James Marcus Spackman

US Patent:

6853604, Feb 8, 2005

Filed:

Apr 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/128090

Inventors:

James Spackman - Buchanan Dam TX, US
Mike Maples - Houston TX, US
Gary Craig - Houston TX, US
Louis W. Erath - Abbeville LA, US
John Luscombe - Oxford, GB

International Classification:

G01V001/38

US Classification:

367154, 367149, 367173, 181110

Abstract:

A support structure for piezoelectric elements in a marine seismic cable is provided. The support structure comprises upper and lower cylindrical halves, each with channels formed therein. Two axial channels are adapted to retain three piezoelectric elements each. A third axial channel, positioned between the sensor element channels, is adapted to retain a flexible circuit. Transverse channels between the sensor element channels and the circuit channels accommodate extension from the flexible circuit. The piezoelectric elements are mounted within their respective channels with a resilient pad with adhesive on both sides. The piezoelectric elements are graded so that any group of three piezoelectric elements exhibits approximately the same sensitivity as any of the other three groups of piezoelectric elements on the support structure.

US Patent:

20020181327, Dec 5, 2002

Filed:

Jun 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/873894

Inventors:

James Spackman - Buchanan Dam TX, US
Mike Maples - Houston TX, US
John Hepp - Irving TX, US

International Classification:

G01V001/38

US Classification:

367/019000

Abstract:

A communication housing for devices external to a solid marine seismic cable, especially for level control devices, comprises an upper housing half and a lower housing half, coupled together around the cable. The upper housing half includes a plurality of wells, for example three wells, each adapted to receive a communication coil. The lower housing half has no such wells. The communication coils are wound in series to reinforce the signal strength of the communication signal. The communication coils are preferably formed to two segments, joined together at a flexible joint to reduce the likelihood of breakage of the coil core as the cable is wound onto a takeup reel aboard the exploration vessel.