Patent ID: 8469634

Claim:
A method comprising: causing a submerged geophysical survey cable to surface by moving a piston within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the geophysical survey cable, the moving of the piston responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the geophysical survey cable reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth; and responsive to movement of the piston deflecting a leaf spring responsive to relative movement between the leaf spring and an interaction surface, wherein the movement of the piston overcomes a force created by interaction the leaf spring and the interaction surface, the force latches the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and when the interaction surface is no longer in operational relationship with the leaf spring puncturing a seal of a compressed gas cylinder by movement of a lance, wherein movement of the lance is caused by movement of the piston; and thereby deploying a mechanism that makes the geophysical survey cable more positively buoyant.