METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING THE EFFECT OF ROUGH SEA SURFACE CONDITIONS ON MARINE SEISMIC SOURCES

摘要

A method of and apparatus for controlling the operation of a multiple-elemen t marine seismic pulse generating source in rough sea surface conditions is disclosed. The method first determines the shape of the path along which the elements are traveling at the point in time just before each element of the source is activated. Once the shape of the path is known, the relative vertical position of each element relative to a fixed reference is determine d. Adjustments can then be entered into the firing times for each element such that the primary pressure peaks constructively interfere with one another. I n a preferred embodiment, a plurality of inclinometers associated with the harness from which the devices are suspended provides a tilt angle measureme nt from which the shape of the path can be determined and the firing times adjusted accordingly.