Patent ID: 7047898

Claim:
A system for controlling cables and streamers in a seismic tow arrangement comprising at least one deflector ( 13 ) connected to one side of a tow vessel ( 10 ) by at least one tow wire ( 12 ), wherein the deflector is located at a position with a distance perpendicular to the direction of movement ( 5 ) of the tow vessel, the vessel being equipped with a navigation system ( 32 ) for measuring the position of the vessel, a command unit ( 31 ) and a plurality of control units ( 33 ), the control units being located on at least some of the streamers ( 14 ) and being adapted to measure and report their own positions, wherein the command unit ( 31 ) comprises means for calculating deviation in the position of the tow vessel; means for receiving position information from each control unit ( 33 ); and means for calculating deviations from predetermined positions of the control units, based upon the received position information from the control units, and the system comprises means for changing the position of the streamers in order to restore the positions of the control units, to maintain the streamer at a given depth and position, including control devices for varying the length of the tow wire ( 12 ), to vary the transverse position of the deflector ( 13 ) with respect to the vessel ( 10 ), based upon the received position information from the control units and the calculated deviation in the position of the tow vessel, and means for coordinating the control units in changing the position of the streamers.