Ultrasonic cleaning of marine geophysical equipment

Abstract

Various methods and apparatuses for facilitating cleaning of submerged geophysical equipment using sound waves transmitted at ultrasonic frequencies are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more transducers may be configured to transmit sound at one or more ultrasonic frequencies. The sound at ultrasonic frequencies may be transmitted in the vicinity of submerged geophysical equipment, such as a sensor streamer towed behind a survey vessel. Obstructions (e.g., barnacle larvae) adhering to surfaces of the geophysical equipment may be loosened or removed altogether when ultrasonic transmissions occur within its vicinity. The transducers used to transmit the ultrasonic frequencies may be implemented in various ways, such as being attached to a remote operated vehicle, a cleaning unit, or as being an integral component of the geophysical equipment.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a streamer cleaning unit (SCU) including one or more ultrasonic transducers, the SCU being configured to perform cleaning of one or more pieces of geophysical equipment, including a sensor streamer, while the one or more pieces of geophysical equipment are deployed for operations;   wherein the SCU is configured to attach to the sensor streamer and traverse from a first position on the sensor streamer to a second position on the sensor streamer; and   wherein the SCU is configured to clean the sensor streamer while the SCU traverses from the first position to the second position by transmitting ultrasonic frequencies from the one or more ultrasonic transducers toward the sensor streamer.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) coupled to the SCU, wherein the ROV includes one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit ultrasound at ultrasonic frequencies.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) coupled to the SCU, wherein the ROV is configured to attach the SCU to the sensor streamer prior to the transmission of the ultrasonic frequencies.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a cable tethered between the ROV and a chase vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a control unit coupled to the SCU, wherein the control unit is configured to cause the SCU to sweep across a range of ultrasonic frequencies.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the SCU is configured to traverse from the first position to the second position based on hydrodynamic drag. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more ultrasonic transducers are piezoelectric transducers. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more ultrasonic transducers are speakers. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one brush configured to clean the sensor streamer. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) tethered to a first vessel via a cable; and   a streamer cleaning unit (SCU) that is attachable to the ROV and that includes at least one ultrasonic transducer;   wherein the apparatus is configured to perform cleaning of a sensor streamer while the sensor streamer is deployed for operations by:
 the ROV approaching the sensor streamer while the SCU is attached to the ROV; 
 the ROV attaching the SCU to the sensor streamer; 
 the ROV detaching from the SCU; and 
 the SCU traversing from a first position on the sensor streamer to a second position on the sensor streamer while emitting ultrasonic frequencies toward the sensor streamer from the at least one ultrasonic transducer. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a control unit configured to send one or more commands to the ROV via the cable tethered to the ROV, wherein the one or more commands cause the ROV to maneuver through water in which the sensor streamer is submerged.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to sweep across a range of ultrasonic frequencies while the SCU traverses from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to begin emitting ultrasonic frequencies upon the SCU being attached to the sensor streamer. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the sensor streamer is coupled to a second vessel different from the first vessel. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the SCU includes a plurality of brushes and is configured to clean the sensor streamer using the plurality of brushes. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a streamer cleaning unit (SCU) configured to clean one or more pieces of geophysical equipment by transmitting ultrasonic frequencies from one or more ultrasonic transducers included in the SCU, wherein the one or more pieces of geophysical equipment include a sensor streamer, and wherein the SCU is attached to the sensor streamer and is configured to transmit the ultrasonic frequencies from the one or more ultrasonic transducers while traversing from a first position on the sensor streamer to a second position on the sensor streamer.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) coupled to the SCU, wherein the ROV is configured to propel the SCU along the sensor streamer from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the ROV includes at least one ultrasonic transducer, and wherein the ROV is configured to clean the one or more pieces of geophysical equipment by transmitting ultrasonic frequencies from the at least one ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) coupled to the SCU, wherein the ROV is configured to:
 attach the SCU to the sensor streamer at the first position; 
 detach from the SCU; and 
 reattach to the SCU for detaching the SCU from the sensor streamer at the second position. 
   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a control unit configured to send one or more commands to the ROV via a cable tethered to the ROV, wherein the one or more commands cause the ROV to maneuver to the first position for attaching the SCU to the sensor streamer at the first position and to maneuver to a chase vessel after reattaching to the SCU.