Yoram Shoham

US Patent:

52746038, Dec 28, 1993

Filed:

Jul 29, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/737301

Inventors:

Anthony M. Zibilich - Mandeville LA
Yoram Shoham - Houston TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 138

US Classification:

367 20

Abstract:

A marine seismic cable section with stress members and internal wiring located within the cable section in a manner which reduces internal bending stresses upon the cable section when wound upon a storage reel. Stress members are at least near a horizontal plane passing through and at approximately equal distances from the center line of the cable section. Internal wiring is located in a vertical crisscrossing pattern down the length of the cable section. In one important embodiment, the cable section contains an elastomeric filler material to retain and support stress members, internal wiring and other internal components at their desired location and to prevent damage to internal wiring and components due to external stress when the cable section is wound on a cable reel. Stress relief sections are also provided to further reduce bending stress within the seismic cable section in other embodiments. Additionally embodiments to the cable section provide for adapting the cable section to a bottom cable which is laid on and couples with the sea floor to detect all three vectorial components of particle motion resulting from p- and s-waves and to detect p-waves with a hydrophone.