the vessel, the deflector assembly comprising: a deflector body so shaped and coupled to the towing vessel and to said tow, respectively, as to urge the tow laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the towing vessel; and a float from which the deflector body is suspended; wherein the connection between the float and the deflector body includes shock absorber means for reducing the likelihood of said connection breaking in the event that the deflector body moves abruptly away from the float. Preferably, the shock absorber means are disposed within the outer profile of the deflector body or float so as to avoid a substantial increase in drag due to the presence of the shock absorber means. An embodiment of a deflector assembly in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a deflector assembly; Figure 2 is a side view of the float harness arrangement of a first deflector assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is side view of the shock absorber of the deflector assembly of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top view of the shock absorber of Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows a further, preferred deflector assembly in accordance with the invention. The deflector assembly 10 shown in Figure 1 is mounted between a towing vessel (not shown) and a tow 14 in the water behind the vessel. The tow may comprise seismic streamers, a cable with seismic sources or other equipment. The deflector assembly 10 comprises a deflector body 12 of aerofoil-like cross-section which is suspended generally vertically beneath a float 16. The tow 14 is connected to the deflector body-12 at its rear, trailing edge. The whole deflector assembly 10 is connected to the towing vessel by means of a towline 18 fastened to the deflector body 12 close to its forward edge. A control system 19 is provided to allow the angle of inclination of the deflector body 12, and, hence, the lateral force, to be adjusted as described in more detail in US Patent No 5,357,892. The harness 20 by means of which the deflector body 12 is suspended beneath the float 16 is shown in greater detail in Figure 2. The harness 20 includes a main cable or, as shown, chain 22 and a longer safety chain 24, both of which are secured to the float 16 and to the deflector body 12 by means of suitable shackles 26. A shock absorber 28 is included in the main chain 22 at some point, preferably immediately adjacent either the deflector body 12 or, as shown, the float 16, in order to minimise the number of fixings required. The shock absorber 28 shown in Figures 3 and 4 includes a piston-and-cylinder assembly 30. The cylinder 32 is filled with hydraulic fluid and, if the main chain 22 is subject to a sudden force, the piston moves within the cylinder 32, forcing hydraulic fluid out of the cylinder through an outlet pipe 34. The outlet pipe 34 leads to an accumulator 36 filled with nitrogen. The nitrogen resists compression and acts in a manner similar to a spring, thus absorbing some of the force exerted on the main chain 22 by which the deflector body 12 is suspended beneath the float 16 and reducing the likelihood of it snapping under the sudden force exerted as the deflector body 12 drops. The shock absorber 28 not only reduces the likelihood of the main chain 22 snapping, but generally increases the fatigue life of the chain 22 and the associated shackles and other parts. As shown in Figure 2, the shock absorber 28 is mounted in the chain or cable 22 outside both the body of the float 16 and the deflector body 12. This has the effect of increasing the drag due to the main cable shock absorber, which is clearly undesirable. It is to be preferred, therefore, to mount the shock absorber 28 as shown in Figure 5, within the overall profile of the deflector body 12, where it has little effect on the drag of the deflector assembly. The same result can be achieved by mounting the shock absorber within the body of the float 16. It will be appreciated that many modifications can be made to the described embodiments of the invention. In particular, the pipe 34 may be formed within a single cast block into which the respective interconnected ends of the cylinder 32 and the accumulator 36 are fitted. Alternatively, in place of the shock absorber 28 described above, any other suitable shock-absorbing arrangement, for example based on one or more mechanical springs, can be used to reduce the likelihood of the main chain or cable tethering the deflector body 12 beneath the float 16 breaking under a sudden force.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A deflector assembly for installing in a tow-line between a towing vessel and a tow in water behind the vessel, the deflector assembly comprising: a deflector body, so shaped and coupled to the towing vessel and to said tow, respectively, as to urge the tow laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the towing vessel; and a float from which the deflector body is suspended; wherein the connection between the float and the deflector body includes shock absorber means for reducing the likelihood of said connection breaking in the event that the deflector body moves abruptly away from the float. 2. A deflector assembly according to claim 1 , in which the shock absorber means are disposed within the outer profile of the deflector body so as to avoid a substantial increase in drag due to the presence of the shock absorber means. 3. A deflector assembly according to claim 1 , in which the shock absorber means are disposed within the outer profile of the float so as to avoid a substantial increase in drag due to the presence of the shock absorber means. -4. A deflector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the shock absorber means comprises a piston and cylinder in which the piston is operable to drive hydraulic fluid into an accumulator containing gas which acts as a spring. 5. A deflector assembly according to claim 4, in which the gas in the accumulator is nitrogen.

Inventors: KRISTIANSEN OTTAR, RAMSTAD ARNE, KRISTIANSEN, OTTAR, RAMSTAD, ARNE
Applicants: KRISTIANSEN OTTAR, RAMSTAD ARNE, SCHLUMBERGER CA LTD, SCHLUMBERGER HOLDINGS, SCHLUMBERGER SERVICES PETROL, KRISTIANSEN, OTTAR, RAMSTAD, ARNE, SCHLUMBERGER CANADA LIMITED, SCHLUMBERGER HOLDINGS LIMITED, SERVICES PETROLIERS SCHLUMBERGER
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B63B21
IPC codes: A01K73, B63B21