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Contenuto archiviato il 2022-12-27

DEVELOPMENT OF A COST-EFFECTIVE AMPHIBIOUS SEISMIC SURVEY SYSTEM

Obiettivo

The aim of the project is to improve the technical capability and cost-effectiveness of the existing system by improving the speed of operation, the system capability in bad weather and in hard soils, the water resistance of equipment, the deep water performance and the system logistics.
STAGE 1 - SUB-SYSTEM REVIEW
Possible additions to system capability were assessed including amphibious vehicles telemetry systems and bay cables.
A suitable lightweight drill was chosen to form the basis of a new design of minimal draft drilling barge.
A new design cutting device operated from the flushing jet was considered.
The sub-system; surveying, flushing, geophones, shooting and recording were reviewed to ensure optimal choice of equipment. Experiments were conducted with alternative methods of achieving amphibious capability for the recording sub-system.
Experiments were conducted with alternative flushing pumps. Alternative methods of marking the line and fastening the cables and geophones were evaluated.
Alternative boats were reviewed and propulsion units evaluated. STAGE 2 - SUB-SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Equipment has been improved and developed including the flushing tools and the gear for raising and lowering flushing equipment.
All equipment liable to immersion in sea-water has been evaluated and design studies are proceeding to minimise the risk of water damage.
Consideration has been given to redesigning the equipment for faster laying and picking up under water.
The working depths for laying and picking up geophones have been increased.
For low tide conditions special equipment including mud boards are being developed.
The bad weather capability of the flushing and drilling barges has been improved.
STAGE 3 - SUB-SYSTEM FIELD TRIALS
Trials were conducted for selected sub-systems under varying conditions and terrains, this involved :
- flushing and drilling in different sub-soils
- line marking, laying and picking up in water at different depths and
over mud, sand, marsh and reeds
- rough and calm weather conditions
- working in still and fast moving water
STAGE 4 - SYSTEM INTEGRATION
Standardisation of equipment has been considered for compatibility of spares.
Transport systems to prospects for equipment and craft are being devised for easy crewmoves. Equipment design has taken into account the necessity for dismantling and ease of packing. Operations from a mother ship or a land base far from hard slip-way facilities have been studied as well as methods for towing and carrying sub-systems close to work site. Methods of lifting sub -systems aboard and launching from the mother ship are also under development.
Systems for the rapid transport of men and equipment from base to work site are being developed, e. g. , systems for quickly securing the drilling barge over the shot holes.
The technical capability and cost-effectiveness of the original system have been improved. Further work is needed on some of the additions to the system.
The project evolved as a result of seismic surveys carried out in the U. K. A dynamite system based on minimal draft barges, using flushing pumps operated through a well in the middle of the barge was developed. This method uses centrifugal pumps and a specially designed flushing tool lowered from an A-frame over the well. Using geophones positioned on the sea bed and survey lines marked with wooden posts, the system was used successfully for surveys in the U. K. The reason for the project was to develop the system into a fully amphibious cost-effective system able to operate in a wide range of transition-zone prospets.
The project was divided into eight phases as follows :
1. Sub-system review. At this stage the sub-systems were reviewed, and additions to system capability were agreed.
2. Sub-system development. Equipment was improved and developed

. 3. Sub-system field trials. Comparative time trials were conducted for selected sub-systems under varying conditions and terrain.
4. System integration. Attention was switched from the individual sub-system to an analysis of the system as a whole.
5. System field trials. System field trials were held where operations were studied under varying conditions. Problems were identified and means of streamlining operations examined.
6. System modifications. These were made on the basis of the field trials.
7. System acceptance trials. Contract pressure conditions were simulated in which the system was transported to a prospect and used under operating conditions.
8. Final report.

Invito a presentare proposte

Data not available

Meccanismo di finanziamento

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinatore

AMPHIBIOUS SEISMIC LTD
Contributo UE
Nessun dato
Indirizzo
36A ORCHARD AVENUE POOLE
BH14 8AJ DORSET
Regno Unito

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Costo totale
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