Embodiments of systems and methods for storing and handling a plurality of autonomous seismic nodes are presented. The node handling and storage system may be coupled to a node deployment system that deploys and/or retrieves nodes from water from the back deck of a marine vessel. One embodiment of the node handling and storage system includes a plurality of portable containers that may be assembled in a variety of configurations based on the vessel and survey requirements. The containers are coupled to an autonomous or semi-autonomous node conveyor and/or transport system that moves the nodes between and within the containers for node cleaning, downloading, charging, servicing, and storage. The conveyor system may include a plurality of different transport devices and/or systems, such as rotatable conveyors, lateral conveyors, lift mechanisms, and elevators.

Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for urging matching rotational orientations of geophysical sensors in a marine geophysical streamer. An embodiment discloses a marine geophysical streamer comprising a jacket; spacers disposed longitudinally within the jacket, the spacers containing geophysical sensors; and an alignment preserver disposed within the jacket, the alignment preserver encompassing at least a portion of each of the spacers and configured to urge matching rotational orientations for the geophysical sensors.

Embodiments relate generally to marine geophysical surveying. More particularly, embodiments relate to a wax application system for application of a wax coating to a surface of a streamer. An embodiment may comprise a marine geophysical survey system. The marine geophysical survey system may comprise a streamer and a wax application system operable to receive the streamer on deployment and apply a wax coating to the streamer as the streamer is being deployed from a survey vessel into a body of water.

A packed sensor line array system includes sensors mounted outboard of cable packs wrapped around a central mandrel. The system may have multiple rows (layers) of the sensors and cable packs, surrounded by a cannister. Cable retainers may be used to retain cable ends near sensors, to keep the cable ends out of the way of subsequent winding operations. The winding may be done in situ, with the mandrel mounted to a rotatable chuck that is rotated to wind the individual cable packs sequentially around the mandrel, with positioning of the sensors outboard of the windings occurring between the winding operations. A positionable indexing tool may be coupled to and moved along the mandrel, to define a space along the mandrel for each cable pack winding.

Apparatus and techniques are disclosed relating to a two-axis sensing element. In various embodiments, a two-axis sensing element includes a mounting plate that includes a first pair of mounting slots oriented in a first direction and a second pair of mounting slots oriented in a second, different direction. Further, in various embodiments, the two-axis sensing element may include a first pair of bender elements and a second pair of bender elements. The first pair of bender elements may be mounted through the first pair of mounting slots such that the first pair of bender elements is oriented in the first direction and the second pair of bender elements may be mounted through the second pair of mounting slots such that the second pair of bender elements is oriented in the second, different direction. In various embodiments, the mounting plate may transect each of the bender elements into two cantilever portions.

A system includes an unmanned marine vessel having a hull; a multi-dimensional seismic sensor array coupled with the hull, wherein the multi-dimensional seismic sensor array is configured to acquire seismic survey data in multiple directions; wherein the unmanned marine vessel comprises a power source configured to drive and provide propulsion to the unmanned marine vessel; and an umbilical cord for coupling the multi-dimensional seismic sensor array with the hull of the unmanned marine vessel, wherein the umbilical provides electrical communication between the unmanned marine vessel and the multi-dimensional seismic sensor array.

An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The AUV includes a body having a flush shape; an intake water element located on the body and configured to take in water; at least one propulsion nozzle located on the body and configured to eject the water from the intake water element for actuating the AUV; at least one guidance nozzle located on the body and configured to eject water to change a traveling direction of the AUV; and a seismic payload located on the body of the AUV and configured to record seismic signals.

The methods and devices described herein provide a sensor array positioning system that may allow a user to program a series of sensor array locations, depths and orientations into a control center, which therein commands two or more unmanned surface or submarine vehicles which positions one or more sensor arrays. The devices consist of at least two unmanned vehicles, two or more tow cables, a flexible sensor array comprising one or more sensors, and one or more buoyancy engines. The unmanned vehicles may consist of a master vehicle and one or more slave vehicles, wherein the master vehicle commands the one or more slave vehicles.

An unmanned vessel system can include a hull system configured to provide buoyancy, one or more seismic sources configured to generate seismic energy, and a deployment apparatus configured to deploy the seismic sources from the hull system to a water body or water column. A control system can be configured to operate the deployment apparatus, in order to deploy the one or more seismic sources so that the seismic energy propagates through the water column. A compressed air source can be provided on board the unmanned vessel system, with a source line configured to provide compressed air to the seismic sources.

An active towed sonar comprises an emission antenna integrated into a submersible object called a towfish, a submersible receive antenna called a streamer and a tow cable to tow the towfish and the streamer. The tow cable comprises a termination connected mechanically and electrically to the streamer. The termination comprises means of removable mechanical and electrical connection of the towfish to the tow cable, independently of the connection of the streamer.