Offshore marine seismic source tow system - maintain a predetermined distance between a paravane and a geophone streamer cable

摘要

Marine seismic source tow system consists of a tow vessel towing geophone on a submerged streamer cable and a steerable paravane. A seismic energy source is supported by the paravane at a predetermined distance from the geophone. The paravane also has a positioning arrangement responsive to corrective steering signals for controlling its position. The vessel has a paravane control arrangement for transmitting and receiving signals between the paravane and the geophone for measuring the distance between them and transmitting corrective steering signals to maintain the seismic energy source at the precise predetermined distance from the geophone. System provides a steerable seismic and gun supporting paravane responsive to distance measuring acoustic signals to ensure the paravane and a submerged geophone streamer cable are maintained at a predetermined position apart.