Pgs Geophysical As

Youlin Hu

Andre Stenzel

Troy L McKey, Iii

Bengt Finnoen

Pressure activated linear locking mechanisms and related methods. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems including: a cover member defining an inner surface, an outer surface, a length, and a first locking portion; a first hollow defined in the locking portion, the first hollow extending along the length of the cover member; a locking member defining a first appendage extending along a first side, the first appendage defines a cross-section and an internal volume; said first appendage disposed within the first hollow, and when the releasable cover is exposed to atmospheric pressure, the first appendage in an inflated condition; and the first appendage is configured to transition to a deflated condition in response to a predetermined pressure greater than the initial pressure.

Pressure activated linear locking mechanisms and related methods

Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface. The causing may be by moving a piston within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the moving of the piston responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the sensor streamer reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth, wherein the pressure exerted on the face of the piston overcomes a latching force tending to hold the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and responsive to the piston overcoming the force that latches the piston releasing a ballast weight, wherein prior to the releasing the ballast weight is at least partially held in place based on position of the piston, and the releasing responsive to movement of the piston.

Method and system of retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables

Depth triggers for marine geophysical survey cable retriever systems. At least some of the illustrative embodiments include causing a submerged geophysical survey cable to surface. In some cases, the causing the cable to surface may include: fracturing a frangible link wherein the frangible link, before the fracturing, affixes position of a piston within a cylinder bore of a housing coupled to the geophysical survey cable, and the fracturing of the frangible link responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the geophysical survey cable reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth; moving the piston within the cylinder bore; and deploying a mechanism that makes the geophysical survey cable more positively buoyant.

Method and system of depth triggers for marine geophysical survey cable retriever systems

Pressure activated linear locking mechanisms and related methods. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems including: a first and second cover defining an inner and outer surface, a length, and a locking portion, respectively; a first and second hollow defined in the locking portion of the first and second cover member, respectively, the hollows extending along the length of the first and second cover members, respectively; a locking member defining first and second appendages extending along a first and second side, respectively, each appendage defines a cross-section and an internal volume; said first and second appendages disposed within the first and second hollows, respectively, and when the releasable cover is exposed to atmospheric pressure, the first and second appendages in an inflated condition; and the first and second appendages are configured to transition to a deflated condition in response to a predetermined pressure greater than the initial pressure.

Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey sensor streamers. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including attaching a retriever system to a sensor streamer by: wrapping a lifting bag assembly at least partially around the sensor streamer, the lifting bag assembly comprising a deflated lifting bag, a gas cylinder, and a depth trigger mechanism; and covering the lifting bag assembly with an outer cover.

Method and system of retriever systems for marine geophysical survey sensor streamers

Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface by flooding an intermediate chamber with water, the intermediate chamber defined within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the flooding of the intermediate chamber responsive to the sensor streamer reaching or exceeding a predetermined depth; and responsive to flooding the intermediate chamber moving a first piston within the cylinder; and thereby puncturing a seal of a compressed gas cylinder responsive to movement of the first piston, the puncturing makes the sensor streamer more positively buoyant.

A marine geophysical survey cable retriever system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged survey cable to surface. In some cases, causing the submerged survey cable to surface includes: shedding ballast weights when the survey cable reaches or exceeds a first predetermined depth; and inflating a lifting bag when the survey cable reaches or exceeds a second predetermined depth.

Method and system of a marine geophysical survey cable retriever

Depth triggers for marine geophysical survey cable retriever systems. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged geophysical survey cable to surface. The cause may include: 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, wherein the movement of the piston overcomes a force created by interaction between two materials, the force latches the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and responsive to the piston overcoming the force that latches the piston deploying a mechanism that makes the geophysical survey cable more positively buoyant, the deploying responsive to movement of the piston.

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The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Youlin Hu